With an invaluable Token in her grasp, Lisa eyed it without much change in heart or light. It was a handful for her current form, yet she grasped it just fine after small cracks of her fingers and sona. It was hiding secrets and things Illak hadn't said for some reason. It was the same time for her too, Lisa believed and knew why.

For Blessed, this thing meant the same thing to any Surface Challenger. It could often mean not that big of a problem as well. For Murai, it wasn't anything major, because Lisa could get his journey going regardless of anything. She planned for it for days, so her expectations and hopes for her worth were sky-high.

“Oh well.” Illak strengthened his fist for nothing but stress and willingness to touch this Anatidae. It was a fine urge to have, but quite an unfitting emotion for his current position and mission. It was also unfamiliar to him. This Anatidae was the insane one! Not him. He sized and gazed into Murai's eyes, and he looked back, challenging this staring contest that didn't seem to have an end.

Still, through effort and acceptance, Illak took the loss because of his position and lackeys behind his back, who were here for nothing but to show some military purpose. Generals hardly moved alone. If they did, it meant nothing good.

Murai felt good to win this easy battle, even though what was before him was an Extreme that was relatively open in emotions and soul, but hiding an extremely potent body and strength. His flesh was incredible.

Illak straightened his back, took a deep sigh, and took his last glance at an Anatidae who wasn't supposed to be wearing any uniform. That went against his knowledge of what was anticipated. It shocked him, frankly, but he didn't show it. Not only did it startle him, but it was a hoodie of all things. He will have to report it, which seemed like a stretch considering what the world turned into, and he knew this report would be bothersome.

Whatever it meant, it made him recall some unpleasant memories that he wanted to keep deep in his heart or fingers. He still itched in his clutched fist and knew that his position over this situation wasn't fitting. A General had rules to follow. Not ducks to seek. Especially when an incredible storm was brewing across and below the whole world.

Illak got summoned to some meetings and changes. So he did not have much time to test Murai with his aura, eyes, words, or anything else. He wished for something different, but he had no choice in backing away after discovering that this Anatidae was so young, yet... kind of insane to take a staring battle with him so bluntly.

And he lost! It was infuriating to him on many levels. When he felt the depths of those eyes and a mocking sneer in his beak, Illak's fist itched like his insides. Manners were there for those who could afford them, yet this intense child was staring as if it was bigger than himself.

Illak scratched his hair with his hands, feeling that getting away was the best chance. It wasn't fleeing, his gut said. Just a tactical retreat. “I hope you will find your stay in this place fitting enough, so don't stir the already unstable structure of this city or Gate. We are all watching, so for as long as you want, you can do whatever your status and power allow. As long as it is accommodating enough, which you should take with a grain of Chaos. It's not a Surface level hospitality, but there aren't only hostile demons here. This place is that. Swallowing and deep.” Illak said menacingly, which worked surprisingly well thanks to his face.

“I know that, General,” Lisa said politely. Murai was inclined to slam his butt at his face after hearing yet another reminder. Who did they think he was?

“It is that kind of blessed land that follows certain rules. You can ask around or purchase all kinds of information in the Helltrim City. Some would answer anything by a simple force or power of wealth, so don't take the stability of Pivotal Cities for something weak. My Lady made it fitting, and thanks to its vastness, it homes many lives that grow like growls. I expect no wrongdoings since the Challengers are predisposed to attacks, duels, and Hunts. Let alone Blessed One, you are not fully under Mindarch's rules, but it provides you with a proper setting, or touches. Bear that in mind, or die trying.” Illak ended up his thunderous speech.

Murai frowned, letting a slight sneer on his beak.

“It's per usual manners, right, General?” Lisa quickly followed, not letting Murai do what he wanted, so she went down, clasped his beak with her hand behind her back, and wished to do something better.

Illak continued as if he didn't see that. “Of course it is usual. Temple is a place of challenges for Challengers, followed by more natives and force of rules. For us, demons, we are free from doing whatever is deemed as enough. It is our home, yet the military is like Watchers or Judges, weakly resembling some Order. So have a good stay and don't make mistakes. Many do and they don't end up any good. Like this former succubus here, whom I remember briefly. Hmph!” Illak sneered, turned around, and walked with his underlings away. “Enjoy your stay, for the world is still turning.”

“What an asshole,” Murai argued to Lisa's head, unhappily blaming the floor with his flat feet but not his beak. He was close to that, however. Illak talked about constant shit and reminders. It was a warning after another warning as if Murai was about to ruin this place completely.

Which might not even be up to him, even if he wouldn't mind it. He couldn't do something insane like affecting this entire Hellscape.

“C-calm down with this attitude.” Lisa turned and watched his face in her single grasp. “I knew you would be like this to those like him. You shouldn't agitate most demons with this face of yours. Especially the military and Generals who could squash some ants below their feet and no one would bat an eye. Those fellows don't take improper Challengers lightly.”

“Oh? You don't say. Are you speaking with your own experiences?”

“So what if I do? My time was mine. Yours is yours, but why do I feel it is more up to me than to you?”

Murai rolled his eyes.

“Fine,” Lisa decided to give her past a little more color. “My first time was hell, all things considered. Alone, I didn't know what to expect, so I often overestimated myself in my confident independence. I was alone, but I survived because of offensive assets and an attitude unfit for this place. You can be hunted like an animal if you will allow them to regard you as such, regardless of this Token.” She tossed the round object up and down. “The other time was better because I grew as a...well, I grew in power, so I did what I could to move on and crush opposition and fight how this place often wanted. Some couldn't bear it. Crack some famous fools and many more fools won't dare to take their move. Or some of those above would...move back. It is alike a cycle. Crack some asshole and a more powerful one will soon follow to avenge that ass.”

“Hah! Oh, now you are speaking my kind of language. Like a cycle, right? Kill one and more will follow. Noted.” Murai forced his beak from her grasp and smiled. He hoped this meant something great for his essence gathering.

“You think this place is good for you, Murai Hisagi? That your little time is fine? I think we need some conditions for our time in this Gate, my plans, and strategies. I hope for your cooperation.”

“Haven't seen the city yet, let alone some armies and those fools you speak of. Can't see or guess what I can do yet, so this cooperation, you will have it,” He smirked, glancing at the metallic token in her hand. “Though, I have some intentions to not be too slow or too fast in my journey, of course. Does it make you happy? Afraid? I am all ready to take it head-on, unlike you. Is it that bad?”

Murai didn't feel afraid per se. He expected worse outcomes in many cases, so he usually ended up pleasantly surprised. It was about a set of expectations and he was kind of master at turning his mind and attention around when he needed it.

That made Lisa kind of frustrated because she didn't follow that logic, and she was never sure what to expect from him because of it.

“Just the fact that you are listening makes me a little assured. Yes. However, there are still a couple of things we are leaving out of this Token, this Gate, and other things. Are you still fearful of this Encounter? I am. You should too.”

Murai stopped his smile, turning serious and tensed. He straightened his beak as if taking a breath, but didn't. “Yeah... I guess that could mean a problem here. But... Wait! Didn't the previous Gate work exactly opposite to this one? That one was very limiting and individual.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Figured it now, of all time? Ignorance is truly blissful to those who can afford it or are too ignorant. And yes. Razmund can hunt us down in this place without any concerns, which is one of the reasons I am taking this seriously. You don't. I don't think this place allows us to work to our advantage because of that, and whatever Razmund will do, he may reach this place sooner rather than later.”

“Is that a guess or are you sure of it?”

“I am sure,” Lisa said firmly. “That lunatic has Tier A power behind him, or something even worse. Giving up isn't fine either. There should be people in the Valley who are waiting for us to give up. We need some protection or get out of here in some other way. Far away, I mean. Different. No backdoor.”

“Have some ideas?”

“There are a couple of things that might... work.”

“I am all ears,” Murai said,

Lisa rolled her eyes. “Asking for help from some Overlord, or someone insane enough here for help, is my first choice. Getting out is a tough idea, considering this temple is protected and hard to leave when you are a literal invading force clutched by its rules. I doubt anyone like that would let us leave differently than from the front door. It is how this place became when Lordis made a deal with Levandis.”

“But there is a way. What?” Murai paused, thinking that this wasn't his time to shine. Could some God help? He could be persuasive when there was something to gain for him, but was he itching to leave this place?

In his coincidence, he didn't.

“That is what I need to consider in this Gate, Murai Hisagi. And Razmund will find you. Our way to Ip'ur Mountain will take days if not a whole week. For him, it could be less if we aren't careful, but we don't know when he will arrive here and we don't know what awaits us in this Gate. That is a problem. Information will be essential when he arrives. He hunted you like a horny butcher for your skin, so there is no doubt he will arrive and stir some problems. We should be far away when he does that.”

“That sounds all reasonable. I agree with all of the above and below. That is why the first step is getting a proper plan. Onwards to a tavern!” Murai proclaimed, letting his beak high in the air, and turned after surging his Sonar around and finding a way out of this castle. There was a staircase around the corner that went to the lower section of the castle. He should've pushed his Sonar sooner and not relied on her fingers.

Seeing another set of stairs, Murai wasn't sure why this temple was so horny for this sort of ideology when portals were so nice.

“Tavern?” Lisa asked as if she didn't hear him right. She knew she did, but she was unaware of what Murai wanted in that place. She looked at him weirdly, which Murai quickly caught.

He turned and looked at her in shock and doubt. “Never had a proper meal in my life! Not even my soul can stand the constant state of dull and gamey meat of my kills and whatnot. It lacks substance! I want some taste of the civilization. If this place doesn't have it... I...” Murai responded with a smack of his feet to the floor, leaving Lisa speechless.

“You...” Now, he wanted to be like this? His stubbornness showed. She knew she wouldn't change his mind.

Well, by coincidence or not, he could remain like this. A tavern was a good place for getting information. Not for her plans, of course. That needed a bit more private touches. Depending on which one to visit, things could get interesting very quickly.

But overall, even a normal one was a good start at any information gathering for this Gate. It was the second best choice, with the best being special streets and businesses in Helltrim City.

Lisa knew this city wasn't dangerous by itself, as long as one remained clean and didn't accept any duels. She hoped that Murai could keep his bloody urges intact, and others wouldn't challenge his head.

Without any argument—since there weren't any—she accepted the situation. Murai exhaled and turned back toward his goal that had been on his mind the moment he saw the streets from that elevated tower.

It was a brief urge that slowly crept to rich desire. Something like a simple civilization was missing in this life. He wished for a meal. There wasn't anything wrong with that when he hadn't eaten much in the last few days. Those fools in the previous Gate were far too crazy to pass as a meal. Before that, even Iris didn't give him any flavor, thanks to the healing Murai endured for a whole week. She wasn't a very nice cook anyway, but not as if it was important.

Getting out of this castle was a matter of time. Murai led the way, followed by Lisa who had silent determination and ideas about her plans. Before, she wasn't ready to take her ideas forth. She needed this Gate for that.

Lisa saw him in no new light. His art of messing things up should be part of her plans too, colliding at the worst times possible. She bet Murai would become an involuntary center of attention because Anatidaes was that sort of thing. Another issue was his status as a Surface Challenger, which was kind of a rarity, followed by the existence of the Encounter.

There was nothing she could do to change the unchangeable. Not only he was ridiculous—considering his Anatidae Uniform—but it was far too late for any regrets. She still had her wonders about it, similar to how he hadn't gotten any readings to his equipment, nor his Level or other things.

But she knew that those evolved abilities and his hideous soul had immense value. It was about skill more than some cheap Boosts. He will undoubtedly crash it like always wanted, for some things were more important than the rest. Levels, attributes, and small bits of secondary ideas like equipment will inevitably catch up to him. It was inevitable, as long as he lived and went through this shitty unbalanced Encounter in one piece.

Encounter won't change him. He will change the Encounter. That was in Lisa's mind for the past few days, brewing and turning. Murai already made up his mind about many things regardless.

So Lisa gave up and followed him like a proper Life Companion into the land she knew very well. She had someone like that in the past, but it was a very different power dynamic because she was... unique. It wasn't probably that different, as long as Lisa would be a proper... girl. Whatever it was, she had her plans right now and some past Blessed life wasn't on her mind at all. She had far different problems on her mind.

Lisa never imagined she would end up as someone's Life Companion, but here she was, doing what she previously considered unnecessary and bothersome. All for the sake of so-called hope preservation, it was an attitude that turned into a curse. One face of that was Murai; the other was this entire world.

Out at the ground level of this castle, Murai had seen all sorts of demonic guards and military up in arms. Many moved around; clusters of armor, clicks of weapons, and many footsteps. He didn't give them much attention, but some did give that to him instead.

Some guards ignored him; others put their weapons at him, fearing their lives, yet Murai wasn't interested in them or his Soul Read. Lisa showed them his Token from behind, so they quickly saluted with fear, doubt, and eyes glued at Murai's impressive yet small stature. He went away, looking to solve his task of getting out of this military castle area that seemed to be bigger than he thought.

He got lost almost immediately, so Lisa forced some guards to show them the way to the main street that Murai couldn't find even with his Sonar. The ground level was simply far too large and unfamiliar. He also noticed the mana around this place was kind of... weird.

It felt elevating, surging like the tides of mountain rivers. If Gate 1 felt like a small stream, and Gate 2 was like a pouring waterfall, this felt like an advancing river. He felt it to his core, which trembled as his Sonar cost some mana. No matter the intensity of his Sonar, mana always returned to him quickly, which felt like a slap to his mana space. Surprisingly, his Beast Core took this effect as a warrior met with a challenge, while his Artiificial Core remained like an endless sponge. It didn't take any mana in because it wanted essences of higher quality.

But, couldn't he use the effectiveness of this mana to let it grow? It was possible to use many breathing styles and mana-shaping mantras for absorbing mana into the mana cores. Unfortunately, his needs were apparent, and his body was different. He will try it, but if things go south, he will ignore it.

Perhaps in lower Gates, mana would turn into a wild storm.

For now or before, he ignored such mantras and techniques because he was unfamiliar with his Beast Core and the needs of his new flesh. It always affected his familiarity with mana and Shaping, so Murai opted for many compromises.

But now, he had Heavenly Shaping and his understanding was reaching a passable level. It might be entirely possible to start using what he considered standard in Endless Skies.

This mana that he felt didn't hurt much, which was wonderful, considering he had yet to turn his core to its proper state. Perhaps he could've done that along the Artificial Core. It was a questionable possibility that he reconsidered relatively recently because of the unstable ceilings of his Artificial Core. Perhaps he should be satisfied with reaching the peak of the Initialization Core. It was a problem that wasn't really a problem. It was true. By now, he would be at that peak.

However, the use of the Core Defying Fusion Technique was limited to just two times. If one tried it one more, its effective rules would cause very nasty consequences, and mana space would crumble upon the third time. It was a difficult technique as it was, so Murai decided to do things slowly because it was possible to reach further into the Revolving Core if he was patient enough.

In the past days, Murai assumed a couple of things to be wrong and curious. Since he got a lot of value from the Boosts, couldn't it elevate the Success of his Beast Core as well? It sounded reasonable it would unless he wouldn't clutch it like a fool. After all, what were mana-related abilities like Mana Flow or Mana Replenishment? Well, the first was an essential qualitative leap to his overall mana; the other was something akin to a mantra that was regenerative to his mana space, yet it wasn't involved and fell artificially created into his mana space and Beast Core. In a sense, it was a technique created when he became Anatidae Panacea.

Mana Flow changed fewer times—as it was all about its Grade similar to affinities—yet he never got any Boost to his Beast Core on its own. That puzzled him, although he never voiced it.

He asked Lisa about it recently, but she shrugged it off, claiming it was either because of his Core Defying Fusion Technique, or his intentions that readings overlooked, or accepted into his desires. It was a strange aftereffect of many causes and strange choices that Murai made or caused. Few beings were certain how the flow of this world affected every Blessed, as their status was different and unique, and Lisa had limited clues about how vastly this world operated under everything.

Right. Lisa was considering the machination of this world and Divine Camp. Its readings and boosts were something that some beings of this world gathered or speculated on for millennia. It wasn't as if Gods were hiding it as a secret. Many revealed it to their subjects at the price of not revealing it to outsiders.

Since Murai worked with something insane with his cores, some things were better untouched, for it was intense and beyond this world.

Lisa believed—thanks to her experience and past—that Success in Mana Cores was one of the crazier rewards one could get out of some impressive achievement. It was definitely not fitting to expect Boosts to extend one's core on its own since mana was an independent entity and Boosts hold subjective manners. One had to try and work for it, as it was an ideology and rule to pretty much every work and world. It was about adjustments. It would change after one successfully transformed the core on their own. That was the normal way to do it, which Murai was Breaching under nothing but his ridiculous ideas.

Boosts could grant a lot of things, but they went away when one went against it. With willingness or unwillingness, it was about the approach and Gods. All in the godly orders and rules, there was some worth in work.

Whose or what kind of rules did one have to consider to see it all? Lisa had some clues, thus it was fitting that Murai gained nothing for his cores. His Artificial Core should be well outside of some readings. It wasn't normal. Outside of that, however, his spells and mana abilities all increased in levels and might even with the weaker core.

That was good. At least something was normal, which Lisa appreciated.