Lisa's words put a certain something into Murai's mind. Her words were much better than usual, leaving him suspicious of some other reason, or information she wasn't willing to tell. In this way, Lisa wasn't all that different from those Sun girls with her loftiness, pride, and tinge of arrogance. That much, he figured long ago since Lisa always had this air of interest--as if she was better than she was--around her.
Though, that was something else and frankly, it wasn't surprising to view this sort of arrogance in the eye of power. Her hidden ploys were unknown to him, while the past hour or so wasn't. He understood why she wasn't willing to reveal herself when she was already awake for some time.
Ceila had some suspicious attitude about her, and Murai noticed it right from the start. Perhaps she knew about Lisa, or something different was happening for some other reason.
Unfortunately, neither it made sense to him nor did it lead him to satisfaction. The current situation was a little better since he had no one else around him but her. No Ceila, nor a figure that would push him around like a toy was here to hinder his thoughts. Not even Lisa will do it.
It put him at ease, yet he couldn't help but curse at something else. The current situation wasn't good in the larger picture, after all.
Murai didn't know what kind of thing this Encounter had for him in the long term, how it was working, or what it was for. From the sound of it, it was unlike anything he met, filling the reason with uncertain,y that one was at the hands of others. In this case, godly interest moved this thing, and not him or his reasoning.
It was no dungeon, a powerful foe, or persistent trial of some sort. From the sound of it, it will be either a complete struggle through thousands of enemies, his death, or other unfavorable situation will push at him again in the appearance of Centralis Kingodm and Razmund. It will lead to stamina deficits, a lower ceiling to calm or heal, or other harsh problems.
He wasn't sure how much of a hurdle it will become, but it was obvious it will get nasty.
“You wanna talk meaningfully like you should? Here? Sure. Let's do it right now! I am already inching closer to dealing with you either way.” Murai decided, following the flow of conversation by sitting down on the spot and pushing his Will to his soul space.
“You know what, Murai Hisagi?” Lisa said as she realized or decided on something. “Focus on yourself and not me. Since you think I am so not needed, focus on your time and do what you think is right. You feel and hope for that anyway,” she said, sounding convincing, yet aware that she was lying to herself or him.
Out of spite, finding it funny, or like Lisa, Murai did exactly as she told, unraveling his senses back to reality as he reached out to her, and ignoring her silence.
It was her word and Murai figured it was no need to push things around. She won't disappear and she will talk. He will make sure of it later. Following his senses, Mana Detection, and Will to adventure, he went from place to place, battling undead foes in glistering forms or a mixture of physical and soul-form monstrosities. Gaining experience was important, and he needed quite a lot of that to work for him.
The past week may have been great, but he lacked actual battle experience. The dungeon was the only thing he would mention in this way, and for the first time since then, he had the freedom to battle in this place. It was a perfect time, in an imperfect situation. Murai felt he was on an adventure he longed for, while not being entangled in the hands of others made his mind sharper and calmer than ever.
He always lacked that, since the moment of his birth was quite.... lacking to his standards. Now, he had some power and ability, and he didn't care for any ploys or Battleworld that was trying to plot again him to push him like a tool or toy. He may be still that, but in his mind and heart, he was free. He always was, albeit in the soul, he wasn't.
He was a being who held numerous spans of experience. An adventurer, knight, paladin, and all sorts of other professions, classes, beings, or figures filled his memories. Some were dark like Chaos itself.
He knew it and felt it.
Righteousness and evil were two sides of the coin, but they sometimes mashed together, causing distress and disorder that made what? In the end, it did nothing much in the universe that was already filled with Chaos. His Cursed lives weren't always normal since life was always depending on the circumstances of living and setting.
Being an orc was one example. It was a time when he wasn't comfortable with a part of his humanity or past. Of course, amongst the Chaos, it wasn't a race meant to shake anything and was considered a humanoid race. It was no demon or devil.
Though such living questioned something. What it even meant to be a part of humanity? To seek the worth of one's action, seeing beautiful faces, and sights? Seeking the things that only humans did or had?
It became meaningless, at some point, but then, it became a topic to seek again because of a variety of reasons. Murai held many things dear to his heart since his perspectives, perceptions, and hopes changed according to his perception of his living. Perhaps it was simply because his Cursed living was the cause of everything and his view on it became mushed together, no longer being what it was at the start.
Was he a human at heart? An orc? A demon? Who he was? Was Murai even his name? They all crisscrossed together at some point, creating pain and confusion.
The races were the most complicated part of his living. It always pushed a new kind of experience to him, and setting and beings were usually next. The differences in races were always a bothersome topic. From the setting, living, hating, or just seeing the world from many perspectives made him understand some things. It didn't make sense, nor it did need to. Figuring out impossible ~ that was almost like his Cursed Living that he was never close to stopping.
It was always a wonder to seek those living in these perspectives. Sometimes it was bad, other times, terrible. Murai didn't know when it began, but when he started to experience indifference and a stoic view of his living, he began to see patterns, as well as specks of truth.
Life or death - at the end of his life, middle, or start - no longer mattered to him. He started to enjoy himself more, living to fulfill his wishes to seek something worthy of his Curse. It was a part of his purpose, or so he wished to create, or out of spite against the one who caused it all.
To do that he needed time to find a reasonable approach to seek his Curse. Revenge for his past can also become a priority, but any living was different for that sort of revenge. Universe was vast, as he recalled many times, and saw many planets or interstellar objects of vast scales. Slaying the gods who caused it, or had problems with him a few times was merely an excuse to seek some problems. He was a couple of steps into his living, while far in others.
Perhaps this life would be like that too, as he was almost dead, or should be dead. The former context of his past won't matter for the future, since it was always a new start. The lives, people, settings, and objects of his past hatred always changed, thus, regrets were almost nonexistent or exchanged with new ones.
Murai followed no forest paths of the Seventh Death Forest, but the common sights of many unkept roads. They worked some tangible mess, as if their order was long gone, and their purpose lost. For an unknown amount of distance, he battled and traveled some kilometers while he was at it.
During this time, he fought about a dozen times. Sometimes, it was an easy fight, other times, not so much. He preferred tougher ones, since they pushed his mind away, causing his tries to be much better.
Spectral Wasps were the majority of his enemies, but a few different foes also emerged. Phantom Lanterns ~ appearing like greenish and hot metallic ghosts ~ attacked with flickering light, and then struck the foe with sharp flying needles made of mana. Their appearance wasn't prone to a normal beast. They were like essence monsters, whose purpose was no longer original.
Their bodies were vague, filled with aspects of Death, Chaos, or simple natural essence from this strange forest.
Murai was pleased to see them, though. They made good targets, since they floated from afar, making them an easy target for his Flame Shot even though they were level 26.
Obliterating level 26 as a level 12 Anatidae Panacea was a bit surprising to him, but he didn't know the context of his prowess or the overall might of his mana. The reason was his lack of context to the greater structure of the Will of the Battleworld's power system and what made a person more powerful in the context of others.
In fact, the level differences weren't as important as one would guess. They held the marginal solution to seek some sense out of power, but a large portion of power was in Grades instead. A striking ability of Grade F of level 9 was lower than Grade E with level 2 for example.
Similar, but not adjacent to that, were external items. Having a mana potion of Grades F, and D made them quite different, but that was an external example. The body itself and its abilities were direct sources of one's prowess while external ones shouldn't be something one should take for granted.
They can disappear, while one's body wouldn't. The body included everything. From mana, and body sources of power.
In the early leveling paths, the abilities themselves mattered the most in terms of fighting power, while Class was secondary.
As for the one's Level in itself, Murai figured quite a few answers to his worries in the past 7 days. It included his own comprehension, experiments, and his own expertise. The bigger part was something else thought. That was Iris, who wasn't holding back with information since she was no Ceila or Lisa.
She gave him a plethora of ideas, solutions, and answers, while the rest went hand to hand along the few mentions that Lisa gave him. Iris had no need to remain some secrecy, and Murai used it to his advantage. After all, as a priestess with 17 years of living experience in this world, she knew a lot more than him.
His own level wasn't determining and furthering his attributes every time. Sometimes, no numbers increased, but their sole strength or efficiency did, giving him a rise in some other way. It was also adding some power to his abilities but Battleworld didn't mention anything with it, but he could tell that Strenght increased his Beak's Fury and Peak alike. Dexterity made his abilities move faster like his body, thus allowing him to act much better.
At least according to the facts and feelings he got from the boosts from the World and Iris's hints, he got something out of every improvement, but not every fight. Sometimes, Battleworld needed further reason to give something in return, and it acted in unique ways that even Iris didn't know. So much can be contextualized with common sense and a Blessed was kind of unique. It should be like that, at least if he got it right.
As for the current status of his prowess, it looked like this prior to the start of the Encounter which will prevent further improvements until the end of the 1st Part of it.
[NAME] Murai Hisagi / no nicknames / Tittles: Citizen
[AGE] 280 days / no time-variants, yet oldness detected
[SPECIES] Anatidae [former ones- human, elf, demons, devil, god, leaf, stone...] / Species properties or specialties yet to be detected. Evolutions are highly possible in this species. Variants UNKNOWN.
[SUBSPECIES] Anatidae Panacea / Class D / properties - Higher Mana Aptidue, stronger body - further improvements depending on the leveling, and strengthening processes
[PHYSICALITY] Duck / A strong specimen of the Anatidae Panacea with stronger physicality than base Anatiadae. Change in physicality from evolutions caused stronger inner structure along with UNKWON variables that skipped Class E. They are yet to be quenched or attributed by your inner self.
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 48
Dexterity: 38
Vitality: 48
Wisdom: 100
WILL: 35
Soul Power: 30
[ABILITIES]
Beak's Fury - Grade C - Level 6
Beak's Peak - Grade D - Level 4
Soul Read - Grade D, Level 4
Strike of the Will - Grade B, Level 1
Robust Spirit - Fusion Ability - Grade SS Unique Ability of the Soul Path, Level 7 - Soul Force 120 points // Identity Abilities - Robust Defense, Robust Will, Indomitable Strike // 12 Soul Force a day regeneration
Diving Sphere - Grade C, Level 1
Water Breathing - Grade C, Level 5
Bloodrush - Grade SS, Level 6
Hidden ones are detected yet are hidden under the prerequisites and circumstances / Soul Lock, Soul Manifestation
[MANA ABILITIES]
Beast Core - Stage: Initialization - Small Success
Mana Pool - 1250
Mana Flow - Grade E
Mana Shaping - Grade C, Level 14
Mana Replenishment - Grade D, Level 8 // Mana per minute: 22
Mana Detection - Grade C, Level 13
Proper Mana Blade - Grade E, level 8
Flame Shot - Grade F, level 5
Affinities: Flame - Grade F, Water - Grade F, Mana Sharpness - Grade D
[STATUS: The Eater, Explorer of Dungeon]
[BLESSINGS: NONE]
[EQUIPMENT: Key of Remembrance, Spacial Bag~Pachi's Gift - Lost]
[LEVEL: 12]
[POWER: varied but level 30 is subject to your current Anatidae's standards]
[TASKS - The Major Task - Get back Pachi's Gift ~ Normal Task - Fight 10 Demonic opponents in Demonic Lands ~ God's Trial - Time left 92 days]
[ENCOUNTER - 1st Part - Escape the Seventh Death Forest]
Murai felt good about his strengthened numbers, but could they change his fate? It was hard to tell, but one thing was certain. He was glad to be back on track with his Vitality thanks for his carefulness, or laziness - if he was honest with himself.
Thanks to Iris and her care, and the treasures he ate, he improved in a lot of things, Eating and resting helped, and even though he was craving some adventure, and dangers to get stronger faster, he had more Vitality than before.
He attributed this to the secondary treasures from Wave of Life, which still pushed his Vitality above the level prior to Bloodrush. It provided him with healthy boosts and strengthened his body.
As for how he was even getting them, it mattered little. Out of treasures, pills, training, or rewards out of some battle, they formed an easy enough system.
Any higher attribute boost provided a small doze of World's Blessing, giving him a mysterious growth that he couldn't figure out. It was a lawful boost, rich, and something no god should ever possess since it was a fundamental rule of this world. At such a world scale that it made no sense. That much, Murai realized.
Though, at this point, he gave up asking, or wondering. Murai accepted the truth of the matter that some things were better unknown. He liked the sense of mystery and one way or another, he will discover it one day.
If worse could come in terms of battles or situations, he may use the Bloodrush again, albeit with a pained heart and body. It would ensure a powerful strength and form a trump card, which was something he liked to carry.
Though, in truth, Murai didn't want to consider Bloodrush ever again, since it involved a life-and-death situation and quite a nasty situation. The price of losing Vitality was too steep, but it made things fair and easier.
He accepted that much, so he was glad for it regardless of that. He got to live because of Bloodrush, after all.
Time flew on, and Murai already spent around 8 hours traveling throughout the Seventh Death Forest. In all this time, Murai didn't meet a living soul, nor any beast that had some meat to them. It wasn't that bad though, since he still felt powerful enough thanks to his body and strengthened senses.
This time was quite nice in his opinion, and he needed it since his mind needed it. A hunt, fight, and getting hotter. That was what he felt his heart wanted and it changed his mind.
“You fought with the Phantom as if he was a piece of cake... How lame.” Lisa commented, still floating within his soul space.
“You jest..” Murai commented with his Will aimed at Lisa, thinking of the Phantom as nothing but a beginner form of something more dangerous. “Figuring out the weaknesses of barely physical Phantom is easy. Their hazy appearance is just prone to mentality, and push of one's Will. They aren't one bit crazy at their level 30 level, which I doubt is indicative of their power as you said. It's just a number to follow, and a sense of death and skill can obliterate such numbers. Abilities truly make much more sense and attributes too. I suppose level is nothing, then?”
“Hmph!” Lisa sneered, figuring that taking some sense was good after all. A couple of hours ago, she stopped being so nosy and started speaking. “That goes without saying, but... You... You are a crazy one. Do you know that? I know you are... special, but Battleworld gives reasonable things to this system. For you to kick its ass at your level is still surprising.”
“Sure. Whatever you say.” Murai sneered. “...but what do you know yourself? Expecting me to hold back? You are kidding... Have you been aware of every piece of improvement I gained? My power improved a lot without me doing a lot. My mana may still be in the Initialization stage, and even Smaller Succes, but my grasp of that is beyond that stage. I am already at the Shaping where I can firmly stand against a lot of issues even with Beast Core forcing my sense away. Though, it is getting familiar, albeit slowly... Time is why, I reckon.”
“I know That. I see it.. unwillingly.” Lisa said rather begrudgingly. “That is unless your foes aren't human. You fought nothing but mindless forms of the beast of this place! Intelligence plays a higher role in fighting, but you should know that. Feeling good because you defeated intangible soul forms that were formed in this chaotic mess is less than something you should feel good about.”
“Right. Stupid beasts are whatever. You are right.” Murai agreed, feeling that her words were truthful. When one fought foes, it wasn't just about numbers, abilities, or these weird blessings that he had. Tactics, strategy, and cleverness play a huge part in everything involving the battles.
“Uhm.. fine, Murai Hisagi. I haven't seen everything you are capable of, since I... Nevermind. You worked your ass off, alright?” Lisa said, sounding a bit fed up because of something. “I acknowledge your absolute superiority over my lacking knowledge of your and many things, Murai Hisagi! So how about some talk... I have some things to tell... Little things...” Lisa unwillingly whispered in his mind. She already had enough of such battle topics, so she figured it was time to talk.
“Talk? Now? Wait a bit... I sense some souls ahead. Not the dead ones, for once.” Murai said, hiding in the bushes and traveling stealthily thanks to his small stature.
Not like he needed to be stealthy since he got plenty of power, but throughout his time, he did sense quite a few soul forms he wouldn't match at all, so he fled instead. Knowing one enemy and course of power was also a part of the strategy.
Apart from Lisa's mockery, he achieved good results so far in his battles around his power level. They provided him no tangible benefits, though, apart from furthering his mana abilities that weren't stopping because of this Encounter. Shaping of mana and familiarity with his Core will still improve even though a halted progression.
After at least 40 or so killed foes, Murai felt his mana to be still fine, but his Mana Pool was lessened significantly. The majority of the fights were over by his clever tactics and use of his beak. He felt it became his favorite weapon since it had some need for mana, but it never disappointed him.
“Souls? Is the Centralis Kingdom finally catching up, or you do?” Lisa wondered, feeling the surroundings of the outside world through the senses of Murai's soul space. It wasn't enough to see and perceive his soundings as him, but it wasn't bad either.
She preferred being in reality, rather than being kept in this safe cage though. Unfortunately, she was yet to reveal everything about herself, her position as a Life Companion, and what kind of help she can do.
What was a Life Companion? A slave? No. Tremendous helper, that can unconditionally follow? A gift from the heavens? A tool? Friend? All of that could the true in some cases.
In its fundamental core in any higher realms and civilization that littered the Chaos of the universe, the Life Companion was someone who one can trust with anything. It catered to rules and honesty ~ to walk the paths of interest in their respective manners, understanding, and their bond.
Murai did trust and viewed Life Companions a lot already and continuing to twist through this topic wasn't something he disliked, but he did, because of his current situation. As for Lisa, and what she was, or wasn't, it wasn't something Murai was yet to question, since he was a loner, hoping to reach the heights of the living, along with many other things.
At the moment, Murai kept his mana in check, hoping nobody will notice him. His Soul Read solved the rest. None should feel the sensation of his Soul Read as far as he was concerned. His work over the mana became a bit easier after a week of training and getting more familiar with his Beast Core.
Also, it should be easier here, since this Sevent Death Forest was naturally a magical place, where all kinds of magic beasts of death, were. Mana was rich in this place, albeit no treasures were in abundance in such sort of place. It was a land of death, filth, and dangers that no living would like or prefer. Some lunatics in the path of the Soul, Death, and other Chaos path would, but they were rare.
The only things of value and interest were some species of rare flowers fruits with death elements, and so on, but it was a rare sight to see them. Other than that, not many living things actually lived there, which made this place unfit for humans and many other races.
However, humans were precisely what Murai was sensing, and after further pushing through the bushes, he saw them.
They were messiahs but seemed different from the ones on that plain. They were 3, walking in the forest, and not dressed less like some strange cult members. Instead, they had adventurer kind of attire, with few metallic plates and leather armor instead. Swords hung below their waist, and they weren't hiding or were careful.
They didn't talk to each other. Walking was their sole purpose, with weapons on their hips, while their perception and gaze flickered left and right on their faces. They were looking for something for sure.
“Murai!” Lisa said, unafraid to shout since none would hear her anyway.
“What! Stop pestering me!” Murai complained in his mind, finding Lisa to be a bother since a new prey came into his eyes.
“Those are Messiahs! Central Church's influence over them is wild so they have a strong devotion to their purpose. They should be here for you since it is their purpose. I saw what you went through with those Vermillion paws.”
“Why are you repeating what I already know?”
“So you would understand it better. Do you even know something about them, or how you ended in your position?”
“Oh, tell me. Are you so knowledgeable about the Messiah or the Centralis Kingdom? Time to give me some information, if you think you are useless.”
“I want a reward!”
“Deal.”
“You... You don't know which one?” Lisa hesitated.
“Don't care. You are probably plotting something since you woke up. I can't see that in your soul, but I know your kind. You are a bit different than before too, aren't you? You are part of my soul space already so nothing that you do will pasters me like your nagging voice and constant worries.” Murai told with a surprising amount of disinterest, yet his voice carried a confidence that he believed he was right.
“You... You are right. You always mention the same things, yet I am useful in many ways. Similar to you, I have my own Will of the Battleworld, with Evolution on my own, and things I can do as a Soul Form. You haven't formed any proper-looking connection to me in your soul space, or you did but not like you would change a thing. I underwent my first evolution. It's called Soul Render.” Lisa revealed.
“Oh, is that so? How impressive.” Murai said, sounding as bored as he could.
“HEY! It's good! Soul Forms of my caliber are similarly rare than your little tiny legs as Anatidae! Do you even know that fighting in numbers is much better than being alone? I can be a great addition, and being a Helper doesn't include me in the Encounter at all. I am part of you, after all.”
“Ugh... Fine.” Murai bitterly accepted her words. “Then what can Soul Render do? Is this something like a level 1 and you think you have some use, but actually not so much?”
“No! Soul Form is no beast. Under the Battleworld rules, they have distinct specialties. I am a Soul Form made of the essence of mana along my soul. I have my own mana source, which is the soul in itself along with mana. Some call it strange, but I call it Sona.”
“How original... Soul and mana into one. Sona? That is hilarious.” Murai joked but remained listening since he faked his disinterest. He didn't know about the special life companions of this Battleworld so her worlds piqued his curiosity to get to know more.
That, or maybe he was hoping to know why she didn't talk about her case of evolution or her own Will of the Battleworld so far into this life.