V2 Chapter 136
Last night’s affair, whether it was Cian or Levelia, both felt somewhat embarrassed and excited. But they immediately returned to normal the very next day.
Although they wouldn’t care if their relationship would be exposed to their members, they still knew this was not the right time for it. They are still in the middle of a dangerous task and having such untimely revelation might disrupt the rhythm of the group.
Fortunately, when the dawn rises and the first light peeks through from the thick snow clouds, only when the other members of the Fire Tyrant Clan slowly woke up, with a start. After all, they slept through the entire night and didn’t even manage to stand up on guard duty, making them somewhat embarrassed. However, to this, Cian didn’t really care.
In fact, Cian even gathered the blame, surprising the other members. ‘When I replaced Levelia last night, I was cultivating so I forgot to wake you all up for the shift. I was not able to mind the time. Well, it was not really serious…’ is his answer.
Cultivating… it was not really an uncommon practice for those who were cultivating to forget about time.
Of course, it was not cultivation like those eastern novels back on Earth. Here, most warriors cultivated their fighting spirit. After all, most warriors were not fortunate enough to possess a magic physique. Hence, to fight, they depend on energy commonly called by most warriors as [Fighting Spirit].
{Fighting Spirit} is formidable energy cultivated by warriors in place of magical energies. They coated themselves in fighting spirit to become akin to that of armor, protecting their bodies from any harm and strengthening their bones, muscles, and reflexes and etc...to enhance their physical strength, which all abilities focused on the physical body.
Warriors who cultivated their [Fighting Spirit] was then commonly known as [Augmenter], those who used Magic powers to strengthen and improved their physical body, to superhuman limits.
In fact, most high-level warriors with dense fighting spirits would be able to conjure attacks like that of magical spells, calling it {Combat Art}. And unlike Mages who conjured Magic Spells, Augmenters manifest their magic on their physical body as a catalyst, basing on their affinities, and coating themselves. Some even able to coat their fists with blazing flames, ;egs with rock-like armor, weapons with the might of storm, or enhanced their speed with lightning and wind, and more.
And although Mages were much more advantages in terms of destructive power, but Augmenters, those who cultivate their bodies possess much better physique and physical prowess making them a force to be reckoned with as well. Though, compared to Mages and Sorcerers, cultivating {Fighting Spirit} is extremely tedious and hard, due to the fact they used their mind, body, and soul as a catalyst to store supernatural power beyond normal humans. In fact, it was even classified as breaking through human limits.
There were even people who can be called War Gods, wreaking havoc on the battlefield…being called Battlefield Killing Machines. Back in Earth, they would be called Achilles, as their powers and abilities are almost comparable to him.
Like the Magic System, Augmenters also have their own System. This system is dividing into several ranks, being classified by the color of metals of the energy they produced. [Iron], [Copper], [Bronze], and [Silver] are the known energy colors.
[Iron] being ash color, signifies the Beginner Level—1st-3rd Grade Apprentice Warrior.
[Copper] being reddish-brown, the Intermediate Level—4th-5th Grade Elite Warrior.
[Bronze] being metallic brown, was the Advance Level—6th-8th Grade Master Warrior.
And lastly, the [Silver] the white energy. People who had reached this stage are known to be War Kings, divided into 9th-10th Grade Grandmaster Warrior. The deeper the color, the high the level they are.
Above that was the Ascension Realm. According to the written records, above the War Kings, were the [War Saint], [War Emperor], and lastly [War God]. However, since no one had been able to reach that stage for a very long time, no one could completely understand how powerful they truly are. But they are said to be able to conquer kingdoms and countries alone, move mountains and split rivers.
... ...
Since Cian watched for them, the other members of the Fire Tyrant Clan didn’t really worry about it too much. Since they managed to recover their energies after having a satisfying rest, they would not complain about it. Instead, their impression of Cian rose up by a huge margin. Although he was cultivating, taking up to himself the duty to guard them while they rest touch them. After all, even if he was cultivating deeply, it doesn't mean he was not aware of his surroundings.
A hint of killing intent or malice would wake up the individuals who were congealing their energies and strengthening their bodies during the period of cultivation. It can even be said that during this time, they would be quite sensitive to their surroundings--minus the time. Hence, he was actually not forgetting his duty as a nightguard.
Cian smiled faintly. Then, he saw Levelia staring at him with an amused smirk. Liar… he deciphered from her moving mouth. He chuckled in amusement. He glanced at her body, the bulky and tight leather armor she wore hiding the delicious curves of her body. Beneath that thick and heavy-looking attire laid round breasts that Cian wished to cup, sleek thighs he wanted to lick, and a perky ass that he wanted to love.
His cock twitched—in due time…
Cian winked at Levelia and then started preparing to continue the expedition.
The terrain within the inner area of the Winter Mountain was extremely complex, there basically were no roads within the forest, so the work of making a path naturally fell on the Dark Elf that was acting as the scout of the party. Using Spirit Body Enhancement which was innately practiced by the Elves, even the Dark Elves, the sharp blades of her daggers shot out, both hands swinging, cutting apart the brambles in front, without affecting everyone’s movement rate a bit. Cian followed just behind the Dark Elf, his vision and hearing both heightened to their keenest state, cautiously and solemnly observing the surroundings.
Truthfully, the very first time Cian had seen the Winter Mountain, he was startled—shock.
He looked at the huge mountain and felt how tiny he was at the same time.
The Winter Mountain was much more majestic than any other mountains he had ever seen, even in his previous life!
It was magnificent!
Perhaps, it was even bigger and larger than Mt. Everest several times.
The mountain range went from west to east, cutting the world into halves!
Cian heard and read from written records about the so-called inner area of the Winter Mountain. Wild spirit beasts were extremely aggressive, and because of people hunting and killing them they hated humans. And although they only have beast intelligence, their primal instincts and horrifying strength made the extremely vicious and frightening, that even veteran warriors and adventurers were afraid of them.
Most dreadful was, among wild monsters and magical beasts, there were some that flocked together. In other words, it was very possible to meet a group of tyrannically strong wild monsters. Under these kinds of circumstances, unless the party or the warriors who entered this part of the mountain courageously were astonishingly strong, it would be very difficult to resist them.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Hence, Cian, even with his strength, entering this kind of place, he must be extremely careful. He could not make any mistakes; otherwise, he very possibly would face disaster.
Cian surveyed the entire surrounding—enormous trees that seemed to cover the entire sky, thick bushes exuding vibrant life, large mushrooms and many more.
This forest dyed in white due to piled up snow—Cian knows that Winter Mountain, just as its name suggests was always raining down snow every night. However, what made Cian bewildered is that, aside from the cold and chilling air, the snow would not pile beyond knee length even though it snowed every night.
Aside from that, Cian felt countless eyes seemed to be staring at him in every direction. He didn’t know where it was coming from, nor could locate it even though he has {Night’s Eye}, he couldn’t see anything—he just felt it was the case. It makes him extremely uncomfortable…!
"What is wrong with this place? How come things are so weird in this place?" Cian opened his eyes and his brows furrowed.
"You felt it too? You have a sharp sensation!" Levelia who was following beside him looked at him and smiled bitterly. She said, “This is what makes this entire Mountain very terrifying. It’s as if someone is watching your every action, and you wouldn’t even know when or where you died. Every area felt boundless vibrant life, but amidst it was a feeling of being fake. Don’t know what, why—just feeling strange. It’s as if this entire mountain is alive, and one large being that was waiting for an opportunity to devour you whole…hence, you must not let your guard down. You must be careful always…”
Cian nodded his head. However, that’s not what makes Cian felt apprehended. This mountain is truly strange. He could clearly feel the magic energy being denser in the air. However, when he tried to capture the energy, it actually moved away as if it was alive!
The air around him became empty.
All magical energy had moved away as if they were avoiding him.
Humans, whose magical sense was not that good, to begin with, would never understand, or even noticed it. However, Cian was different; he was a Demon… a magically innate creature. Even if he was an idiot in terms of magic, he still has a magical perception that above normal human mages could have.
Cian turned towards the Dark Elf, and indeed, she was too was frowning. Other than him, the Dark Elf should be the only one who can feel this strangeness!
Cian looked at the mountain range up in the clouds. He had a feeling…
The secret about this land must be inside this mountain.
But what is it…? Mother and even Elder Sister said that this Mountain is an Ancient Relic in the Age of Gods. A mystery that no one had yet to unravel… just what is in the peak of this mountain? What is behind this mountain…?
"Do not underestimate this mountain. No one had ever got to the middle of the mountain, even in ancient times. Even the region classified as the inner area, humans barely has any information about it." Levelia looked at the mountain and sighed. “…there are magical beasts and monsters. All are beyond B rank. They are tough. As you go higher, the beasts you will see are at a higher level as well. When you get to the middle of the mountain, you will see the beasts which are as powerful as B to A rank. Not only one or two. They always gathered together as a group…"
"They are everywhere!"
She looked at the fog in the clouds and said, “There was once a famous veteran adventurer who entered the inner area of the mountain. He was strong and powerful, and he was famous across the continent… however, he barely able to leave alive out of the mountain. Scared, frightened, he keeps saying that Mountain is alive, and is going devour him…”
Cian furrowed his brows as he listened. Mountain is alive… huh…
"It is incredible indeed.” Then, he suddenly turned his head towards a ravine they entered. His eyes narrowed, slightly strange. Alive… that might not be just a nonsensical talk, “… Leve, do you see it? The rocks are tilting on one side, and the rock on the opposite side is tilting too. The two sides are tilting towards each other. It seemed the two cliffs fell to each other one day at the same time and started to support each other. Day after day, it became like this." he stops as he pointed at the strange thing he noticed.
Levelia didn't put it in the heart when she heard what Cian said. However, suddenly she was enlightened and her eyes widened in amazement. She looked at the ravine and realized that it was true. There were two cliffs falling to each other. That was why the rocks were all tilting.
It was exactly like what Cian said.
The two mountains fell to each other at the same time and supported each other in the end so that they didn't fall.
Levelia had come to this place several times, unlike Cian. However, she had never come up with such an idea. She and the others just directly went through the ravine. Not that she and the other brave adventurers were a careless people, but they would never think that it was such a case.
It was such a strange scene. Cian was an intelligent modern-era man who had lived as an assassin who always observed and scrutinizes every detail for safety. Hence, it had become a habit for him to see things in different aspects. That was why he could notice it. What he said exactly enlightened Levelia.
If Cian was right, that the two mountains fell to each other and created a ravine, what kind of power could make it happen?
It was as if there was a strong person enough to have the power to slant the mountains…!
But is that even possible…?
In this era, there were many people existed to have such power. Whether it was based dependently on their martial arts or the magical arts, several people existed that possess the power to change the landscape. So, perhaps some powerful people had indeed appeared and made this cliff.
One thing for certain though, is that this cliff was a man-made. However, the real problem was not the fact that several people have the power to achieve this feat, but that the two mountains had to prevent collapse. Neither of the mountains could collapse during the process and the countless days after it was finished!
That was the real problem!
Levelia thought for a while and came up with an uncertain possibility. With her power, she certainly couldn’t achieve this feat in the first place. She was strong but gorging a mountain, she’s still far from that. The true experts that can do this, are either approaching the power of the Gods, or those the so-called demi-gods.
To accomplish this phenomenon, power is not the only thing that is needed though. First of all, the mountains must be really strong. Second, when one made the mountains fall, it had to be accurate and punctual. That was the only way to keep the mountains from collapsing. That was the only way to keep the ravine existing for countless years!
It seemed to be a doable plan. However, Levelia had a problem. She could think of such a way, but the famous people in the continent, those who are considered extremely powerful, was not able to accomplish it. She has no doubts. There is a limit to their strength. To really able to cause this feat, one required overwhelming power, fast speed, and perfect precision. It wouldn't work without any of these.
Levelia reckoned that no one currently still living was able to do it. Not only no one in the human world could do it, but also in the Demon Empire, who was known as the most powerful empire in the world, with the Demon Empress as the strongest.
Cian shared the same thought. He knows how powerful his mother was, but this kind of feat was already in the realm of the Gods. And besides, judging from the age of the cliff, not that he was a professional, but he was certain that this cliff had existed for more than a thousand years already, and yet this cliff has still existing..!
How wonderful…!
How magnificent!
All in all, Cian had a conclusion. What he said was possible, but nobody in this world could do it!
There must be something… truly something inside this Winter Mountain a mystery that no one had yet to find out…!
"This is Mountain is not only rich in magical power. But also, it is known as the mountain of beasts and medicines." The Dark Elf; Aerean who had heard Levelia and Cians conversation sighed and muttered. “This Mountain was famous for being a Forbidden Area, with monsters that are capable of destroying the entire continent if let loose. However, even with that, they never walk out of the mountain, and instead stayed inside here. Who knows why, but it is quite strange, don’t you think?”
“Now that you mention it…” Levelia nodded her head. Her gaze flashed strange but confusing thoughts.
“…you’re saying there is an invisible power that was restricting the monsters to leave the mountain, or worse, there is something that the monsters wanted in this mountain, that they choose to stay in this place without hesitation, rather than roam free outside of this Mountain,”
Though, the former is more likely... Cian asked lightly, but when he said it, the others seemed to have some sort of enlightenment. Their eyes widened in understanding…
“Either of the two makes this Mountain even much more desirable than anything in this world. A mystery that may be related to the Gods themselves,” Cian sigh in a daze.
“That’s a rather interesting thought, my dear friend… although we know that this mountain is really strange and that there is some sort of mystery within it, something perhaps, left behind by the Gods themselves as everyone thinks. But those ideas of yours are the first one,”
The Advanced Class Priest; Dave muttered in admiration. Although he had heard some stories before, since it was not really verified and the mountain was extremely dangerous, no one had really given a thought about it before.
Some perhaps may have, but obviously, they wouldn’t publicize it, such as the people in the scholar organizations. They are famously known for their researchers who value knowledge, but they only stored that information in their archives, not to see the daylight…
They are quite a selfish bunch actually…proud with their intelligence, and see themselves standing above others…