When Genji had gotten far enough from the village, he summoned Bruce and bolted back to the river. From there, they followed the flow from a distance. During this journey, Genji also found the answer to his previous question about separating the poison from the animals.
"Absorb," Genji commanded after burying [Jaguar] hilt deep into a sandworm.
The next moment, the silver weapon heated up and drew in the blood of the creature. The flesh twisted around the wound, and a shriek of pain deafened Genji. The worm shook violently and slammed harshly into the ground, doing everything to shake him off, but Genji tirelessly held on.
Seconds later, its movements weakened in intensity, and the worm slouched onto the ground. After a few involuntary twitches, the worm stopped moving, and Genji pulled out the blade.
With this absorption, [Jaguar] gained a slight purple tint around the edges but was otherwise unchanged. It was a small change, but he had plenty of animals to kill.
"Do you want to try it?" Genji asked Bruce as he sat down to rest.
Bruce gave him a disgusted look and shook his head. He had standards now and refused to try this creepy crawler. Plus, it looked far from appetizing after Genji's processing.
"Suit yourself."
Genji got up and continued traveling, stopping occasionally to dispose of any attackers. Otherwise, it was a relatively easy journey since Bruce could outrun most of the animals.
The next day, Genji spotted a branching path in the river's flow. It was a small channel, but it was man-made, so Genji made this his new guiding point.
With the turbulence of the river, it was very difficult to carve such a channel, but this settlement managed, demonstrating its capabilities. Plus, only a prosperous settlement needed such a direct source of water, making this a decent location to start.
Soon, Genji came across a lively town full of people from all walks of life. Merchants set up stalls around the streets, hawking their wares to any passerby. Warriors peddled their loot from their adventures, and mages gathered to discuss their experiences.
A cacophony of sounds washed over the streets, illustrating the vibrant atmosphere. Occasional guards patrolled the area, maintaining order and peace among the travelers.
Many of them wore loose, light-colored clothes with a white cloth wrapped around their heads to protect them from the sun. It was an intermingling of shades of yellow and white that further enhanced the prosperous feeling.
Compared to them, Genji stood out like a sore thumb with his black cloak and tight-fitting equipment. However, Genji refused to switch to more comfortable clothes since that meant taking off his equipment. He would rather endure the heat of the day than let down his guard.
Walking past these stalls, Genji admired the geometric patterns formed by building walls and the unique way the light reflected off these sandstone blocks. It was a different scene than what he was used to, but it took his mind off the temperature and made it bearable for a moment.
As he continued, he spotted a well at the center of the village. Many villagers lined up around it, carrying makeshift buckets to fetch the required water for the day. It was a peaceful sight, devoid of violence and danger common among the outside world.
This was the trading town of Owanda, a small oasis in the desert. It might be man-made, but it was better than the other towns. People from all walks of life gathered here to rest and restock, adding to its prosperity.
To commemorate this place, Genji decided to buy a memento like a tourist in a new location. After walking around some more, Genji settled on a pottery merchant and picked a ceramic jar. It was a plain jar with dull glazes, but the geometric carvings on the side fully encapsulated the beauty of this town.
"Do you accept sandworm ivory?"
The vendor gave him a peculiar look but eventually nodded in agreement. Food was more available here, so crafting materials were welcomed. The only weird thing was the guy who bargained like this.
Genji dropped a small bag and took the jar. It was an impulsive purchase, but it felt good to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. In a way, this embodied his philosophy of doing things without regrets and living with a clear mind. Plus, it wasn't like he had much use for the teeth. If he wanted more, he could just hunt some.
"Did you hear? The dark cultists are at it again."
As Genji was walking back, he heard whispers of an ongoing conversation. Intrigued, Genji slowed down his pace and eavesdropped on it.
"Fuck those lunatics! They are so annoying with their bullshit of summoning the demon lord."
"I know. Like anyone will believe that crap. Everyone knows that demons are things of fiction. These people are all mentally deranged and trying to escape reality."
"Still, we can't let them continue. They've committed too many massacres in the name of the demon god. Even the guards have assembled a crusade against them."
The conversation ended as they shifted to another topic. Still, Genji got plenty of information from them. While he didn't know if demons were real in this world, this was the second time he came across this term.
Genji guessed that demons were some kind of folk tale, but he didn't have enough information to give a definite answer. In any case, he knew what his next course of action was.
"Eliminating these unstable units should count toward my mission, right?"
Genji was speculating about it since the mission was so vague, but there was a good chance. After all, he only had a limited amount of time in this world, so it wouldn't make sense to give him a ridiculously difficult mission.
Genji closed his eyes and spread his senses to determine where this gathering point was. After filtering out the surrounding presences, he sensed a location with many strong auras. Genji opened his eyes and soon came upon a group of warriors and mages, all socializing while they waited.
Among these groups was a peculiar one that stood in perfect formation with straight backs. An air of discipline flared without restraint, discouraging anyone from interacting with them.
This was EonRealm, the first realm Genji interacted with. Genji could still remember their fearsome teamwork that dwarfed any team within their stat range. Luckily, that was in a virtual reality where he had an unfair advantage with his legendary cards.
[Invader detected. Counter mission issued.]
Details: A member of an outside realm has entered the world to contest the world ownership. Repel them.
Bonus: Repel any other invaders in this world.
At this sudden notification, their heads snapped around, searching for the target of this mission. After a sweeping inspection, their eyes landed on Genji and his striking getup.
"Damm! He's not even trying to hide. How arrogant can he be?" They quietly cussed, annoyed about how much effort they spent when he was right before them.
"Don't let your guard down. There's a reason EverRealm chose him to be an invader. If it isn't his tricky abilities, then it's his strength. Otherwise, he would never have been selected," the strategist of the team stated.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"I know, but it still pisses me off how he's flaunting his existence without care."
"Emotions are useless. Remember, we are soldiers. We obey the orders of our commanders. Other than that, throw away all thoughts."
Hearing this, the members saluted and turned to their leader.
"Ilak, what are your orders?"
"We wait. Right now, this extermination takes priority. It's never too late to take care of him afterward."
With that, everyone, including Genji, relaxed their grips on their weapons. Genji had long noticed this group that shot him death glares, but he wasn't certain if they would attack right away.
Since they reigned themselves back, he would also do the same. For Genji, the mission also took precedence. It was just not worth ruining his rating to deal with some enemies right now.
This tense stare-off continued for some time before the leader of the guards stepped up.
"We've waited long enough. Everyone that wanted to join should be here. Let's set off now."
There was no need for speeches or fancy explanations. The only people who required those were bystanders and spectators, who were of no help in this subjugation. Instead of wasting time like that, the leader preferred to start the march. As they reached the borders of the town, the group stopped, and the leader made another announcement.
"From here on out, we will be traveling for a while. If you have any mounts, I suggest you get them. We'll wait one more hour before setting off. Make your preparations in this time and meet us back here. If you're late, then don't bother. We won't wait for you."
Then the guards walked into a building and brought out some camels. These mounts of the desert were few and far between, but they carried crucial supplies for the trip.
Genji took this time to walk out of sight before summoning Bruce.
"That's the gist of it. Try to act like a normal horse, okay?" Genji explained to Bruce, who held up a hoof as if asking for something.
At first, Genji was confused by the motion, but he understood when Bruce gave him the same puppy eyes as before. It was clear what he wanted, but Genji was more surprised by Bruce's attempt at bargaining.
"Fine, I'll increase your allowance when we get back," he acquiesced, unbothered by Bruce's demand.
After all, this was a friend who once sacrificed his life to save Genji. He might have some strange tendencies, but Genji didn't mind since Bruce was dependable when Genji needed him. Bruce tapped his foot happily and followed after Genji, content with the promise.
When they returned, they found their own little corner to pass the time before setting off on another journey through the desert. Many fighters had envious looks upon seeing his mount, but there was little they could do. Who told them that camels were useless in battle? Though where did that guy even get a horse?
Night fell again, but they continued without rest. The cultists' hideouts were close, and the leader wanted to attack under the cover of night, regardless of the temperature.
*BOOOOOOMMMMM*
A giant fireball exploded the cavern walls and announced their presence. Capitalizing on this moment of vulnerability, they rained down other fireballs onto the opening, seeking to weaken them as much as possible before the clash.
In response, a few dark cultists returned fire and burnt a few warriors to ash. Genji watched from a distance and entered stealth to sneak around the flank.
When the cultists regrouped and exited, Genji ambushed them, sowing confusion among their ranks again. The other fighters understood this opportunity and charged into melee range, attacking with fury at their heinous acts.
Among them, EonRealm members had an eye-catching performance with their superb teamwork and lack of casualties. No matter if it was ranged support or a strong melee, they had it all.
If we have to point out one flaw, it would be that they were too standardized. Everyone was similar to the last, and no one had any specialties that distinguished them from the crowd. It was like if any one of them were replaced, there would be no effect on the overall team.
Genji noted this as he observed them from his position. He also paid attention to the aura buffs that the entire group underwent as they fought. Since EonRealm wasn't part of the Spatial Battlefield, Genji never got an in-depth understanding of their abilities. That was why he wanted to make up for it now.
As he came into contact with more realm members, he realized each realm had its own characteristics in behavior and methods. If he wanted to prepare against them, understanding these differences was crucial for any potential conflicts. Plus, Genji had a feeling this group wouldn't let him off easily after the sudden hostility they'd shown.
Genji weaved through the battlefield and did his best to portray the image of an assassin who was heavily reliant on his stealth. It wasn't hard considering his cloak boosted it, but if anyone took that as his trump card, they were in for a rude awakening. Genji wasn't certain that they would fall for it, but it didn't hurt to try. He even got injured by "mistake" to make the act convincing.
When the battle ended, Genji wrapped his wounds with some makeshift bandages and stumbled awkwardly. The leader allowed them to rest for a couple of minutes before making another announcement.
"I'm going to check for any victims in the hideout. If anyone wants to help, feel free. We can always use an extra pair of eyes."
Genji took this opportunity to follow them, appearing like someone panicking for a secluded location to treat his wounds. The EonRealm members saw this and sent a few people as well, looking to see if they could finish him. Yet before they could go far, they lost track of Genji.
"Fucking stealth. He must be a grandmaster," they cursed under their breaths.
Genji watched this scene from his corner but didn't act. After so much performance, it would be a shame to only kill these people and alert the enemies.
After sneaking past them, he explored the cave and searched for anything noteworthy. But other than some decaying remains, Genji found nothing useful. Not even a scrap of food, making him question how this was a hideout at all.
'Just what could they be doing here?'
Genji went deeper and caught up with the main group. After giving them a courteous nod, he veered off on a different path. This separation, though, was only temporary as they met up again in a spacious cave. It seemed that this was the core room since all the tunnels led here.
A heavy smell of blood hit Genji when he entered. Turning to the source, he spotted the leader crouched above a sanguine magic circle. It was a seamless circle, devoid of any imperfections, but that only revealed the amount of blood that went into it.
Genji recognized this circle, specifically its design. It might be unfinished, but he had seen plenty of them when hunting down the violators in the last world. This was a blood sacrifice circle, but it only added to his confusion.
'Isn't that circle used to condense blood diamonds? Why do these cultists know it? And why are they using it?'
These questions tumbled around in his mind, but he knew this was related to the violators. He didn't know what they were planning, and he didn't care. All that mattered was that they were in this world, and Genji could hunt them down for income.
'Don't blame me. You are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.'
After the group confirmed that the circle was harmless, they destroyed it and continued exploring. But other than an escape route that led out the other side, they found nothing worthwhile. Everyone had been killed before the battle, and there were no survivors.
"DAMMIT. THESE FUCKERS DESERVE TO DIE," the leader cursed, slamming his fist into the walls.
It could be seen that he had a bad history with these people, but Genji didn't care enough to ask. He was only a passerby in this world and he refused to be entangled in these matters.
They returned to the main group and set up camp. They'd done enough for the night, and it was time to rest. When everyone entered a light slumber, Genji snuck out and knocked the guard unconscious. Then he untied Bruce from a pole and set off discreetly.
Once he disappeared into the horizon, another tent opened, and EonRealm members poured out.
"Corry, can you track him?"
"No problem. That guy was in such a hurry that he didn't even cover his tracks. He must be pretty troubled by his wounds if he left like that."
"Can't blame him, though. He's only one person being hunted down by an entire party."
"That's enough. We shouldn't let our guard down. He's still an invader," the strategist reminded them.
"I know, but it's not like he can do much."
Then they took on a serious expression and followed after Genji, ready to finish him once he stopped to rest. To their surprise, they encountered him faster than expected in the middle of nowhere.
"That was quick. Did you realize you can't run and decided to make your last stand?"
"No. Everything was according to plan," Genji replied and swapped locations with the elusive shadow that was following them.
Hearing his response, alarm bells rang in the commander's mind, but before he could react, a sharp pain pierced his chest. Looking down, he spotted the tip of a dagger sticking out. Then a firm grip covered his mouth, muffling any yells that might alarm everyone. As the other members were still distracted by his sudden disappearance, Genji twisted the dagger and finished his target off.
With his death, the buffs cast on the party faded and revealed the grim truth. The strategist's pupils dilated in shock and everyone snapped their heads in his direction.
"Kill him!" The strategist shouted instinctively, commanding a hail of attacks to cover Genji.
Berserk, Dance of Death: Switch
An intense aura burst from Genji as he swapped positions again to appear on their flank. Then he flashstepped into their ranks, unleashing a killing spree before they noticed his disappearance.
Dagger Arts: Threading The Needle
Using the geyser of blood from his beheaded foes, Genji conducted one last swap and resumed his lightning-fast attacks. By the end of this confusion, half of them had fallen under his daggers, leaving them shell-shocked at how sudden everything was.
Genji sheathed his daggers and manifested [Curse Bearer] to fire three quick shots before swapping to [Jaguar]. As he charged at the group, more attacks came his way, and he activated Quantum Shield to continue his rampage.
Desperate looks formed on everyone's faces as they realized their predicament, but Genji was relentless. Left with no choice, they scattered in different directions, going into full survival mode.
Without hesitation, Genji used both of his speed-boosting skills and flashstepped after them. Seconds later, he returned to the area with a saber soaked in blood that dripped off and stained the desert ground. There were no survivors in this massacre.
[You have slain members of EonRealm. Since they are the defending party in a world invasion, no rewards will be provided.]
"Clean it up," Genji said, pulling out his sheath.