Mithra appraised the individuals before her.
She had initially intended to simply stroll past with a laugh, but upon observing the shortest of the five figures, entirely concealed within oversized garments, she couldn't help but alter her course of action.
["Chrysalis's Arm," Busheng: A dismembered Wandering God, its first fragment residing within this body, awaiting the moment of its re-emergence.]
[— It resembles a reptile, yet it is not a reptile.]
Upon sensing a Wandering God, Mithra froze.
The five individuals likely wished to avoid confrontation. After a brief exchange of whispers, they planned to depart immediately. Mithra's fixed gaze made them visibly uncomfortable.
"Deal with it?"
"Let's not cause trouble. We should leave. We aren't violating our principles, at least not yet."
"Why is she staring at us so intently? Is there something odd about our appearance?"
"Exactly, aren't we dressed quite secretly? Isn't that standard procedure in the Dream Nexus?"
"Is this person unwell?"
Even though they had tried to keep their voices low, Mithra registered every word clearly.
She paused in contemplation, then chose what she felt was the most suitable approach, stepping forward to address them: "That 'Chrysalis'…"
The moment the word "Chrysalis" left her lips, the initially wary atmosphere among the five instantly fractured. What followed was a surge of murderous intent!
Two cold flashes of light materialized. Mithra's legs immediately condensed with Vitality enhancement, and she retreated with extreme speed, dodging the attack.
Swish!
The garment covering her chest was directly torn open, and her tight gray shirt was stained crimson.
Mithra ignored the wound, her lips trembling slightly, but her eyes were locked onto the two who had moved: one's hand had morphed into a blade, the other's into a scythe.
[Flesh Transmutation: A Self miracle. A miracle that directly alters the physical body itself. Its shape, quality, material, etc., can all be freely adjusted within a certain scope. However, this process may cause the spirit to deviate accordingly. The most critical aspect of this miracle is its potential for reversion.]
[— On the path to pursuing power, one's appearance will inevitably undergo complete transformation.]
["Chrysalis" Curse: After consuming fragments of the Wandering God known as "Chrysalis," the power of the Flesh Transmutation miracle will be further amplified. They gain the ability to utilize more miracles that do not originate from their Self-Flesh. The method for reversion may become an unimportant detail.]
[— Reserved sustenance marked by "Chrysalis." Dance to your heart's content before your demise.]
The scythe-wielder was slightly surprised that Mithra hadn't immediately collapsed despite being attacked at such close range. However, he said nothing more, swiftly advancing to deliver the finishing blow.
But the next moment, Mithra directly vanished.
He froze, until his companion behind him called out, snapping him back to reality. In a startled instant, a pair of lightless eyes had already closed in on him.
A simple yet cracked hammer smashed down upon his head.
His body rapidly transformed, evading the blow like melting flesh. But Mithra had already anticipated this possibility. Her other hand had already manifested the Ki totem, releasing Ki Conduction!
The red vortex at close range effectively restrained this mass of slime. Vitality extended to the hammer, and it swung again.
After two dull thuds, Mithra still registered the impact sensation as poor. Even under restraint, when struck, this slime still tried its utmost to shift its form to mitigate the damage taken.
Once the Ki Conduction effect subsided, the slime darted away instantly.
Mithra had no chance for pursuit, because three assailants immediately lunged at her simultaneously from behind.
Except for the one called "Busheng," all of them attacked.
Mithra's two fists were inadequate against these three, who possessed multiple limbs. Two of the attackers even transformed their hands into flexible long ropes, which tangled Mithra's arms and pulled them taut amidst the chaos.
Even with Vitality reinforcing her arms, resisting the force they exerted proved difficult.
The blade-hand, seizing the precise opportunity, swiftly extended his appendages, transforming them into blades and directly stabbing Mithra in the abdomen.
Phok phok!
The sound of sharp objects piercing flesh rang out simultaneously.
The blade-hand froze.
He had impaled Mithra, but he, too, had been pierced.
Four blades, emerging silently from Mithra's abdomen, had awaited him as he made his move.
All three assailants were stunned by this sudden reversal.
Mithra immediately counterattacked, swiftly tripping the blade-hand directly in front of her, forcing him to his knees before her. Her other leg quickly hooked upward, aiming a kick at his head.
A rock totem formed on her leg, "Dust Accumulation" adhered to her foot, and a sharp Stone Shard extended from her toes.
Bang!
Blood scattered everywhere. The blade-hand flew backward, red dots appearing momentarily on his body, then shattering and quickly reassembling.
Mithra grabbed the fleshy "ropes" that bound her arms.
A fire totem formed, "Burning"!
[Burning: Miracle of Fire. A miracle born for combustion. Upon release, it shows no discrimination toward friend or foe; its heat treats everyone equally.]
Sizzle—
The arms of the two individuals instantly began to burn, desperately wanting to let go, but Mithra had no intention of releasing her grip now.
Swoosh!
The outcome of a four-on-one engagement ending in such a sorry state greatly unsettled the shortest attacker, "Busheng." He made his move decisively.
His physique showed no obvious alteration, but from beneath the long robe on one arm, a skin-colored hook-claw extended.
That speed was even more rapid; Mithra's dynamic vision couldn't track it for a moment.
The hook-claw instantly slashed across Mithra's neck!
More than half of Mithra's neck was severed, blood gushing out.
Busheng once again brought his hand down, severing the arms of the two burning individuals Mithra was grappling, rescuing them.
Suddenly, a hammer swung up from below. Busheng reacted swiftly, leaping backward, executing a light backflip to establish distance from Mithra. The hood covering his head was thrown back, revealing a grotesquely transformed face.
It appeared he was once a handsome youth, but half of his face was now entirely bald, with pulsating, haphazardly grown flesh obscuring half of his features. An ugly scar, resembling a handprint, gripped half of his countenance.
He stared at Mithra in disbelief.
How could someone sustain a nearly severed neck cut and still not expire?
Mithra held her head with one hand, maintaining stability during regeneration. Her body was slightly unbalanced, but she forced stability using Vitality. Her spine was likely damaged.
The retreating individuals all stared at Mithra in astonishment.
Ding~.
Cast Calmness first.
"Why so surprised? Aren't you as shocked as I am?" Mithra said, holding her head, puzzled. The blades embedded in her abdomen slowly retracted at this moment.
Her throat was still whistling air through the deep gash in her neck; her voice was hoarse and unnatural.
The individual Mithra had repeatedly struck hadn't yet fully reformed. The two whose arms had been severely burned were also trembling, drenched in cold sweat. The one whose body had been pierced by blades and then sustained a head kick was even paler; one slight error, and even his life force connection would have been severed!
Busheng's contorted face was grim and hard to read. He pulled his hood back up to conceal his face: "Retreat. This person is exceptionally peculiar."
So, the antagonist complains first, does she?
A mere flesh-clone scoffs at simple regeneration and drawing blades from its own stomach?
Mithra had numerous sharp retorts forming internally.
The five staggered backward.
But before Mithra's neck had fully healed, her body still felt sluggish. She attempted to pursue for two steps, but her legs were unresponsive.
Damn it, she thought, if only I had completed Sensory Synchronization for my body parts, or even my neck, I wouldn't be so hampered by this minor issue.
As a result, she didn't even ascertain what the five individuals were ultimately trying to accomplish.
She had simply intended to exchange greetings and inquire about the "Chrysalis Wandering God." They were potential future interaction partners, after all.
Yet, the moment the name "Chrysalis" was uttered, this group, who had initially seemed quite approachable, immediately turned hostile.
It was likely a grave misunderstanding.
Evidently, the name "Chrysalis" was a topic that could not be brought into the open.
But there was nothing she could do about it now. Since they had, without a single word, attempted to sever Mithra's neck, Mithra would now have to find an opportunity to smash Busheng's head in return. In any case, flesh-clones were not vulnerable to such trauma.
After her neck had completely regenerated, Mithra breathed a slight sigh of relief. She rubbed her mouth, which always tended to move involuntarily after a heavy impact. She then surveyed the immediate surroundings.
Even when detached from the main host body, those flesh-clones' severed tissues maintained vitality for a relatively long duration, but after about a second, they would degrade into ordinary meat.
Mithra picked up a sturdy branch and poked at a pile of flesh that had already begun to attract insects. Her eyes provided no further useful information, so she ceased searching.
During this time, her attire also regenerated.
She hadn't anticipated testing Matsuri's craftsmanship so soon. Although the clothes regenerated slower than Mithra's own body, it was merely a set of garments; there was no need to be overly demanding.
Mithra had originally planned to test its regeneration capability in front of Matsuri when she first received the clothes, but she wisely decided against it, given Matsuri's somewhat unnerving smile.
After all, tearing up brand-new clothes right in front of the tailor, even in the name of testing its functionality, was profoundly impolite and odd.
Temporarily diverting her attention from these trivial matters, Mithra turned to look at the high wall not far away.
It appeared to be a city fortification, and even standing at its base, the oppressive feeling emanating from that colossal structure was quite strong.
Although this deviation was a teleportation error caused by the pouch's side effects, Mithra wasn't in a rush to immediately recalibrate and teleport back on track.
Setting aside the possibility of landing in the wrong location again, her primary interest was still captivated by the imposing city wall before her. In any case, she was certainly near Xyrin City, and her allotted preparation time reported to the placement center had been extensive, granting her a chance to relax.
Walking alongside the city wall, taking in the sights, Mithra suddenly detected a commotion.
Following the sound, her eyes widened slightly.
Before her, the scene was bright and clear. Sunlight shone down, illuminating a vibrant blue sky.
The reason the sunlight could penetrate down to her level was because that tall city wall featured a missing corner near where Mithra stood.
Thanks to this breach, Mithra, positioned at the wall's base, could glimpse the urban landscape within the city limits. Distinctive architectural rooftops framed the distant horizon, while the city's periphery gave way to vast farmlands, and figures of people coming and going could be seen on the roads below.
The expansive, open vista laid out before her was completely unlike Gross Town or even the small settlement at the foot of Gross Mountain.
Perhaps, at this moment, she was truly witnessing a fraction of the Dream Nexus iceberg.
However, after taking a moment to appreciate the view, Mithra remained more concerned about the structural integrity—specifically, why this section of the city wall had collapsed.
In fact, this breach had undergone some brief, temporary remediation, and one could observe simple scaffolding structures built directly into the gap in the wall.
Although this makeshift repair jarred with the grand nature of the city wall itself, even seeming contradictory, it added a layer of perceived depth to the location.
A small hamlet built upon the city wall extended all the way down to the ground level, outside the main boundaries of Xyrin City, and it was quite large in scale.
Mithra strolled through this area. For a moment, she didn't observe anyone she could immediately identify as an Earthling. Her current attire, crafted by Matsuri in the Dream Nexus style, was simple enough that she wasn't particularly conspicuous.
Standing before a small stall, examining the dried meat hanging for sale, Mithra paused thoughtfully.
Earlier, she and Redwyn had thoroughly searched Gross Town, genuinely accumulating a respectable amount of gold and silver currency usable within the Dream Nexus. Later, the Holy Sanctuary had also provided her with some funds.
The currency of the Dream Nexus had been standardized during the "Twin Kings" era, following the Forty-Four Pillar Gods epoch. Although the reign of the Twin Kings was brief, through a series of historical transformations, the currency had miraculously avoided being re-fragmented and remained generally accepted across most territories.
As for why Mithra was so focused on those slices of dried meat, it was, naturally, because she felt a slight pang of hunger.
This fixation was one of the residual effects of her awakened beast nature: the sight of meat, regardless of actual hunger level, triggered an inexplicable urge. Fresh meat was preferable, of course.
However, dried or cured cuts were also acceptable.
She had nearly lost control during her previous confrontation with those Flesh slimes. Now, she felt she needed to consume something to properly soothe her primal instincts.
"You don't appear to be a local resident, customer. Are you visiting from elsewhere?" Mithra was debating whether to make a purchase when the owner, who was perched on a wooden barrel while holding a crude, small pipe, addressed her.
Mithra looked at him and nodded: "Yes, I just arrived. My intention was to proceed directly into Xyrin City, but I hadn't anticipated finding such a place existing within the gap of the city wall."
"Not expecting it is quite normal. No one would ever imagine such a rupture in this majestic Xyrin City unless they saw it with their own eyes. This dates back to the wartime period. Legend says a Wandering God was responsible," the owner stated leisurely.
"Wandering God?" The keyword instantly caught her attention.
"Well, most likely. In this age, what else possesses such catastrophic power besides those Wandering Gods? The brief reign of the Twin Kings was overthrown by Wandering Gods. They say that period of existence was termed the 'Era of Wandering God Chaos'."
Mithra nodded in acknowledgment.
She had researched similar information on Earth previously.
Following the era of the forty-four Pillar Gods, the great miracle known as the Twin Princes became the two supreme monarchs who led humanity. However, the period of prosperity was fleeting. With the unrestrained proliferation of miracles, Wandering Gods multiplied rapidly. The devastation wrought by these Wandering Gods triggered a chain reaction, resulting in the collapse of the unified Miracle Dynasty.
The reign of the Twin Kings concluded, and the proliferation of Wandering Gods reached its zenith.
That was an epoch of darkness and chaos even more profound than the time of the forty-four Pillar Gods, where all living beings existed under the terrifying shadow cast by the Wandering Gods.
According to the survivors' oral histories, that cruel era was termed the "Era of Wandering God Chaos."
It was only when humanity gradually unified for mutual warmth, fortified its collective power, regulated the deployment of miracles, and marshaled targeted strength to resist and eliminate the Wandering Gods that they finally pierced through that dark historical period, thus ending the Era of Wandering God Chaos.
It seemed logical that a metropolis as vast as Xyrin City could not have remained unscathed during that tumultuous time, with even a section of its wall being destroyed.
"The city never quite mustered the resources to fully restore the wall. The reconstruction project was left half-finished, and subsequently, nobody bothered with it. Then, some individuals who couldn't remain inside the city, along with outsiders seeking sanctuary who were denied entry at the inner gates, settled here in this breach," the owner remarked with a hint of nostalgia and a sigh. "The city dwellers also turned a blind eye to us. We even dared to name this place 'Akimitsu Village.' Everyone here is quite amicable; feel free to relax, customer, there aren't so many restrictive rules here."
Mithra offered a light thank you. She was genuinely intrigued by these fringe histories shared by people living on the margins.
As a gesture of gratitude, she purchased two substantial portions of dried meat. After thanking the proprietor, she departed.
Having explored the base of the wall, she decided to ascend directly onto the rampart itself.
In contrast to the ancient and exquisite stonework of the original construction, the sections added by later generations were visibly much simpler, yet having withstood the passage of much time, they showed no structural compromise.
It was just that Mithra always suspected those somewhat precarious and narrow pathways must have resulted in countless fatal falls over the years.
The small, room-sized dwellings built atop the rampart were not much larger than the old-fashioned brick and tile houses she remembered. In fact, due to the spatial constraints of the city wall, they were likely more comparable to makeshift cardboard shelters.
Stepping carefully over the uneven path, Mithra's gaze continuously directed upward.
Finally, she reached the very top of the city wall. Nothing obstructed her view, and the cold wind whipping down from the altitude ruffled her cloak and long hair, instilling in her a sense of vastness.
The panorama was quite striking.
Then.
Boom!
Not far below the city wall, amidst a cluster of housing structures, an explosion erupted.
...
Xyrin City, Southwest Sector.
This was the usual residential area for the common populace of the city. Beyond this lay their farmlands. Taxes in Xyrin City were certainly not light, but in this era, even within the sovereign territory of a great nation in the Dream Nexus, the wild frontiers offered no guarantee of safety. Securing long-term employment within the city walls was already challenging, leaving the common folk here with few alternatives.
Recently, however, everyone had experienced a considerable easing of tension.
This was because a contingent of individuals from the Enchanted Realm had arrived. These were Enchanted Realm personnel who had an arrangement with the city's nobility, coming to offer their assistance without charge.
The reputation of Enchanted Realm people within the orderly regions of the Dream Nexus had improved considerably in recent years. Certain factions had come to realize that Enchanted Realm inhabitants were not inherently lawless.
They were primarily driven by avarice; provided the compensation was adequate, they were usually amenable to negotiation.
Of course, asking Enchanted Realm people to farm was usually unthinkable; that would incur another expense.
But this time, the city's nobility spoke of cooperation with the Enchanted Realm people, allowing them to share some of the harvest, which they naturally enjoyed hearing about.
Many Enchanted Realm people had flowed into Xyrin City in recent years.
Although Enchanted Realm people enjoyed favorable conditions in many aspects, there seemed to be various considerations on the Enchanted Realm side as well. They also required employment, and they also sought to earn currency to support their families.
Opportunities might be scarce in the Enchanted Realm, but the Dream Nexus offered many.
Some preferred traversing north and south, adventuring irresponsibly, while others genuinely sought an unobstructed job to secure a steady income.
Leon silently concluded his work for the day. After returning his farming implements to their proper storage, he wiped away the sweat.
The famously flamboyant dandy from Hydria University on Earth had just finished his agricultural duties and returned.
His classmates surrounding him were all voicing complaints.
"Blast it! What kind of internship forces us to do manual labor here?"
"After a few days of farming, when can we transfer to the Guard detail?"
"The Guard detail is restricted to third and fourth-year students, cough cough. Anyway, it's better than some courses that have to take care of livestock. A friend of mine said someone in their class got headbutted into a manure pile by a pig."
"Wow, how utterly tragic…"
"Isn't the Guard detail just patrolling and standing watch anyway? My legs swelled up terribly when I was assigned that in my third year."
"Whose fault is it for neglecting to complete the Sensory Synchronization on your legs earlier? The advisor even reminded you!"
"So this internship basically teaches us nothing worthwhile!"
"Hmph, far too much chatter." Leon glared at them impatiently.
As they spoke, they gestured wildly. One person accidentally jostled Leon, immediately offering profuse apologies.
"If not for Vitality, you lot, who spend all day fantasizing about adventuring in the Dream Nexus, are nothing more than pampered, useless wastrels. If you don't seize this chance to temper your character, and you still have the energy to whine about Ki, it only proves your lack of foresight!" Leon had no intention of sparing his classmates' feelings, directly admonishing them.
They looked at Leon, not daring to offer any rebuttal.
If they dared to argue, they would immediately face a challenge for currency.
They wouldn't win much coin, and they would certainly sustain injuries. This young master, known for his temper, was already accustomed to settling disputes this way.
And most importantly, debating wouldn't alter the outcome.
Leon, working diligently in the fields, wore the light fabric garments issued here. Aside from his superior Vitality, he showed no sign of being a pampered dandy, revealing a pair of decidedly powerful, clearly defined muscular arms. It was obvious Leon maintained a regular physical regimen.
After scolding them, Leon turned his focus back to his task, continuing his work.
They naturally had temporary housing arranged, and the conditions were as spartan as the current environment suggested.
Many of the trainees were clearly slacking off during their required work hours, yet still possessed the energy to socialize in the city after finishing for the day. Leon genuinely embraced this rigorous lifestyle, though he didn't complain. As long as he flexibly applied Vitality to strengthen his body, excessive exhaustion was avoided. Complaining about fatigue was merely an act.
Returning to his assigned small, temporary dwelling, Leon was about to settle in for rest and meditation.
Boom!
An explosion erupted nearby.
He abruptly turned his head, gazing at the plumes of black smoke billowing into the vast sky.
Hesitating for only a moment, he sprinted directly toward the source.
He mentally mapped the nearby urban street grid. That location was a highly populated commercial zone!
Rushing to the explosion site, the din of panicked voices was incessant in his ears. Civilians on the streets fled frantically.
Leon's eyes widened. He instantly imprinted the scene before him into his memory, then channeled Vitality into his limbs and even throughout his core, charging forward.
He rescued several people who were nearly trampled by the fleeing crowd and guided them to a secure area. Then he swiftly dashed toward a structure dangerously close to the epicenter of the blast.
"Everyone evacuate immediately! That rooftop is about to give way!" Leon shouted, his voice resonating with Ki.
The people near that roof panicked.
Rumble!
A secondary structural failure occurred. Leon bravely charged inward, visible strain (perhaps interpreted as "tears") streaming from the corners of his eyes.
He utilized his sight to cast a water miracle!
His hands swiftly manipulated the water flow, weaving a protective water barrier that directly intercepted the collapsing structure, buying precious time for the fleeing populace.
Once the crowd had successfully dispersed, Leon finally couldn't sustain the effort any longer. The water wall dissipated, and he was engulfed by the falling debris.
"Cough, cough…" Shaking off the dust, Leon, with a face smeared gray and ashen, pushed away the planks and stones pinning him down. He couldn't help but frown.
A pang of pain radiated from his back. Surely that wasn't a serious injury…?
He was about to confirm the condition of the nearby civilians when his Believer's sense was suddenly triggered. He abruptly spun around to look behind him.
Approaching footsteps registered. Figures clad in robes that completely concealed their forms appeared.
"You lot, this explosion—it was orchestrated by you, wasn't it?" Leon confronted them, his expression grave.
"Stop asking such obvious questions," the shortest figure stated. These five individuals showed no intention of engaging Leon further, turning directly to depart.
A tiny jet of water swiftly shot towards the speaking figure.
Swoosh!
The short figure instantly vanished on the spot. The stream of water missed its target.
Leon was startled; his eyes darted, vaguely catching a fleeting shadow. However, while his eyes registered movement, his body couldn't react in time!
Beneath that robe, a skin-colored hook-claw swiftly lunged toward his neck.
Suddenly, Leon and a few others were enveloped in red light, then, with a dizzying whirl, as if violently ejected, they were hurled outwards.
Although the method was extremely rough, causing a throbbing pain in his scalp, Leon had successfully evaded mortal danger. He flew through mid-air, looking back at the figure who had intervened...
Mithra?!
Mithra charged toward the opponent expressionlessly, drawing the Hunter Greatsword from her hip.
Clang!
A metallic reverberation erupted. Mithra, gripping the sword with both hands, brought it down upon the short figure. Although the strike was barely parried by the opponent's hook-claw, she drove the blow down forcefully, utilizing her superior physical strength to pin him to the ground.
"My, the Dream Nexus is quite a small venue, isn't it?" Mithra's voice was steady and unruffled, her dark, inky eyes meeting Busheng's panicked gaze from beneath his robe.
"You again!" Busheng replied in a calm voice.