Confrontation & Snakes
The two special tier guards were the first to reach them, but Eclipse simply bit the heads off one of them, and then grabbed the other into its razor sharp, talon-like claws, before taking off into the air and dropping them onto the ground 20 feet in the air, unconscious. Then Eclipse dived down and ate both guards whole.
Next, Cimon handled two of the three Legacy rank guards himself, using his spear, Dreamspire, to deflect several of his attackers moves and get in several of his own attacks in the process. He had both a fluid and practiced style of attack, like everyone and everything around him in his environment was a dream and he was the only one conscious enough to lucid dream through it; he was experienced at controlling the flow of battle in his environment.
Corven used his Legendary rank weapon and sword art to take on the last Legacy rank cultivator. The guard was faster than Corven and had much more power in the swinging of his lance than Corven had in the swinging of his sword, and, though Corven reacted swiftly enough to block his attacks, Corven's natural skills in handling his sword weren't worse than the guard's. In fact, his adaptability soon began kicking in as the battle prolonged through each clash of blades traded between the two of them, and Corven began adapting to the guard's speed, becoming swifter, more refined, much more calculated than before in his own attacks as he fought back. Eventually, he managed to disarm the cultivator guard before, without even the slightest hesitation, he beheaded him.
Despite his actions, oddly enough, Corven felt no remorse or shame for killing his opponent. After all, he had given the guy ample time to get out of his way and leave, but the guard choose to continue his pointless assault of blocking Corven's path. He felt nothing towards the guy.
'What a drag.' Corven thought to himself, as he looked at the corpse, contemplating turning it into one of his shadows, before he thought better of it. He wanted quality over quantity any day of the week, and, if someone can be beaten by him so quickly, they were high end quality to begin with. 'I think I'll get a donut after returning to the mortal world… Maybe an ice cream as a side… I wonder if ice cream would be considered as a side?'
As Corven's drool dribbled down his face, he hadn't noticed that Quiylan was watching him, and, as Corven was lost in thought, staring at the corpse drooling like a hungry-starved dog, Quiylan couldn't help but assume that perhaps he was dealing with a cannibal. The thought was so horrifying that he had released a shudder unconsciously looking at Corven in a new, much more sinister light.
'What a strange boy,' Quiylan thought to himself with a slight shiver, considering capturing Corven as well, perhaps trading him into slavery. 'That's not the most absurd of ideas…'.
Corven had noticed ever since waking up in the Luminaris Estate, his emotions were different than before — He still felt them, but they weren't as deeply rooted as they were before. It was like he was able to numb himself emotionally, ignoring whatever emotional annoyances that were plaguing him somehow. Guilt wasn't an emotion loud enough to distract him anymore.
"I'm getting tired of repeating myself," Corven said, darkly, getting in stance. He had been wanting to practice his legendary rank swordsman art technique. The chance just happened to come by sooner rather than later. "Get out of my way, or I'll force you."
Quiylan, who sensed no cultivation from this youth, chuckled. He wasn't sure how he was able to use the sword's aura without any cultivation, but Quiylan won't worry about it too much.
"You've brought me such prizes," Quiylan giggled like a mad man. "I'm going to enjoy the wealth you have given me today. And, to show my sincerest gratitude, I'll let my boys show you how thankful I truly am, let them show you the light at the end of the tunnel to my own amusement. Get 'em, boys."
By this time, Eclipse had just finished her feast and Cimon had killed both of his opponents. The only two left were a wide-eyed cultivating guard at the demigod level and a horrified Quiylan — Both of whom turned and fled when their comrades had died. They climbed onto a pegasus each and rode away into the afternoon sky.
Cimon took a step forward, as if to chase after them, but Corven stopped him, his arm outstretched and on his shoulder. As Cimon looked questioningly at Corven, Corven just fixed him with a shake of the head.
"They will return," Cimon warned, cautiously. "And with greater numbers and likely darker intentions."
"I'm aware," chuckled Corven. "But we'll be ready. Plus, if they are that stupid, then we have nothing to worry about."
Nodding in understanding, Cimon mounted his own grey pegasus and Corven mounted Eclipse, who just finished devouring the other three dead bodies of the cultivating guards, licking the scene clean, much to the horrors of the onlookers.
But Corven didn't care.
He was just beginning to understand that the cultivating world of Mythos was one where only the strong could thrive. The strong made the rules and the weak followed them obediently and without hesitation. Corven realized that if he was going to unseal the Shadow Realm, he needed to get strong and he needed to get strong fast.
The rest of the time in Mythos Isles went by swiftly for Corven and Cimon, and without much hassle. The two visited many store and bought many things, such as clothes for Corven, so he didn't have to wear whatever fancy stuff the Luminaris Estate had him in. he was grateful for their help, but he preferred his own style than to borrow one from somebody else.
The next thing they got was a Special tier scabbard for Corven's Legendary rank sword. It had an excellent concealing ability that allowed it to hide the aura coming from any low-level Legendary grade weapon or below, making it excellent for Corven's sword, Darkstar.
The sheath itself wasn't too attractive. Just black, with dark silver embroidered trimmings and a black strap Corven used to strap it — and his sword — to his back. It cost 50 quarts to acquire, but Corven wasn't too worried with the cost as he brought a lot of money with him from his vault after the trials — Not only on him in a sac, but also, in his Shadow Space, where an even greater amount of coin resided.
The next place that they went to was an Armory & Armament Shop, as, according to Cimon, armor was a necessary item for demigods, legacies and cultivators, especially in the legacy cultivation worlds, namely one such as Mythos. Even if it's only light armor, it can save one's life.
The store itself wasn't too big — About the size of an apartment, but it was connected to a separate building — A forgery that had smoke billowing from its many roofs, non stop, as the sound of endless clanking and hammering sounded from the forgery into the main store. The store had various pieces of armor along its walls and quite a few blades, both big and small. Though none caught Corven's attention.
There was the shopkeeper– a beefy adolescent that smelled strongly like burnt metal, wearing an apron as he talked to a customer Corven noticed when he walked in.
Corven did not bother to greet them. He simply asked around, touching each of the armors around him as the information entered his head, their skills and enhancements as well as their levels laid bare for his eyes only, causing Corven to frown. The gesture was heavily observed by both Cimon and the shopkeeper, who only looked his way a few times, frowning himself at Corven's behavior, but maintained his conversation with his customer, evidently considering it more important than Corven behaving strangely.
None of the armours appealed to Corven's liking. He hadn't been in the cultivation world of legacies long, but he had a decent idea of what he wanted in armor and weaponry, and none of the ones in the shop met his quota.
He was just about to turn around and leave when he overheard some of the shopkeeper's conversation with his customer…
"-I don't understand why none of it is to my liking!" the customer was complaining about a short sword she had bought.
"We understand and value your criticism, but, please understand that, because of a powerful Tier A beast blocking supply lines between our main branch and this one here, we did the best we could with what little supplies we had with us," the shopkeeper, at most, looked 14 years old, yet so eloquently spoken, somehow both direct and empathetic. "We apologize for the inconvenience, but, unless the great houses send a cultivator to deal with this matter, this is the best we can do."
Corven thought for a moment before testing out a hunch. He turned around and approached the duo, Cimon at his heels.
"What kind of monster is this Tier A beast?" Corven asked.
The shopkeeper and the customer looked at Corven, quizzically, before the shopkeeper blinked away his confusion and stupor and explained the situation to Corven. "It's a Tier A Great Snake of the Dark Forest, a few hours east of the Mythos Isles. It's been terrifying our shipment suppliers and senselessly killing them everytime we order new supplies —It's bad for business."
Corven thought for a minute, as he considered this. He had a hunch, but he needed to make sure it was do-able. He looked at the shopkeeper.
"If I kill this beast, can you make armor and weaponry out of it?" Corven asked,causing both Cimon and the duo of customer and shopkeeper to wide-eye him.
"We'd be able to make top grade armor and maybe even a weapon or two…Or four!" the shopkeeper enthusiastically said. "We tried hiring adventuring cultivators from the great houses but no one was willing to accept our job of doing it. No one wants to mess with a great snake! Will you help us?"
The shopkeeper — named Marxes— was curious who this young cultivator was and what family he hailed from. He was certain he must be some kind of heir. Afterall, you don't just offer to kill a great snake at the Tier A level in order to make weapon and armor from it. Just by the suggestion of killing a Tier A beast to make armor was something only noblement from the 8 great noble houses or a medium level noble house would suggest — No one else was crazy enough nor had the power to back them up enough to do this. He just wasn't sure which house this boy was from…
"You'll have the snake by tomorrow," Corven nodded, before leaving without another word, leaving both the customer and the shopkeeper stunned.