I pressed my foot on the ground away from the snow and, for the last time, looked back at the Himalayas. I got my purpose from those mountains. At that moment, I remembered a conversation with the orphanage owner lady.
("Always thank those who help you in any way.")
("How?")
("How, you say? Hmm, first join your both hands.")
I lifted my hands in front of me and joined them together.
("Then bring it closer to your chest and tilt your head down to touch the tips of your fingers.")
I did the same. I brought my hands toward my chest and touched my fingertips with my forehead.
("Then say, Thank you. Okay?")
"Thank you, mountains." I blurted the words out.
("See, wasn't that easy?")
It wasn't hard.
Then I turned my head back toward the world ahead of me. I had to go to the train station. It's been four days since we separated, maybe more. I need her help.
[Ding! Ding!]
[Your rewards for Sub-Quest are being sent to you!]
[100 Exp Received!]
[Exp: 540/500]
[You have unlocked your perfect Influence!]
[Exp: 540/10k]
[You have acquired new purpose!]
A series of windows popped up in front of me. I felt my body becoming stronger. My muscles increased in size, and steam started coming out from my body.
I looked at my hands. They were trembling with a powerful surge of energy. "I got my awakening back. I guess I can travel faster now."
[Your Influence — 'Void Body' — has been activated!]
***
I was sitting on a big rubble while rolling the cylinder of my revolver. I looked down at my grey trench coat, which had some dust on it, and I brushed the dust off.
I noticed my team members talking to each other about something. On the other hand, I was waiting for Rayen.
"That bastard, didn't he saw my message?" I had tears in my eyes after seeing my Exp stats.
[Exp: -950/1000]
I stood up and kicked the window. "Are you mocking me?!"
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist. "I swear to god, if that guy didn't come today, when I see him again, I will kill him."
My expression turned into a pout. I hid my face between my hands. "My Exp!"
***
Members of Unity Squad were having a conversation, but suddenly they felt an energy coming toward them. A man who was carrying a woman said with an alert expression, "Someone is coming. He is strong."
A girl who was the youngest in the group stood up instinctively. "W-where is he?"
The man with a sharp expression pointed his finger straight and said, "There."
In front of them stood a man who was covered in void. He had two black horns on his head. His hair was white, and his eyes too. He had a moonlight-like scarf flowing freely from his neck, and his hands were sharp claws.
His body was releasing a heavy amount of Presence, its waves and strings cutting through the land.
The man walked toward them. He analyzed them carefully, and slowly the void started wearing off.
All the people there were completely on their guard, but they didn't attack because they didn't feel hostility from him.
"Are you all... the members of Unity Squad?" he asked.
[Your Influence — 'Void Body' — has been deactivated!]
But before any of them could answer, a loud voice called out the guy's name, "Rayen!" It was Sia Zeliang. She had tears in her eyes.
She jumped at Rayen and hugged him tightly, then pulled back and said, "My Exp didn't go to waste! My lovely Exp!"
(She thought I didn't see the message?)
In an instant, her tear-filled eyes turned into shining, starry ones. "Now I will use your power to earn Exp!" She was completely drooling over my powers.
The man who was carrying a woman, who was feeling emotional from the meeting between Rayen Omiozen and Sia Zeliang, put on a deadpan expression and muttered, "I thought she was really emotional."
The youngest girl from the group put on an awkward smile and said, "How rude."
Sia Zeliang looked back at them and yelled, "Shut up, I used my Exp on him. I need payback!"
She covered her face and said in a low voice, "Otherwise... I will never come out of Negative Exp. I need an influence too."
She then coughed theatrically and announced, "This guy is Rayen Omiozen. First member of my Unity Squad."
(I don't remember a single time I said yes.)
Rayen thought, but he sighed, accepting the fact that he had no other options.
All the members nodded and introduced themselves. The first guy who came forward was the one carrying a woman in a carrier attached to his back. "I am Victor Nolan, and she is my wife, Natalya Nolan. I'm from the United Kingdom, and she's from Russia." He pointed at the woman whom he was carrying on his back.
Natalya from behind said with a smile, "Nice to meet you, kid."
Rayen noticed that Natalya didn't have legs. He nodded and extended a hand to them and said, "I am Rayen Omiozen. Nice to meet you both." He spoke with a calm expression.
Both of them shook his hand and smiled at him, but sadly he couldn't pass it back to them.
Then came the youngest girl from the group. From her appearance, it could be said that she was East Asian. "I-I am Wang Huiyin, nineteen, from China."
"Nice to meet you, Wang Huiyin." They both shook hands. Then came the last man. He was the oldest in the group. He had a thick beard, and his expression was calm.
"I am Thomas Mortel. From Denmark. I'm not from your Earth like the others. I'm from Earth-6."
Rayen shook hands with him too.
"So where are you from? From your face, I can't determine it," Thomas asked while rubbing his chin.
"He is from India!" Sia Zeliang replied.
"Really? But he doesn't look like that." Thomas looked at Rayen from up to down.
(There is something about him that makes him different from us. He doesn't look like any race I have ever seen.)
"Rayen, do you know what your nationality is?" Victor asked.
"Yes, I am from... I am from..." Rayen tried to remember, but he couldn't. It was like something was stopping the word from coming out.
{An Error has No Nationality and Earth}
A window popped up. The message was from the same thing that punished The Order.
(I see.)
"I'm an Error. I have no nationality and Earth. I am a glitch that exists beyond the worlds," Rayen said with a neutral expression.
All the members of Unity Squad nodded. They didn't look surprised enough. Maybe Sia Zeliang had already told them about it.
"But anyway, now everyone is here, so I will tell you all about our new mission." Sia Zeliang said with a smirk. She was standing on a rubble that made the others look up.
"Wait."
Rayen raised a hand to stop Sia from speaking further. "What, Rayen? Do you have anything to say?"
"No. I have something to ask you. Can I have you here for a moment?" Rayen asked, standing away from the group.
Sia nodded without questioning further and walked toward him, while the other members stood far away, watching them attentively.
"What is it that you want to ask?" Sia was now standing in front of Rayen. She looked down at his trench coat and asked before him, "Can I have it?"
"No," Rayen replied blankly.
"Sia," Rayen said.
Sia's eyes widened for a moment with a surprised expression, then she smiled like a wolf.
Rayen looked confused when he saw her smiling. "Why are you smiling?"
"This is the first time I heard my name from your mouth." Her wolf-like smile was still attached to her face.
"Oh." Rayen realized it too, but he didn't waste more time and asked the main questions, "Did I know you before coming here? Are you related to me? Do you remember me from your childhood? Was I there?"