Chương 17: New Horizons

When Joe arrived at Hertford, he was met with an impressive sight, a nearly ten-metre-high wall encircling the town.

"Wow," he muttered to himself. They had worked hard here. The wall looked sturdy, well-constructed, built to last. Returning to the road, he approached the main gate, where three armed guards stood watch. Before he even got close, two more appeared atop the wall, rifles trained on him. Joe took a deep breath, already bracing for the inevitable interrogation.

"Stop, visitor," a voice rang out. Joe halted, keeping his hands raised; he used Identify. Identify: Malcolm, Human, Warrior level 33; Alex, Human, Warrior level 32; Shaun, Human, Warrior level 30; Pete, Human, Warrior level 31. All of the guards were around level thirty, strong but not unreasonable.

"Wait there a moment, Joe," Malcolm said, signalling to one of the wall guards. The man disappeared somewhere Joe couldn't see. The others remained tense, exchanging wary glances. Joe stood as non-threateningly as possible, but it didn't seem to help. After about five minutes, the gate opened, and a man stepped out.

"Joe? May I call you that?" the newcomer asked.

"Yes, that's fine," Joe replied.

"May I ask your name?" He had already identified the man but thought it polite to ask.

"Zack," the man answered gruffly. Dressed in full military garb, Zack was clean-shaven, authoritative, and, at level 35, the highest-ranked individual present. He wasted no time.

"To get straight to the point. Is that title real?"

"Yes," Joe replied. Zack studied him for a long moment before nodding.

"Alright, and what brings you here today?"

"I'm looking for family members," Joe said. Zack gave a curt nod before turning to Malcolm.

"I'll take the visitor from here," he stated.

"Follow me, Joe." He turned on his heel and headed for the gate. Joe followed without complaint. He understood military men, best to just go where you're told. They entered the camp, moving swiftly toward a building not far from the gate. The guard stationed outside snapped a salute to Zack as they passed. Joe? He just received a stare. No words were exchanged as Zack led him inside and up to the second floor. They entered a room where two more military officers were waiting.

The three men saluted each other, and Joe immediately noted the rank insignias on the newcomers' shoulders.

"Captain, Major," Zack saluted.

"I have brought our visitor as advised." Stepping aside, he gestured toward Joe. Joe stood still, sunglasses still on, realizing he'd forgotten to take them off before entering. At this point, he decided to keep them on.

"This is Captain Keene and Major Tom," Zack added. Joe almost laughed. But somehow he held it back. Barely.

"Greetings, Joe," Keene said, his tone measured.

"You're probably wondering why we brought you here in this manner?"

"Not particularly," Joe replied.

"I'm a stranger with a weird race, a giant egg on my back, and a Progenitor title. Everyone treats me the same." Keene raised an eyebrow.

"Blunt and to the point." He nodded approvingly before continuing.

"We just have a few questions before we allow you into the camp." Joe blinked.

"Will I be allowed in the camp?" Keene chuckled.

"Of course. We are not barbarians. We just need to ascertain your intentions." He gestured toward a chair. Joe sat. The others followed suit.

"Now," Major Tom said, folding his hands, "to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit today?"

"I came here looking for some family members. I was told they were last seen on their way here a few months ago. Just hoping they are still around." Keene and Tom studied him silently for thirty full seconds before exchanging a glance.

"Everything you've said is true," Tom finally said.

"We see no reason to keep you further," he continued.

"Zack will take you to get a visitor ID. I hope you find the people you are looking for." Just like that, the meeting was over. Zack ushered him out of the room and down the stairs, guiding him to a reception desk where a clerk processed his visitor ID in minutes.

"Huh, that was easy." Joe then realized he had no idea where to go next for the first time since arriving. __ Keene stood by the window, watching as the man with the egg strapped to his back disappeared into the camp. Only now did he let himself breathe. His shirt clung to him, drenched in sweat. He had forced himself to remain composed during their brief conversation, but in truth, standing in the same room as a Progenitor had been unnerving.

"That was… unnerving," Tom muttered beside him, echoing Keene's thoughts. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

"What did you think of him? Is he a threat?" Keene glanced back at the now-empty street before exhaling.

"No." His answer was true.

"Even though he was only level 21, his presence alone was… overwhelming." He shook his head.

"I don't think we could have stopped him if we tried." He returned to his desk, grabbed a glass of water, and took a long sip.

"Besides," he added, setting the glass down, "your skill didn't detect a single lie. If he finds what he's looking for, he might actually prove useful to us." Tom frowned.

"Let's hope that happens." He hesitated, then glanced out the window one last time.

"But what the hell was that egg on his back?" __ Joe walked through the camp, his brow furrowed in confusion. First, he was stunned by the sheer number of people, hundreds of thousands, if not more, living within the walled city. He had expected a sizable settlement, but this? Finding Kai's parents would be far more complicated than he had anticipated. And then there was the other problem. Something was off.

He had approached a group of people for the tenth time since arriving, asking simple questions about the camp, just gathering information. Each time, they answered quickly… and then bolted. What the hell? It was clear that they wanted to get away from him as fast as possible. Joe sighed. Time to change tactics. He noticed a few military personnel subtly trailing him since entering the camp. Maybe it was time to use them instead of letting them just follow him.

Spotting a patch of grass he had left behind earlier, he activated Nature's Step and instantly moved one hundred metres, reappearing right beside a military officer leaning against a wall.

"Hi." The man yelped and practically jumped out of his skin. Joe had already identified him earlier, William, a level 31 warrior. Once the man stopped clutching his chest, Joe got to the point.

"Could you help me find the best place to locate someone? Do you guys have a list of people or something to help?" William took a few minutes to calm himself before responding.

"Uh… yes, sir," he muttered, still breathing heavily.

"We have information centres that keep track of everyone registered in the camp. I can take you to the nearest one."

"Great, lead the way," Joe flashed a smile, but judging by William's expression, it didn't help much. Hours later… Joe sat inside a large building labelled Information Centre, scanning through handwritten registries filled with thousands of names. He was grateful the receptionist had given him access without much hassle; just one word from William had been enough. No one even questioned him, especially after identifying him. Being a Progenitor had its perks. Still, the process was painfully slow.

If not for his drastically improved reading speed, it would have taken days to get through the records, which were thankfully in somewhat of an alphabetical order. Even with his advantage, though, this was going to take a while. Days passed by as he searched and read. By the time Joe emerged from the last information centre, it was late into the night. He had scoured all four lists, checking every registered name, but not a single one belonged to Kai's parents. The result weighed on him.

He had known it wouldn't be easy, but after an entire week of searching, he had hoped for at least something, some clue, some trace of their whereabouts. Instead, he had nothing. A guard led him to a tent on the outskirts of the camp, where he was given a temporary place to stay. They mentioned a larger space would be prepared for him in a few days, but he hardly cared. He nodded, thanked William for escorting him, and turned in for the night. He needed a few hours of rest before deciding his next steps.

A day later. Still nothing. Joe sat in the grass about a hundred metres from Hertford's walls, staring into the distance. His hope had slowly been draining away over the past few days; now, it was almost gone. Perhaps it was better this way. No news was better than bad news. If he had found something, there was always a chance it wouldn't have been what he wanted to hear. He repeated this thought to himself, but it didn't make him feel any better.

The first part of his visit had been spent searching and speaking to every possible person, but no one recognized the names he asked about. The military soon approached him a few days in, requesting help clearing Beasts around the camp's perimeter. He had agreed. The fights gave him something to focus on, and at least he gained a few levels. His profession had also seen significant growth; constant walking meant constant progress. Now, he was level 23 in his Class and level 19 in his profession.

That wasn't the only thing the military had asked of him. They had quickly taken note of his habit of leaving trails of grass wherever he walked. And it hadn't taken long before they requested he stop. Joe had simply told them the truth; he had no idea how to control it. After some deliberation, a compromise was reached. His movements would be limited to areas already covered in grass, as they didn't want him unintentionally turning all the roads into fields.

He had understood their concern and adjusted accordingly. Now, he sat quietly, considering his next move. He was beginning to accept that he wouldn't find anything here. It was disappointing, but he had done everything he could. At least he had tried. The question now was, where should he go next? He also wasn't looking forward to explaining to Kai about finding nothing. A pulse of warmth travelled along his back. Joe exhaled, removing his bag and placing it on his lap.

He traced his fingers along the rough shell of the egg, following the natural lines across its surface. For the past few days, it had been pulsing with waves of warmth. He wasn't sure if it was mana or something else, but the sensation always seemed to calm him. Again, a part of him wondered if the egg was trying to communicate with him. He liked the idea, even if it wasn't true. Maybe he was just feeling lonely.

He had kept in touch with his friends through the Party Chat, but it wasn't the same as having someone by his side. He made a decision. He needed something to focus on, something to occupy his mind. He still had two things left unfinished: his Nature's Alchemy skill and the legendary skill book. It was time to deal with them both. Joe decided to start with the Legendary Skill Book. As it appeared in his hands, he examined it closely. To call it a book felt like an understatement, like calling a Ferrari just a car.

It was the most ornate tome he had ever seen. The cover was a deep, rich blue, inlaid with jet-black lettering in an unknown language. Despite not recognizing the script, he understood its purpose the moment he touched it. It was like the magical items he received from boss kills; the knowledge simply flashed into his mind. Legendary Skill Book. He flipped it open. Nothing. Every page was blank. He frowned and shut the book.

"How in the world do I even use this thing?" he muttered. Then… he remembered something, and he swore.

"Damn. I gave away my Tutorial book." His first thought had been to check the tutorial book for guidance, but that was no longer an option. Sighing, he tried pressing the book to his forehead. Nothing. He placed a hand on one of the pages and closed his eyes. Still nothing. Maybe he needed to say something.

"I accept," he announced, holding up the book. Silence.

"Activate!" he tried. Still Nothing. A sudden pulse of warmth from the egg in his lap sent heat spreading through his body. Wait a minute. Joe activated Mana-Coating over his hand and forced Mana into the book. System Message You can learn Random Teleportation(Legendary). Do you accept it? Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Y/N Bingo! That was the key; he had to channel mana into it. Mentally, he selected Y, and his body immediately began to glow.

A shout rang out from nearby. He turned his head and saw two military officers rushing toward him. He quickly slung the egg back onto his shoulders and prepared to move, but paused. He was still glowing. A sudden torrent of information flooded his mind. The world spun. His stomach lurched. A wave of nausea crashed into him like a tidal wave. His knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground, clutching his head as the dizziness became unbearable. Then, the visions began. Flashes. Rapid, Relentless. Continents.

Countries. Cities he didn't recognize. Rolling countryside. Majestic mountains. Endless oceans. Faces. People dancing, fighting, laughing, screaming. Europeans, Asians, Hispanics, and countless other strangers flickered through his mind, vanishing before he could process them. Joe tried to speak, but words were impossible. Something warm and wet trickled from his nose. Blood. His vision tinged red. His skull felt like it was being crushed in a vice.

The pressure built, rising higher and higher, until he was sure his head was going to burst. Then—It stopped. As quickly as it had begun, the pain vanished. Joe found himself on all fours, gasping for air. A voice, distant and muffled, reached his ears.

"Are you okay?" He tried to answer, but before he could– Darkness swallowed him whole. System Message Skill Random Teleportation has been activated. You have been teleported to a random location on World 43. You have moved too far from Party host Kairos Athanasiou and have been removed from the party. Skill Party(Rare) has been obtained. __ Samira ran alongside her friend and teammate, Esha, sprinting through the dense undergrowth of Satpura National Park in central India.

The towering trees blurred past them as they raced south, desperately trying to escape the Beast chasing them. The Beast, a grotesque cross between a dinosaur and an armadillo, barreled through the forest in pursuit, tearing through foliage with reckless force. But that wasn't the real problem. This wasn't just any Beast. It was the Alpha Destriimannu. A Boss Beast from the Tutorial Gate that had originally appeared in northern India.

"Why the hell is that thing so far south!" Samira shouted in Hindi, her breath coming in ragged bursts. She swerved around a tree, leapt over jagged rocks, and pushed herself to her limits.

"Vishnu, save us," Esha panted beside her, the desperation clear in her voice. They were fast, but the Beast was faster. No matter what they did, it kept gaining on them. Samira risked a glance back… The Beast was now only fifty metres away. It was too close. There was no escape. Her heart pounded as she made a decision. One of them had to live.

"Esha, warn the others. Don't stop running," she yelled. She skidded to a stop, spinning around to face the monster. She barely caught a glimpse of Esha tilting her head, hesitating, before continuing her escape. Good. She knew her duty. Samira planted her feet, staring straight into the Beast's glowing eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable. The Alpha Destriimannu lunged— Gooaarrgggg! A sickening, guttural, garbled screech ripped through the air.

The Beast's colossal frame shuddered violently, then collapsed in a thunderous crash, blood erupting from its mouth as it hit the ground hard. Samira was frozen in shock. What… just happened? The massive corpse slid toward her, its momentum sending a wave of blood and gore splattering across the forest floor. At the last second, she snapped out of it, diving aside as the monstrous body rushed past her, carving a gruesome trail in its wake. Then— Boom! The Beast's body exploded.

A geyser of entrails erupted into the air, raining flesh, blood, and bone fragments in every direction. Samira screamed, flinching as she was instantly drenched from head to toe in viscera.

"What the hell?!" she shrieked, furiously wiping warm blood from her face. Her stomach lurched. The metallic stench was overpowering, making her gag as she stared at the grotesque mess around her. Then, as if the situation wasn't already insane enough, something moved. A figure emerged from the mangled corpse, crawling out of the Beast's remains. Blood poured off him in thick sheets. Bits of bone and sinew clung to his skin, the aftermath of a nightmare made real. Samira casually activated Identify.

Identify: Joseph, High Human Level 27, World 43 Progenitor Her breath caught in her throat. What. The. Hell? __ You have slain Alpha Destriimannu level 55 Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 24 - stat points distributed; Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 27 - stat points distributed. Joe spat out a mouthful of blood as he stumbled to his feet.

"Bleh–putoo–ack," He gagged, wiping at his face. Ugh, disgusting. His mind spun. What just happened? He tried to clean himself off, but his hands were just as blood-soaked as the rest of him. It was a losing battle. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus. It took a few moments for his racing heart to settle, for his body to stop shaking from the adrenaline crash.

"Where the hell am I?" He said out loud. He glanced at his mini-map; he was surrounded by fog, marking unexplored territory. But how? Movement nearby caught his attention. Two blue dots blinked on his mini-map, and when he lifted his gaze, he found two women staring at him. They looked stunned, half confused, half wary. One was covered head to toe in blood. He activated Identify. Identify: Samira, Human, Archer level 38; Esha, Human, Archer level 38 Level 38?

They were stronger than most of the people he had encountered recently. Joe hesitated for a second before lifting a hand in greeting.

"Hi, erm, sorry about that." He gestured toward the bloodied mound of flesh nearby.

"I kinda think I was inside that thing." His words sounded just as insane aloud as they did in his head. A bunch of system messages flickered at the edge of his vision, but he pushed them aside. He had bigger concerns right now. Like where he was and how the hell he had ended up here. Meanwhile, the two women were speaking a foreign language, their voices low and tense.

"✱Where do you think he came from? Is he speaking in English? ✱" Esha asked Samira.

"✱It is English. Can you understand him? ✱" Samira said.

"✱No✱" Esha replied"✱Do we know anyone who can speak English? ✱""✱I think Drishti speaks a bit of English✱." Joe stood still, watching as the two women continued their conversation in Hindi. His identify skill had given him their names, but beyond that, he was at a loss. Samira had shoulder-length brown hair, pierced ears and a tall, athletic frame. She stood around five-foot-ten, noticeably taller than her companion.

Esha, who was maybe five-foot-five, with shorter hair than Samira's and a braid looped around her right ear. Unlike Samira, she wore no visible piercings. Both had tanned skin, as expected of someone of Indian descent, and both seemed relatively calm despite the situation. Joe took the opportunity to step away, heading toward the remains of the Beast to loot it. The moment he reached out, the corpse dissolved into smoke, along with every drop of blood that had been covering him. He blinked.

His skin was spotless, his clothes pristine. He let out a pleased chuckle, but before he could enjoy the moment–"✱Hey! ✱" A sharp voice rang out. Joe turned to find Samira levelling a barbed arrow at him, her expression tense. He froze and immediately raised his hands.

"Please don't shoot!" he said quickly.

"I was just looting it." Both women stared at him, their expressions unreadable. Samira gestured sharply toward the empty space where the Beast had been, clearly demanding an explanation. So they didn't understand English. That was going to be a problem. Thinking fast, he pointed at the ground and the ring on his finger. With a slow, deliberate motion, he opened his palm, and a fresh piece of Destriimannu meat appeared in his hand. Both women flinched, eyes widening at the sudden appearance of the meat.

Joe held it out, nodding emphatically, encouraging them to take it. Samira hesitated, then cautiously stepped forward, reaching out to accept the meat. Her eyes lit up, and Joe could see realization blossoming within her. She turned to Esha, speaking rapidly. The two exchanged a few quick words before Samira returned the meat to Joe, her expression more curious than wary now. Joe exhaled in relief. Good. They understood. Hoping to build some trust, he patted his chest and said,"Joe." Samira mirrored the gesture.

"Samira." Esha followed.

"Esha." Then, after a brief pause, Esha's gaze sharpened.

"High Human?" she asked, her voice questioning. Joe tensed. Shit. He had no idea how to explain that across the language barrier. So, he winged it.

"Progenitor." He patted his chest again. Hoping that could help somehow. The two women nodded, but it was clear from their expressions that they didn't understand. They spoke to each other briefly, then turned and gestured south, motioning for him to follow. Joe hesitated for a moment before giving a slight nod. Stepping forward, he pressed palms together in thanks, a simple gesture of gratitude. With that, they set off, walking south into the unknown.

As they jogged, Joe gazed at the dense vegetation and patches of tall grass. He still had no idea where he was. Was he in India? The two women he had met looked Indian, spoke Indian, wait, no, that wasn't right. What was the Indian language again? He wracked his brain, but the answer eluded him. And he couldn't exactly ask either. His gaze shifted to Samira and Esha. They were sweating slightly, throwing glances his way now and then. Then it hit him. It was happening again.

Everyone who spent more than a few minutes in his presence started sweating, looking uncomfortable, as if something was pressing down on them. Was he cursed? He wondered. He frowned, trying to figure it out. He wasn't leaking mana, was he? Just to be safe, he moved away slightly, giving them more space. It seemed to help a little. They jogged for a few more hours before coming across a new Beast. Identify: Cocodine level 28 The Beast was… disturbing.

It had the body of an ostrich, but instead of a normal head, it had a duck's beak and a short, scaled neck covered in blue reptilian scales. Simply put, it was horrifying to look at. Before he could react, Esha loosed three arrows in rapid succession, each one hitting its mark. The Cocodine staggered, letting out a garbled squawk. Samira rushed forward, loosing two more arrows at close range before she drew a long knife from her belt and slit its throat in one smooth motion. Joe blinked. They were good.

Their teamwork was seamless, and their movements precise and efficient. No wonder they had survived this long with just the two of them. As they retrieved their arrows, Joe gave them a nod of approval. Esha responded with a look of disdain before muttering something directly at Joe. Samira laughed. Joe frowned. What had he done? He had the distinct feeling he was the butt of a joke. Shaking it off, they continued onward, gradually picking up the pace. At one point, Samira glanced at him questioningly.

He wasn't sure what she was asking, so he just gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled, then kept jogging. They encountered several more Cocodines along the way, but none were above level 30. Joe didn't even need to step in; Esha and Samira took them down with ease. Joe was starting to feel like a burden. He tried to step in and help fight a pair of Cocodines earlier, but Esha had shot him a look that practically screamed: "Don't you dare." After that, he simply hung back, letting them handle the fights.

He knew when to listen; he wasn't a fool. As the sun dipped lower, they picked up the pace. The air grew calmer, and for the first time, Esha glanced at him with something close to approval. Was she impressed? He supposed it made sense. They likely had high Agility stats for their level, though probably nothing close to his own. Was it arrogant to think that way? Or just realistic? Probably a bit of both. The moment night fell, Samira and Esha broke into a full sprint.

Joe kept up easily, thanks to his sunglasses enhancing his night vision. That was when he spotted it. A pack of Cocodines, lurking ahead. Neither Samira nor Esha had noticed them yet. There was no way to explain in time, so Joe made the decision to just deal with them himself. He surged forward one hundred metres from the pack, dashing ahead of the women. The Cocodines barely had time to react before he was among them, his staff whirling in deadly arcs.

They were caught completely off guard, and in mere moments, the Beasts collapsed, one after another. Loot. Move. Done. Only thirty seconds had passed, and Joe was back at Samira and Esha's side. He shrugged and continued running. Esha's hostility vanished instantly. She gave him a slight nod, one of acceptance, acknowledging him as an equal. Joe smiled, though he wasn't sure how much of his expression she could see in the darkness.

They arrived at a small village not long after, its perimeter enclosed by what appeared to be a wall made of leather. In the darkness, it had an eerie, almost unnatural look. Joe couldn't help but wonder what Beasts had been used to craft it. Samira stepped closer and raised a hand, signalling him to slow down. He complied as Esha moved ahead alone. After a brief wait, they received a signal and entered the village, effortlessly vaulting over one of the walls before making their way toward a central building.

As they walked, heads peeked out from doorways and windows, curious eyes tracking their every step. He saw villagers of all ages, children, and the elderly, but a strange feeling settled over him as he took in the sporadic faces. He hadn't seen a single man. They reached the central building, where three women stood waiting. Esha was among them, alongside an older woman who looked to be in her late fifties, with streaks of grey in her hair and a composed, authoritative presence.

The third was younger than Joe, with long black hair and a tattoo running down her arm.

"Greetings, Progenitor," The young woman said with a nod, her English carrying a heavy Indian accent. Joe exhaled in relief.

"Thank you. I am happy to meet you. You can call me Joe. The pleasure is mine," he said, offering a slight bow.

"You are not what we expected. My name is Drishti. And this is Gul." She motioned to the older woman beside her. Joe gave Gul a respectful bow, and she spoke softly to Drishti in their language. Drishti listened, then turned back to him.

"Gul also gives you her greetings," she translated.

"She offers you shelter and food as thanks for saving our two warriors."

"Oh, thank you. I will gladly accept," Joe said.

"But I must be honest, that was not intentional; it was a bit of an accident. I kind of found myself in the belly of the beast, so to say." Drishti blinked, then chuckled before relaying his words to Gul. After a brief exchange, she refocused on Joe.

"That is quite okay. We thank you nonetheless," she said.

"But we are all quite intrigued. How did you get inside… the belly of the beast? And where have you come from?" As they guided him inside, Joe gave her a brief explanation of his origins and the strange, unpredictable teleportation that had brought him here.

"That is quite a tale," Drishti said after a moment.

"If not for the arrival of the system, I would have thought you quite mad." Joe laughed.

"I can't argue with that. I was there, and I don't quite believe what happened." They continued talking as he was led to a dining area, given a seat and offered food. He accepted a cup of tea, letting the warmth seep into his hands before turning to Drishti.

"So, is this really India?" He asked"Yes, as hard as that may be to believe. You are in central India." Joe didn't quite know what to say. Having it confirmed, knowing for sure that he was in India, was overwhelming. He sat silently, sipping his tea, trying to process it all.

"Sorry, it's just… a lot to take in," he finally admitted.

"I understand," Drishti said gently.

"Take all the time you need. Would you prefer to be left alone for a bit? We can show you to one of the empty houses where you can stay the rest of the night." Joe noticed a bead of sweat forming on her brow. Right, his curse.

"I think that would be a good idea," he agreed.

"Esha has volunteered to show you the way. We have one question, something we've all been wondering." Drishti's gaze flicked to his side.

"Is that an egg in your bag?" Joe looked down at the egg resting against him.

"Yes, it is. But even I have no idea what is inside," he said honestly. Drishti studied him for a moment before smiling.

"You are quite the interesting man, Joe. You are a man, correct?" Joe chuckled.

"I am indeed. I just had an… interesting time since the system arrived." He let out a sigh.

"So have we all," Drishti said.

"I hope you get some rest; I will speak with you in the morning." Joe stood, carefully grabbing his egg before following Esha out into the night. __ Shortly after, Joe was shown to a place to rest. Drishti, Gul, Esha, and Samira gathered in the central building, speaking in hushed tones, their conversation unfolding in Hindi.

"What do we do about him?" Samira asked.

"He's far stronger than his level suggests. We watched him kill a pack of four Cocodines in seconds, each of them was level thirty."

"I hate to agree with Samira, but she is right. He is strong. You all felt his presence?" Esha added.

"It is like standing next to a Lion. And the strangest part. He doesn't even seem to realize it."

"I think he does realize," Drishti said.

"Maybe he has no control over it. He was visibly worried about its effect on us as we ate. Maybe it has something to do with his Race."

"How do we even know he is Human?" Esha muttered.

"He's dangerous."

"I disagree," Samira interjected.

"He is not a threat to us. He killed an Alpha Beast that had slaughtered millions. That alone is worth our gratitude." The others nodded in agreement.

"Even if he claims it was by accident, he has done our country a great service," Samira continued.

"We must treat him with respect." Drishti turned to Gul, seeking wisdom in the older woman's eyes.

"What should we do, Gul-ji?" she asked. Gul was thoughtful momentarily before speaking.

"We must honour this man. He is a progenitor; we all saw the system announcement. He has slain one of our great Beasts. Perhaps he will kill the others and free our people. I believe that is why he has been brought to us. It is our duty to guide him." She took Drishti's hand gently, her grip firm with conviction.

"You, my daughter, must help him. You must do everything in your power to ensure he saves our people. By Vishnu's guidance." Drishti swallowed hard. How in the world was she supposed to do that?