Chương 18: I Want to Understand

Joe awoke with a start. His eyes darted around the unfamiliar walls before the memory hit him.

"Right… India," He muttered as he got up. A subtle awareness pricked at his senses; two people stood just outside the house. They had been there all night, he knew, because of the glowing blue circles on his mini-map, likely to ensure he didn't wander off and alarm the villagers. The first thing he did was check on his egg. Satisfied that it was safe, he strapped it to his back and stepped outside. Two unfamiliar women greeted him, their expressions wary but neutral.

"Do any of you speak English?" He asked. They exchanged glances before shaking their heads. Great. He was just about to ask for Drishti when suddenly... System Message Congratulations Progenitor. You have been given a new quest! You are currently unable to communicate with those around you, but you now have a perfect opportunity. Help protect the village from a Beast horde. You must ensure that at least 90% of the village population survives. Reward - Skill Multiversal Translator(Uncommon).

Countdown to Beast wave arrival, one minute. Joe blinked.

"Wait… what? One minute?" A distant bell rang, followed by the deep, resonant blare of a horn. The two women beside him bolted toward the village centre, shouting warnings.

"You have got to be shitting me," Joe cursed, his pulse spiking as he turned and sprinted toward the wall instead. Villagers yelled something in his direction, but he ignored them. He reached the wall, spotting a raised platform. He scrambled up and looked beyond the village. His jaw dropped. Identify: Violent Enraged Mortorgo level 32 A thunderous rumble shook the ground, growing louder with each passing second. A massive cloud of dust billowed in the distance, revealing a stampede.

Over a hundred Beasts barreling toward the village. They resembled oversized rhinos, their sheer bulk and relentless charge like a force of nature. Most were in the low-level thirties, their sheer numbers alone enough to send a cold spike of fear through Joe's chest. But what made his blood run colder were the two colossal Beasts trailing at the rear, towering over the others and radiating a feral energy. A quick identify revealed they were both level forty.

The egg on his back hummed faintly as if sensing the imminent danger. How the hell am I supposed to stop this? The quest timer ticked down in the corner of his vision; less than thirty seconds remained. Panic clawed at his thoughts.

"What do I do? What do I do?" he muttered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the stampede. His gaze flicked to the village wall, then back to the rampaging Beasts. He didn't have time for a plan. The wall wouldn't hold. If he didn't act now, they would crash through, and he would have no way to protect the people inside. With no other choice, his staff materialized in his grip, and he vaulted over the wall, landing hard on the dirt below.

A tiny shockwave rippled outward from the impact, sending up a small cloud of dust. The egg on his back pulsed, a strange emotion washing over him, something steady, unwavering. His racing heart slowed, his nerves settling as the quest timer hit zero. The stampede arrived. Joe's body felt invigorated as he activated Mana-Coating, a shimmering layer of mana enveloping him in a protective glow.

His staff whistled through the air as he swung with all his might, the impact reverberating as it struck the nearest Mortorgo. The massive Beast let out a guttural bellow, its legs giving way as it collapsed into the two Beasts beside it. They tumbled in a heap, their momentum grinding to a halt and creating a bottleneck for those behind. Turning sharply to his left, Joe lowered his shoulder and rammed into another Beast's flank. The collision sent a shockwave through his body, but his gamble paid off.

Its colossal frame toppled sideways, dragging four others down in a chain reaction. His chest heaved as adrenaline coursed through his veins. A roar erupted from his throat like a primal, otherworldly call echoing through a battlefield. When he shouted, a mana surge accompanied his yell, rippling outward like a shockwave. The effect was instantaneous. Beasts within a hundred meters froze mid-charge, their massive forms colliding into one another in a cacophony of crashes and bellows. The chaos was overwhelming.

The ground shook as Beasts stumbled and tripped, piling over each other in a chaotic mess of limbs and dust. He barely had time to react as a Beast toppled toward him. He dove to the side just in time, rolling to his feet in a fluid motion. He became a blur, his staff whirling in wide arcs as he struck at anything that moved. His strikes weren't about precision; they were about survival. He had to keep them focused on him. The village needed time, and he would give it to them.

A hulking Beast lunged, its foot crashing down where he had stood a moment earlier. He dodged left, the motion instinctive as he swung his staff with deadly force into its leg. The Beast's balance faltered, its massive bulk slamming into the ground with a deafening thud. He brought his raised staff down in a crushing blow to the Beast's skull. The crack echoed in his ears as the Mortogo released one last shuddering breath.

You have slain Violent Enraged Mortorgo level 31 He became a whirlwind of fury in the heart of the group, his quarterstaff a blur of motion as it struck with unyielding force. He aimed to kill when he could, but these Beasts were incredibly resilient: they refused to fall unless he landed a crushing blow to the head. So he focused on crippling their movement, smashing joints before delivering devastating strikes to the head when the chance arose.

The ground beneath him became a chaotic graveyard of fallen bodies, their twisted forms piling up around him. He found himself running out of solid footing, forced to leap onto the backs of Beasts to maintain his momentum and avoid being cornered. Yet, the sheer number of them pressed in on him. Blow after blow rained down, powerful limbs slamming into him with bone-jarring force. Even with his Mana-Coating absorbing most of the impact, the relentless barrage left him reeling.

He didn't know how long he'd been fighting, but at some point, arrows streaked through the sky, their sharp whistles cutting through the chaos before plunging into the Beasts' flanks around him. Relief surged inside him; he had help. He wasn't alone. Gritting his teeth, he fought with every ounce of strength, his pulse roaring in his ears like the crash of distant waves. Kill after kill, the battle raged on.

System notifications flickered in the corner of Joe's vision, vanishing as quickly as they appeared, marking his steady climb in levels. Each level-up brought a faint but tangible surge in stats, yet exhaustion began to overtake him. His vision blurred as sweat dripped into his eyes, his muscles burning with fatigue. His breath came in heavy gasps, and he faltered, missing a strike that should have finished a Beast. The mistake forced him into a desperate block against an incoming attack.

He collided with a Mortogo at his side, the impact jarring but absorbed by the egg strapped to his back. Fear gripped him as he realized the risk he had taken by bringing it. How Stupid, he thought bitterly. But then, amidst the chaos, he noticed something... The egg was warm; it gently pulsed in a steady rhythm against his back. Confusion flickering in his mind, the sensation made him pause for just a heartbeat. Two massive Mortorgo's lunged at him, their weight threatening to crush him.

He barely dodged, rolling from their path with a desperate twist. As he scrambled back to his feet, his mind kept floating back to the egg and the beat of its pulse. It was a steady and unwavering rhythm, beating against his back as he dodged more of the Beast's legs. He felt an urge to trust the pulsing beat and his senses. To trust the egg. So he did. He began stepping to the rhythm of the pulse. Pulse, pulse… Pulse, pulse, pulse… Pulse, pulse…

With each step, his body started to feel lighter, as though the exhaustion that had been weighing him down began to lift. His movements grew smoother, and his strikes more precise. His staff no longer faltered, and each swing landing was true. Slowly, he noticed how naturally he moved among the towering Beasts, their hulking forms seemingly more effortless to evade. Pulse, pulse… Pulse, pulse, pulse… Two Beasts fell to his blows rapidly, their forms crumbling before him. A flash of arrows dropped two more nearby.

He pounced on them, his staff delivering the finishing strikes. Pulse, pulse… He ducked beneath a towering Mortogo, slipping behind it. Three more came into view, charging for him. They fell in quick succession as his staff struck with lethal precision. Pulse, pulse, pulse… He sidestepped massive limbs with ease, gliding through the chaos. His staff smashed into skulls, each strike thunderous and final. Death surrounded him, arrows pierced through the air, and Beasts crumpled to the ground.

He was lost in the rhythm of the pulse, pulse, pulse… But finally, as he stilled for a moment, he noticed the battle start to lull. Around him, there were no standing Mortogos, only the lifeless bodies of the fallen. He looted those around him, clearing space to create a small, open area. That's when he spotted them, the two colossal level forty Beasts charging straight toward him. Panic surged: his arms felt like lead, and his legs threatened to give out beneath him.

The egg pulsed faintly on his back, a dim reminder to keep going. Now was not the time to give up. He forced himself to step to the rhythm. Pulse, pulse, pulse… The first Mortogo reached him, its movements fast and unrelenting. Joe dodged the initial barrage, but his exhaustion slowed him, and the subsequent attack slammed into his side. At that exact moment, his staff connected with the Beast's knee, shattering it and sending the Mortorgo collapsing under its own weight.

Joe, however, was thrown backwards, tumbling into a heap of bodies behind him. He scrambled to his feet, barely catching his breath as the second Mortogo closed in. He raised his staff to block its charge, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Just as it lunged, an arrow struck its eye, veering its attack off course. The Beast's charge still sent him crashing to the ground, but it was only a glancing blow. Pain shot through his arm as he forced himself to his feet once more.

Every movement was agony, but he couldn't stop now. The first Beast was already back on its feet, charging at him again. Pulse, pulse… He stepped forward, dodging its massive leg and rolling beneath its hulking body. He emerged on the other side, but its tail lashed out, catching him hard. He tumbled head over heels for several metres before finally regaining control. Using his staff for support, he hauled himself upright, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.

Above him, the Beast loomed, rearing up on its hind legs to bring its full weight down on him. Arrows struck its hide, but they barely seemed to register this time. The colossal legs slammed onto him, pinning him to the ground with a bone-crushing force. He screamed as his left arm snapped under the attack, pain exploding through him. He looked up and locked eyes with the Beast, its gaze blazing with fury.

As he struggled helplessly against the weight trapping him, the second Beast entered his vision, its massive form closing in to deliver the final blow. He had never felt so weak. With only one arm, he could barely budge the legs, pinning him down. The second Beast was almost at his head. This was it… A blur of movement caught his eye, a figure slamming into the side of the Beast's leg with incredible force, toppling it to the ground. A surge of hope ignited within Joe.

Summoning every ounce of strength, he pushed against the crushing weight, freeing himself and sending the Beast sprawling to the side. He stumbled forward, his eyes locking onto the figure on the ground. It was Samira; she had saved him. Adrenaline coursed through him as he sprang into action. The second Beast was already rising. He didn't hesitate; he leapt onto its back, repeatedly swinging his staff to crash onto its skull.

It let out a bone-chilling roar, thrashing wildly to throw him off, but he clung with grim determination. Memories of his fight with the lion surged to the forefront of his mind, and he knew what to do. With a swift motion, he placed his staff into his storage ring. He activated his skill: Light of Uriel. His arm, glowing with a radiant light, slammed down into the Beast's skull, shattering through bone and killing it instantly.

A piercing scream echoed through Joe's mind as he reeled back from the backlash of using his skill. You have slain Violent Enraged Herd Leader Mortorgo, level 40 Joe's mind swam, clouded by a searing pain that lanced through his mind. He frantically scanned the battlefield, searching for Samira. Relief flooded him when he saw her on her feet, giving him a quick nod before she turned toward the remaining Beast. It was back on its feet, but now shook with uncontrolled rage.

It let out a furious roar, which reverberated through the air as it charged, enraged by the death of its herd leader. Summoning the last remnants of his strength, Joe stepped forward. His arm still glowed with the pulsing, bright Light of Uriel. As if plucked from where he stood, he appeared beneath the Mortogo, Nature's Step. His staff materialized in his hand, immediately engulfed in the same radiant glow.

With a devastating swing, he struck upward, cleaving through the Beast with such force that it was nearly torn in two. The Beast's rear half collapsed onto him, a massive weight that buried him in gore and viscera. The smell of blood and innards overwhelmed his senses as he crumpled to the ground under its weight. His vision dimmed, and just before darkness claimed him, the familiar flash of a system message filled his sight. Deep in his mind, a mournful cry echoed, haunting in its sorrow.

System Message Congratulations Progenitor. Quest complete. Joe was surrounded by darkness. He couldn't feel anything. He had no body; he was just a consciousness floating in the void. He felt at ease; for the first time in a very long while, he was at peace with existence. It was nice. He just floated there doing nothing, existing. After a while, he felt something. He was not alone. He could sense two presences that were both close and yet also far away. A rose petal represented the first presence.

If he still had his body, he would have placed a hand on his chest and felt the tattoo there; it was a warm yet piercing presence. Filled with a flowing, almost unstoppable force. He did not know what it meant or why it was there. The second presence was something altogether different. An egg represented this one, a Violent red egg covered in magma scars. He felt mixed feelings from it; sometimes, it was warm, like a parent's love. Other times, it was harsh and scolding, filled with disappointment.

It had mountainous expectations that Joe had no concept of understanding. They were so beyond him that he barely even understood they were there. Both presences left abruptly. Joe floated alone until something locked onto him. He felt an overwhelming force that threatened to destroy everything approaching him, his essence. This thing stared deep into his soul; he had no secrets from it. He felt genuinely naked at this moment. It flickered. Suddenly, it was looking elsewhere.

He tried to comprehend what was happening but understood nothing. So he just floated as the thing briefly turned its gaze back to him and fled. He felt like he heard the faint sounds of beeps driving it off. Joe awoke. His head was hammering like a drum. The pain slowly faded. He tried to grasp at a memory of himself floating, but it passed from him and disappeared… gone forever. Stretching his right arm, he flexed his fingers. He tried to move his left, but pain shot through him. It felt like he was tied up.

Opening his eyes, he stared up into the sky. It was still daytime. He tried to raise his head, but again, pain buffeted him; he let out a groan. He was outside. He tried to remember where he was when a face appeared in his vision. It was Samira.

"Easy, do not move," She said. He understood her words. Was she speaking in English? He pondered. Closing his eyes"Come here, Drishti; bring some water," Samira said. Joe felt someone else arrive at his side.

"Is he awake?" Drishti asked.

"Yes, pour some water into his mouth." Someone tilted his head forward, and he felt warm water trickle into his mouth; he gulped it down. His body felt heavy. He looked to his side, opened his eyes, and saw his egg next to him. It was glowing faintly. Mana was pouring out of it and encircling his body.

"The egg still won't let us move him," Samira said. Joe reached out with his one good hand and placed it on the egg. He felt anger and annoyance from it. That was new, he thought. He could clearly feel its emotions now. The egg somehow sent him an image of a body. The Beasts, the two-level forty Beasts, to be specific. He felt around with his hand and grabbed something that felt like a bone. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Loot Violent Enraged Herd Leader Mortorgo level 40?

Y/N He mentally clicked yes, and the body parts around him started to turn to smoke and disappear. The egg stopped encircling him with mana.

"I need to loot the other level forty Beast," Joe croaked. Both Drishti and Samira stared at him in shock.

"Did he just speak Hindi?" Samira asked.

"He did," Drishti said.

"We can move him now. Let's get him near the other body, let him loot it, and then go." Samira gently picked Joe up and carried him on her back. She knelt by the other body, letting Joe reach out and loot it. They then headed back into the village as Joe once again fell into unconsciousness. When Joe awoke this time, he was lying on a bed. His mind was no longer engulfed in pain, and he could sit up with no real problem. He looked down at his left arm in a makeshift sling. He tenderly felt it.

He could feel the broken bone within, but felt it healing, his flesh slowly knitting back together. It was a very unsettling feeling.

"Good morning," a voice said. Joe turned to see Samira sitting in a chair near a window.

"I can understand you," Joe said.

"You can also speak Hindi. Have you been tricking us this whole time?" She asked. What? Was he speaking Hindi? He concentrated on the words he had just said. They had not been in English.

"I got a new skill when the Beast wave ended," he said in Hindi. He liked this skill.

"Your Hindi sounds funny; you speak like a child who just learned their first words," Samira said, standing.

"How are you feeling? You are awake much earlier than expected." She looked pointedly at his arm.

"You also heal faster than anyone I have ever seen. Your arm was a complete mess a few days ago." Joe glanced at his arm, which looked pretty good, considering. He noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt or trousers. In fact, he was completely naked except for his cloak and sunglasses. There was only a thin blanket covering his private area.

"Your clothes were destroyed in the battle," Samira said, noticing as he examined himself.

"We couldn't take the cloak or your glasses off." They couldn't? Was there some kind of system protection to stop people from stealing his looted items while he slept? That was good to know.

"They are both looted items," he said, removing his glasses and holding them out for Samira to take. She took them, and her eyes widened when she examined them.

"Wow, I had no idea you could get items like this. I can't use it, though. It says it is bound to you," She returned the glasses. He put them back on before responding.

"Reminds me of a game I played where gear was soul-bound to whoever used them first." Samira nodded in understanding.

"I have a million notifications to go over," Joe said.

"I'll let Drishti know you're awake," Samira said.

"And thank you for saving us. We would not have survived that without you."

"You are welcome," he replied. As Samira left, he started going over his notifications. He sent away all of the kill notifications and level-up ones. He had reached level thirty in his Class and gained a new Class skill. He also had reached level twenty-one in his profession and gained a new skill there. Skill Basic Footwork(Common) Obtained. Skill Aura Shout(Magic) Obtained. Skill Rapid Strike(Uncommon) Obtained. Skill Multiversal Translator(Uncommon) Obtained. Skill Nature's Flourish(Magic) Obtained.

Somehow, he had gained five skills during that battle; he got the translation skill as the quest reward. One of those skills was a class skill for hitting level thirty, Rapid Strike. One from his profession, hitting level twenty, Nature's Flourish. He looked through his new skills information. Basic Footwork(Common) - You have shown a deeper knowledge of incorporating your skill into your very being and making it your own. This is just the first step.

Aura Shout(Magic) - Use your Aura to quell those around you by shouting as loud as you can. Rapid Strike(uncommon) - Using immense speed, you can strike at your adversary multiple times in quick succession. Multiversal Translator(uncommon) - This skill lets you understand and converse in all languages the system acknowledges.

Nature's Flourish(Magic) - With your connection to nature strengthening, you can now use the power flowing into you and redirect it back to the nature around you, increasing the growth nearby exponentially. This will lead to the growth of new wondrous things. The information on them was short and left him with many questions. Incorporating his skill into his very being? What was Aura? Rapid Strike, Nature's Flourish, and the translation skill were easy to understand, thankfully.

The part of his nature's skill that said new wondrous things will grow intrigued him greatly. But the first two left him confused. He was missing some vital information to help him understand what they meant. He understood the footwork skill's gist by recalling the battle's feeling. His diabolical quarterstaffmanship felt more fluid when he moved to the rhythm his egg had guided him. He looked at the egg on the bed next to him and touched it. It was hot, warmer than before. He also felt like she was asleep. She?

He knew it was a she. He couldn't say how he knew, but he did without a shadow of a doubt. He returned his attention to his notifications; the most perplexing bit of information was from his second skill. The word Aura, what was Aura? Did it have something to do with mana? He remembered the shout and how every Beast in range had been stopped by it. He had assumed at the time that he simply added mana to his shout. But that may not be the case. Clearly, it was Aura.

He thought about the word longer, but nothing came to him. He turned his mind to his storage and his loot. Looking through his storage ring, he noticed that his staff was missing. He looked around the room, but it was not there. What had happened to it? He made a mental note to ask Samira when she returned. Looking through his ring again, he saw a massive amount of Mortorgo meat and, surprisingly, Mortorgo hides. He had nearly three hundred pieces of meat and one hundred and fifty pieces of hide.

He pulled out one of the hides. It was a massive square, roughly two metres on each side. He whistled. He could imagine this would be useful for crafting. He thought about sending a message to Kai…

"Wait, where is the party menu!" Joe looked to the corner of his vision. There were no party messages, anything. How long ago had it disappeared? How had he not noticed until now? He started to panic. Did it happen when he teleported? He was in such a state during that time. Did he miss the notification? Then it struck him. He remembered seeing that he had learned the party skill when he had been soaked in blood. He quickly went back into his status and pulled the skill information up.

Party(Rare) - You can form a party with anyone in your line of sight. Forming a party with someone will give them access to party chat and party functions like looting and menu access. Experience gained when in a party will be shared based on contribution during fights or at a rate of 10% to each party member who does not actively participate in a fight. He wondered why he had gained the skill when he was removed from Kai's party.

"I'm so dumb," He admonished himself. He had utterly ignored the missing party menu. He hoped everyone back in England didn't think he was dead. I must be stressed, he thought. So much had happened in a short period, and it was starting to become a common occurrence in his life. He went back to looking through his storage. There was one item of note he had almost forgotten about from the Alpha Destriimannu. It was another storage ring. That would be useful. He put the ring on one of his fingers for now.

He had gotten no special loot from the herd leaders, which was disappointing. He decided to check the integration quest. Quest - Kill all 100 Gate bosses to restart Integration into the multiverse. Quest progress - 3/100 Three? He was sure he had only killed two boss Beasts. Unless the spider from Kai's quests counted as a boss? Or maybe someone else had killed one. He wasn't sure; he had not checked the quest after helping Kai out, so he had no time frame for when one of the Beasts was killed.

With his new skills checked and loot sorted, it was time to check his stats.

Status Name: Joseph Caldwell Age: 27 Race: High Human (Grade E - Rank 0) Alignment: High Human (World 43) Class: Farmer (Unique) Level 30, N/A Profession: Nature's Custodian(Legendary) Level 21 Bloodline Light of the Eternal Spark (Grade E) Titles First Steps, Unique Class, Legendary Profession, Bloodline, Evolution, Race Change, Died, Revived, Grace of a God, Marked by Karma, Origin, Giant Killer, Against All Odds, First Gate, World 43 Progenitor, Bare Hands. Skills Basic Farming(Common). Basic Cooking(Common).

Diabolical Quarterstaffmanship(Magic). Advanced Identify(Uncommon). Party(Rare). Basic Footwork(Common). Aura Shout(Magic). Rapid Strike(Uncommon). Multiversal Translator(Uncommon). Seed Flick(Magic). Mana-Coating(Rare). Seeds Will Grow(Magic). Nature's Touch Passive(Magic). Nature's Alchemy(Magic), Nature's Flourish(Magic). Nature's Steps(Magic). Nature's Keeper Passive(Magic). Eternal Moment(Bloodline). Light of Uriel(Bloodline). Light Affinity(Bloodline). Space Affinity(Bloodline). Light's Guidance(Bloodline).

Stats Strength: 228 Agility: 462 (20) Vitality: 229 (20) Endurance: 229 (40) Wisdom: 523 Intelligence: 523 Luck: 140 Hidden Stat: Dao Knowledge - 128 Free Points: 130 System Credits: 263, 800 His stat growth since his fight with the spider was quite simply massive. Wisdom and Intellect were miles ahead of most other stats at five hundred and twenty-three. His Agility was an impressive four hundred and sixty-two. This was mainly due to his dropping over one hundred free points into it so far.

Speaking of free points, he had far too many. It was time to stop hoarding and spread them out. He sat thinking for five minutes to decide what he wanted to improve. His last battle had shown that long battles were very taxing, so he first wanted to put twenty-one points into endurance and twenty-one points into Vitality. He decided on this number for a specific reason. When he focused on a stat, he could see his percentage bonus.

His true endurance stat was one hundred sixty-four before his title bonuses kicked in and upped it to two hundred twenty-nine. So, adding twenty-one points to that, he now had a true Endurance and Vitality of one hundred eighty-five. He liked that number. He then added two points to strength. Eight points to agility and seven points to intelligence and wisdom. He suddenly had an inexplicable compulsion to put sixty-two points into his Dao knowledge. Trusting this gut feeling, he did precisely that. He blacked out.

The egg beside him started to vibrate as if in laughter. Joe regained consciousness, but he couldn't see. He was blind. He touched his face; he felt fine. He then reached out, and his hand landed on the egg. It vibrated gently, soothing his mind. He felt a calm emotion flood into him. He was going to be okay. So he closed his eyes and just sat on the bed meditatively. Slowly, ever so slowly, his sense of sight started to return, but it had changed. Skill Dao Sight(Bloodline) Obtained.

When his sight fully returned, he saw that everything around him looked clearer. He could see minuscule specs of light shining out of tiny gaps in the walls. He looked at his own body. There was a faint sheen to his skin, and something was leaking out. He thought at first it was mana. But no, it wasn't. He activated Mana-Coating on his arm, which shone blue in his eyes.

However, the light leaking from every part of his body was very different; it was tinged dark purple, and focusing on it, it felt like he was looking at himself. Was he leaking himself? That wasn't right, but also it was. He was perplexed. It didn't seem to be hurting him or doing anything wrong at the moment, but it was something he felt he needed to fix. He looked at the tattoo on his chest, the mark of Karma, as his title had called it.

It shone a bright pink, almost blinding to look at, and he had to avert his eyes. He then looked down at the egg. It was glowing a bright red. It was similar to the purple stuff leaking from himself, but this was much more pronounced. And it wasn't leaking out; it was just surrounding the egg and stopped a couple of centimetres from its surface. When he touched it, he felt the egg's presence and emotions. It had returned to its slumber. This was all a new puzzle for him to understand.

So, he looked at his new skill to see if it could help him understand better. Dao Sight - Your Dao knowledge has increased to the point that you can now see that which was once hidden from you. Peering into the Dao is often a dangerous and frightening experience. You have embarked on a journey of discovery that few before you have trodden. Be careful of peering too much into the light.

That was one hell of a cryptic description, but it did help him realize one thing: the purple light that leaked from his body and the red light surrounding the egg was Aura. How did he know it was Aura? He just did. He knew that he knew this because of his now over two hundred-point Dao knowledge stat. It was similar to how Identify worked, except there was no notification pop-up in his vision. The hidden stat and skill also helped him see and understand the grade of things around him.

When he looked at his own body, he knew he was looking at an E-Grade body. When he looked at the egg, he saw or instead felt that it was also E-Grade. He was distracted from his thoughts by a knock on the door.

"Joe, it's Samira. Drishti is with me."

"Come in," Joe responded. Samira nodded at him as they entered the room, while Drishti blushed and averted her eyes. He then remembered he was still naked except for his cloak, sunglasses, and a small blanket covering his legs.

"Sorry. I forgot I wasn't dressed," Joe said in embarrassment. Samira laughed at both of them.

"There is nothing we haven't all seen before," she said, still laughing. She pulled out a shirt from a nearby wardrobe and threw it to him. He quickly pulled the shirt over his head and noticed it passed through his cloak. He put it on unhindered.

"Wow, this magic cloak is convenient. I don't even have to take it off to get changed." Joe looked up to see Samira watching him put the shirt on while Drishti was staring at the wall.

"You can look now," Samira said as she laughed again. Drishti, still blushing, tried her best to ignore Samira's light teasing and compose herself.

"My apologies, Joe, " she said with a slight bow.

"Samira failed to warn me you were not dressed." She stared Daggers at Samira, who just laughed.

"It's no bother," Joe said honestly.

"Nice tattoo, by the way," Samira added.

"Is it a flower petal? I don't recognise its design." Joe raised a hand to his chest and felt the tattoo through his shirt.

"I'm not sure," he said. Samira tilted her head. He couldn't read her expression. He also noticed she was sweating and fidgeting. So was Drishti. Thanks to his new Dao sight, he finally realized why everyone quickly left his presence. It was his Aura.

"I have a problem. The reason you both feel uncomfortable around me is because I'm leaking Aura," Joe said. They both stared at him, confused.

"Aura?" Drishti asked.

"Is that why it feels like being crushed just standing here?"

"Is it that bad?" Joe asked. Both women nodded emphatically.

"It's much stronger than it was yesterday," Samira added. Joe studied them, focusing. His Dao sight activated, and he saw their Aura, faint but present, leaking out around them. Compared to his own, it was minuscule. Where his radiated a deep purple, theirs was colourless, soft and barely visible to his eyes. More than that, he could tell their Aura was F-Grade. Was that why his Aura felt so overwhelming to them? Was the difference in Grade what made his presence so hard to endure?

"I gained a lot from that battle, I think," he admitted.

"Which has led me to understand more of what my body is doing." Drishti took a tentative step forward.

"I think I can help… If you don't mind?" She offered timidly.

"I can really use some help," Joe said with a smile.

"I am definitely out of my depth here." Drishti let out a breath and smiled, some of the tension in her body easing.

"Have you ever heard of the term pranayama?" she asked. Joe shook his head.

"The simplest way to understand is that it represents your vital power, your breath. It's primarily used in yoga," Drishti explained as she took another step closer, inhaling deeply. She extended her hand toward him, and Joe took it.

"My mother and grandmother taught me about Hatha Yoga, a tradition dating back hundreds of years. It revolves around a set of breath retention techniques known as Kumbhaka." Joe met her gaze and nodded, recognizing the depth of knowledge hidden behind her gentle demeanour. Drishti was sweating profusely, standing this close to him, but she didn't waver.

"I'll guide you through the breathing techniques," she said.

"Do exactly as I do. Follow closely." With that, Drishti began leading Joe through the techniques, her movements calm and deliberate. Samira watched from the side, her keen interest evident, a bright smile spreading across her face. __ Two hours had passed since Drishti began guiding the Progenitor through Hatha Yoga. Samira sat back in her chair, watching as Joe and Drishti sat on opposite sides of the bed, the strange red egg resting between them.

At first, they had held hands, but after Drishti blushed and apologized, they settled with their hands in their laps instead. Samira chuckled at the memory. Seeing Drishti blush like a young girl was a rare sight. She understood why, though. To say that Joe was handsome would be an understatement. In truth, he was one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. Too good-looking, in fact. Not her type. She preferred men with more rugged features, beards, and a little more wildness to them. Joe was too… refined.

Still, she could see why Drishti was flustered. Satisfied that Drishti's efforts were working, Joe's overwhelming presence was finally easing. Samira stood and left the room. It's a relief, honestly. She had made her decision. Now, she just needed to find Esha. It didn't take long. Samira found Esha just outside Joe's assigned house, her face flushing red with anger as Samira started to explain her idea.

"Are you out of your mind?" Esha snapped.

"How can you even think about leaving the village? We've already lost our strongest warriors; there is no way we can leave!" Samira stood firm.

"I understand the dangers," she said, voice steady.

"But this is just as important. You saw what he can do; everyone in the village saw him risk his life to save us. Not once did he ask for help, even when he was being overwhelmed by… those things. You've felt it, haven't you?" Samira pressed.

"The pull he emits? The change he has started." Esha remained silent, but Samira saw the flicker of conflict in her eyes.

"We can not deny what is happening here. We can not ignore it," Samira continued, passion threading her words.

"The arrival of a Progenitor in our village… this is bigger than just us." Esha clenched her fists, torn between reason and duty. Samira knew this would not be an easy battle to win.

"You are talking about leaving our friends and families to die," Esha said, her voice tight with anger.

"No, I am not," Samira shot back.

"No one is going to die."

"How do you know that? How can you promise that?" Samira steadied herself.

"I don't understand it fully," She admitted, placing a hand on her childhood friend's shoulder.

"I know this decision doesn't make sense right now. But if we don't go with him… If we stay here, I know it will lead to disaster. Everyone here will suffer." Esha held her gaze, searching her face, her eyes burning with passion and fierce determination. Samira didn't have all the answers. She couldn't explain how she knew what she did. But one thing was certain. Esha knew her well enough to recognize the truth. Samira would never abandon their people unless she genuinely believed it was the only way.

Esha let out a long, frustrated sigh.

"Fine," she muttered.

"I will listen. But I have not agreed yet." Samira smiled. She had already won this battle of wills. She only hoped now that it was, indeed, the right choice. __ Joe exhaled a long-held breath and let his shoulders relax. He raised his arm experimentally, immediately noticing the difference. The dark purple Aura that had been flooding out of him was now almost entirely contained. Across from him, Drishti sat drenched in sweat, exhaustion apparent on her face. She had worked hard, too hard, to help him gain control.

A deep gratitude swelled in his chest.

"Thank you, Drishti," Joe said sincerely.

"Until a few days ago, I thought myself cursed. But now… I can control my Aura. Or at least stop it from pouring out of me."

"I'm glad I could help," Drishti replied, stretching her legs before standing.

"I need to wash immediately. If you'll excuse me," she said, offering him a small bow. Joe chuckled.

"Please, no more bows. We're friends now, none of that formal stuff. Treat me like you would anyone else." Drishti smiled.

"I will." With that, she turned and left, likely searching for a shower. Now alone, Joe stood and rifled through the nearby wardrobe, finding a pair of brown shorts. Finally, fully dressed again. He awkwardly repositioned the egg into its bag and slung it over one shoulder before stepping outside. The first thing he saw was Esha and Samira hugging. He hesitated in the doorway, feeling like an intruder in their moment. Before he could turn away, Esha spotted him. Her glare was unforgiving.

He raised a hand in silent defence, but she stormed off without a word. Samira approached, shaking her head.

"She doesn't like me, does she?" Joe muttered. Samira laughed.

"She doesn't like anyone. Don't take it personally." Joe sighed, stretching his legs as he started to walk.

"You haven't seen my quarterstaff, have you?" he asked casually. Samira froze mid-step, her eyes heavy.

"We… tried to recover it, but whatever skill you used to kill that last Beast... it burned it to nothing. It's just a pile of ashes now." Joe's eyes scrunched up in pain. Shit, that was not good.

"My fault then. Never mind," he said, forcing himself to move past it.

"We have some bows and swords you could use," Samira offered.

"Thanks. I might look through them later when I'm fully healed up." Joe continued walking through the village, taking in his surroundings.

"Is there an unused area inside the walls?"

"Yes," Samira nodded.

"I can show you if you'd like."

"Perfect."