Chương 40: At Last

Joe paused to examine his newest skill as he exited the Space Class Gate. Space Jump - You can now jump forward at a set distance through spatial manipulation. As your understanding of space improves, so will your jump range. A space teleportation skill. Things were about to get crazy. Standing outside the slowly disappearing Gate, he decided to throw all caution to the wind.

"What's the worst that could happen?" he muttered, glancing at the open sky ahead. Then, with reckless confidence, he activated Space Jump for the first time. The air around him warped. Reality twisted. And suddenly, he was falling. His stomach lurched in turmoil as his body tumbled head over foot, plummeting through the sky. It was nothing like Random Teleportation. The sheer suddenness of the skill scrambled his senses, leaving him disoriented. Joe tried to regain control, barely stabilizing his descent.

But the ground was rushing toward him far too fast, only a hundred metres away. His brain screamed at him to react. He Space Jumped once more. The air twisted again. He was back up in the sky, still falling. This time, his stomach rebelled. The abrupt shifts had utterly thrown off his equilibrium. He emptied the contents of his stomach mid-air, the world spinning violently around him. I regret everything… he thought. Barely managing to correct the angle of his fall.

His body cooperated just enough, forcing him to land feet-first. Crash! Joe hit the ground as the earth beneath him compacted, creating a small crater. His boots absorbed the impact, preventing injury, but the force rattled through his bones. He had no time to breathe before his stomach heaved. He fell to his knees and threw up, the last remaining vestiges of his stomach pouring out around him. The second wave of regret splashed onto the ground beside him.

Thankfully, he had activated Mana-Coating before his jump, so none of it landed on him. Small victories. Panting, he collapsed onto his back, staring up at the sky. His body was intact. His pride? Not so much.

"Okay… no double jumps until I get used to that weird feeling," Joe groaned, forcing himself to take deep breaths. Lesson learned. Joe aimed for a lower altitude on his next attempt, keeping his Space Jump within ten metres of the ground. Freefalling from the sky was not the best training method he decided. The jump still yanked at his stomach this time, but the reduced height made the sensation slightly more bearable.

His mind still reeled at the sudden shift, his body instinctively rebelling against the unnatural movement. The best way he could describe it? It felt like being forcefully ripped out of existence and deposited somewhere else. In comparison, Random Teleportation was like a soft hug, being lightly deposited in a random location somewhere. It did not have that same lurching, ripping feeling. Also, Space Jump was much faster in its execution.

All those crazy feelings were just there, along with a flicker of pitch-black nothingness, which was highly disorientating. Joe took a breather after his second jump, managing not to throw up this time. However, that could be because his stomach was now completely empty. Still, he felt that the slight fall after each jump was helping. So he kept at it. By his fifth attempt, he noticed a shift. His mind was adapting. The overwhelming disorientation had dulled to a muted discomfort.

His landings became smoother, no longer sending him stumbling or crashing to his knees. Then, something new caught his attention. His vision filled with faint, twinkling stars briefly after every jump. At first, he thought it was just his eyes adjusting to the rapid movement. But no, this was something else. A lingering residue of Space Jump, something just beyond his perception. He couldn't quite grasp it yet, but it felt important.

For now, though, he focused on getting his body used to the skill, one step at a time. After an hour of practice, Joe switched things up. He wanted to reach the coast before nightfall, so he alternated between running and space-jumping. For about twenty minutes, he ran eastward, keeping his pace steady. Another hour passed, and he decided to push his limits. Could he Space Jump while running? He focused on the air ahead of him, aimed for a smooth transition, and activated the skill, bad idea.

His mind failed to adjust in time, and he slammed into the ground with a grunt. He lay there momentarily, staring at the sky, then sighed. Pushing himself up, he killed a random Beast that attacked him, before dusting off his clothes, and kept moving. One fantastic thing about his new skill was the minuscule amount of mana it used. Space Jump's cost was negligible compared to Random Teleportation and Nature's step, which drained nearly a third of his mana per use.

No matter how much his mana pool grew, those two skills always used the same percentage. But Space Jump? Joe estimated he could use the skill for hours before encountering mana issues. Once he mastered the skill, his ability to move around would increase exponentially. It did, however, have one huge drawback. The mental strain. Each jump required extreme focus, and his mind still hadn't fully adjusted. So, for now, he knew he could not use this skill in combat. The risk would be too high.

Still, he was beyond pleased with the skill so far. Joe was nearing Southend-on-Sea when he stumbled upon a massive horde of Devilish Porcupines. Perfect. This would be the ideal test to figure out how to level up his new Class. He pulled up his Status screen, scanning the section that listed his Classes.

"How is this going to work?" he pondered. His Magical Farmer Class only levelled up through combat, while his Nature's Guardian Profession progressed through skill usage. So, where did his Space Farmer Class fit in? As he pondered, he noticed something new on his Status screen: a tiny new bar floated beneath his Space Farmer Class. Curious, he focused on it. Experience distribution - Currently set at 50%. Joe focused, testing whether he could adjust it.

The bar shifted under his mental command, sliding to the right. Experience distribution - Currently set at 100%. He smiled.

"Perfect." He pulled out his new Quarterstaff and charged into the porcupine horde. Ding! Class Space Farmer has reached level 12 - stat points distributed. Joe exhaled in relief, no experience penalty. The Devilish Porcupines ranged from level 28 to 34, making this a solid boost for his new Class, twelve levels in one fight. He would have barely gained anything if he had been levelling his Magical Farmer Class.

He remembered the days when he was limited to five levels per kill and ten levels per day and wondered why that was no longer the case. Was I levelling too fast? Or was the system trying to kneecap me so I would die? Joe shook off that line of thinking and focused on his body. He had felt the massive swelling of his stats again. A glance at his Status made him shake his head in embarrassment. It felt too easy. Killing low-level Beasts with one hit and gaining so much. Is this even fair?

Most people he had seen in Heliopolis still had basic classes or occasionally evolved ones. The City Pillar had helped more people acquire professions, but even then, Kai was the only person remotely close to Joe in overall levels. In fact, Kai was actually higher than him in both his class and profession. That wouldn't last much longer. Joe had a combined level of 114 with his second Class, climbing fast. His stats would soon reach absurd levels. He wondered how higher grades worked.

If E-grade beings received double stats per level compared to F-grade, then did D-grade beings gain double again? Four times the stats? More? Or was it triple the original amount? If he started gaining hundreds of stat points per level, how quickly would he become strong enough to destroy entire continents with one strike? Wew. It's something to think about. He hoped he'd find out eventually. Well, if he survived.

Shaking the thoughts away, he pressed forward, leaving Southend-on-Sea behind and heading straight for Little Wakering, where his sister lived. __ Veda lay curled up before the fire in Drishti's house, watching the flames flicker. She was, quite frankly, bored out of her mind. It had been just over a week since Esha returned from the system event with news about Joe. Veda still wasn't sure what she thought of the man.

Her soul was tied to him ever since her mistress, her old body, had bestowed her with a second chance, a new form. Why a reptile? She had no idea. It was perplexing and a constant drain on her. She craved heat all the time. She felt uncomfortable whenever she wasn't touching a warm body or sitting before a fire.

"Cold-blooded creatures are the worst," she grumbled. But her body wasn't the only problem. Joe had left a spark inside her when he planted the tree of rebirth and used its power to bring her back. She hadn't actually been dead when she was buried, just in a state of slumber. The tree had accelerated her healing. The real issue? The spark inside her compelled her to find him. To be near him. It wouldn't have been a problem if he had just returned to India after the event.

But over a week had passed, and he hadn't even attempted to come back. She could feel his presence in her mind. A faint tingling of his location. She knew he was far away. Too far for her to travel. This failed World was a technological wasteland. Transportation was lacking. The system had ruined everything here, which had shocked her. Every failed World she had heard about in her previous life had turned into a dead World within a few years.

To find herself stuck in a failed World and fighting for reintegration was almost unbelievable. Thankfully, she had learned tiny bits of information about the Progenitors and a progressing quest. There may be a chance they would survive this. She knew, however, that reintegration wasn't the blessing everyone thought it was. If anything, it would bring even greater challenges. If they didn't reach a top ten position on the integration leaderboard, this World could be conquered or worse.

But that was a problem for the future. She had no intention of staying here for ten years. She would find a way to escape, to return to the Eludian Empire. But first... She had to find Joe. She thought she had the perfect plan. She had altered Drishti's letter to make Joe come running to her. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he wasn't here. He wasn't even moving toward them. Why? It made no sense to her. He was male. Surely, he was ruled by his instinctive desires. What was taking him so long?

Had she miscalculated? Then again, he had travelled for weeks with three young beautiful women and not once touched any of them… Veda's musing was cut short as Drishti entered the room and approached her.

"Oh, Veda, I'm so happy to be finished finally." Drishti sat by the fire and pulled Veda into her lap.

"I thought today would never end." She sighed, her fingers idly stroking Veda's tail. Veda almost purred in pleasure at the warmth of her touch.

"More information from New Eden?" Veda asked, her voice slipping directly into Drishti's mind.

"Yes." Drishti's hand continued their slow, comforting motions.

"We also spoke to the Heliopolis representative. She said Joe was there and currently visiting." Veda growled, her tail flicking in agitation, until Drishti scratched her neck, forcing an involuntary sigh from her lips.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to mention… you know who," Drishti added quickly.

"It's not your fault, child," Veda muttered, her irritation lingering.

"That man just aggravates me."

"I know." Drishti shifted slightly, pulling a blanket over her legs as she continued.

"Regarding New Eden, they are almost ready to send out their strike force to take on two more Gate bosses in North America. They also informed us they're close to purchasing one of the flying vehicles and plan to head out to all continents once they do." Veda let out a slow breath.

"Enough work talk, my dear. You didn't come to me to just discuss logistics, did you?" Drishti smiled.

"I didn't. We received word from Esha that she has arrived at Kunlun City in China and is gathering resources there. She said she would be back in a week."

"That woman is so reliable." Veda stretched slightly, enjoying the heat of the fire.

"She is. With her new arm, she has a brand-new drive to push forward. She's been levelling her profession a lot." Veda's tail curled lazily.

"If that man doesn't turn up before she returns, I will get her to take me to him." With a contented sigh, she rested her head on Drishti's lap and closed her eyes.

"I'm tired. Stroke me, Drish."

"With pleasure," Drishti replied, a soft smile on her lips. __ Joe stood before a long-abandoned house, its broken frame barely holding together. Half of it lay in rubble, the remains of what had once been a home. He took a deep breath and climbed inside through one of the shattered windows. The interior was as expected, a mess of broken furniture, old toys, and tattered clothing. Dust coated everything, undisturbed for what must have been months, maybe even over a year. No footprints, no signs of recent life.

A ghost of what once was. Joe wasn't sure how to feel. Relief? Disappointment? He exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sometimes nothing is better than something, " he whispered, opening a cabinet. Everything useful was gone, taken by someone who had left hurriedly. All that remained were things no one would bother carrying, cutlery, old DVDs, scattered toys, forgotten trinkets. But then, something caught his eye, a small, familiar box. He picked it up, fingers running over the worn surface. He placed it into his storage ring to look at later.

For about an hour, Joe sifted through the remains of the house, memories surfacing with every object he touched. Finally, he stepped outside. The entire town was empty. Every house he passed had been abandoned long ago, doors left ajar, windows shattered, streets eerily silent. No signs of struggle. Maybe they had all gathered somewhere safe. Perhaps they had made it out before the Beasts arrived. But where? He had no leads. No direction to follow. He could only hope his sister had made it to Heliopolis somehow.

His name, Kai's and Hakeem's, were well known there. If she arrived, it wouldn't take long before someone alerted them. For now, all he could do was wait. And hope. Joe left Little Wakering, heading east until the vast expanse of the coast stretched before him. He sat in the grass, staring at the endless waves. He should go back. He should return to Heliopolis. But something held him back. A whisper. A pull. He had felt it ever since returning from the Resource Grab, a calling from the east. Joe closed his eyes.

He vaguely felt he knew what it was. Something in India called to him. He stood up and activated Random Teleportation. Joe blinked, scanning his surroundings. Nothing looked familiar. Rocks. Sand. Barren mountains. Dried dirt stretched endlessly in every direction. No roads. No cities. No signs of life. But the pull in his chest was stronger. Closer. He pictured a World Map in his mind. Given the terrain, he guessed he was somewhere in Asia, possibly near the Middle East. Kazakhstan, maybe?

His months of travel had increased his knowledge of differing landscapes. He turned southeast and started running. He considered trying his new vehicle for the first time, but decided against it. He wanted to figure out where he was before using it. Thirty minutes into his journey, he stood atop a rocky mountain, peering down at a lone beast. Natural Identify: Beast (Grade F), Cognizant Voidling - 72. His upgraded Identify was proving invaluable.

Unlike its previous version, it now displayed slightly different information depending on what he identified, distinguishing between Beasts, humans, and even aliens like Goros. Most importantly, it always showed levels. Joe wondered if there was a limit. Could he identify something above level 200? Was his skill now E-grade? Would it evolve again once he reached D-grade? He pushed the thought aside when movement below caught his eye.

A group of people had just appeared at the edge of his vision, walking directly toward the Voidling. Dammit. They were too close. Joe cursed and pulled out his quarterstaff. He leapt into the air, firing a Mana Blast toward the Beast, not to kill, but to get its attention. The blast slammed into the ground near the Voidling, kicking up a cloud of dust. The Beast jerked its head toward him, locking onto him instantly. Below, the group turned, spotting Joe just as he landed on the mountainside.

He waved his arms, signalling a warning. He crouched low, charging down the slope with an explosive burst of momentum, rushing toward the Voidling and battle. __ Abdul-Alim stood frozen, watching as the mountain's side exploded in a dust cloud. A figure soared through the air, hurtling directly toward the path he and his group were taking. A shadow shifted ahead as he tried to comprehend the sudden turn of events. Through practiced reflex, he activated Identify. Identify: Cognizant Voidling, level??

Abdul-Alim gasped. A Beast with an unreadable level. Had they been walking straight toward a Gate Boss? He spun, ready to shout a warning, tell his group to turn and run, when one of them spoke first.

"Progenitor! It's Progenitor Joseph!" Ikram's voice shook with awe as he knelt on the ground. Abdul-Alim's wide eyes snapped back to the battle. The Progenitor had landed with an explosive impact, crashing directly into the Beast. A quarterstaff spun in his hands. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it They moved so fast that Abdul-Alim could barely track the fight. Mana erupted from the Progenitor, hammering into the Voidling.

Tentacles lashed out in retaliation, sending rocks and dust flying. The Voidling thrashed violently, a titan of shadow and rage, but Joseph dodged everything, untouched, unhindered. It was like watching a man battle a force of nature itself. The Beast loomed over him, massive and monstrous. But the Progenitor didn't falter. He danced between the deadly strikes, weaving through the storm of tentacles and debris. Abdul-alim had never seen anything like it. He couldn't move. Feet rooted in fear.

All he could do was watch. Then. BOOM! A shockwave blasted outward, and Abdul-Alim instinctively flinched, wiping the sudden sweat from his face. A massive tentacle flew through the air, severed clean from the Voidling's body. The Beast shrieked. A deafening, mind-rattling scream. He clutched his ears, barely resisting the urge to drop to his knees.

"Brothers, we must move back!" He shouted. His group needed no further encouragement. They turned and ran, fleeing from the sheer destruction unfolding before them. Another ear-splitting scream echoed through the canyon. Another limb fell. The Voidling, now in a frenzy, attacked with renewed fury. Abdul-Alim dove behind a rock, breathing hard. The raw force of the battle made his chest feel tight and his limbs weak. What kind of power was this? He had heard tales of the Progenitor. His feats and kills.

But seeing it with his own eyes? He forced himself to peek over the rock. He had to see. He had to witness this. Just how strong was the Progenitor? He watched in stunned silence as the Progenitor flowed forward relentlessly. His quarterstaff spun like a tornado, deflecting every tentacle strike with ease as he closed in on the Voidling's massive body. The Beast reared up, its towering form blotting out the sky. Then. It crashed down, slamming its full weight onto the Progenitor. Abdul-Alim's breath caught.

Had he been crushed? Dust and debris billowed outward from the impact. A moment passed. Then another. And then. Joseph reappeared, untouched. He surged forward again, his staff spinning in a blur. The Voidling shrieked in agony, its form twisting violently, tentacles flailing in desperation. It lashed out faster, harder, desperate to crush its enemy. But every single attack missed. Joseph moved like water, flowing between the Beast's endless attacks.

A massive, jagged maw shot downward, aiming to swallow the Progenitor whole. Joseph raised a hand, and a blast of mana erupted outward, slamming the Beast backwards. The force of it sent more shockwaves rumbling through the ground.

"Is he a mage?" Kabeera whispered beside him.

"He moves too fast, he must be an Agility class. Look at him go!" Ikram argued.

"But he keeps using mana blasts! Maybe he is a hybrid class. He must have a rare class," Kabeera countered. Their muted debate continued, but Abdul-Alim barely heard them. His eyes were locked on the battle. And then. The fight began to shift. Joe had gotten in close. His mana surged, and a devastating blast exploded from his hands, slamming into the Voidling's core. Black Ichor sprayed into the air. The Voidling recoiled violently, its body lurching backwards. Joe pressed on. Another blast. Then another.

Each blast ripped chunks of darkness from the Beast. It was slowing. Weakening. Its tentacles flailed wildly, no longer attacking but desperately defending. But Joseph was too fast. Another limb tore free. Then another. The Voidling screeched in anguish, its monstrous body collapsing inward with one final act of desperation. The Beast flung itself forward, trying to crush the Progenitor beneath its full weight. But. Joe didn't even move. He raised his staff.

And with one devastating swing, he shattered the Voidling's body. The monstrous form crashed to the ground, limp, lifeless. The battle was over. __ Ding! Class Space Farmer has reached level 18 - stat points distributed. Joe held his nose, shaking himself to rid his Mana-Coating of the thick, black ichor dripping from his body. The stench was overwhelming, one of the foulest things he had ever smelled.

He distributed his free stats points evenly across Agility, Wisdom, and Intelligence, feeling the familiar rush of stat growth pulse through his body. The fight had been a mess from the start. The Voidling had spat an acid-like brown sludge at him, the air hissing as it burned everything it touched. When that failed to penetrate his Mana-Coating, it had sprayed him with this black ichor, its own putrid blood which still clung to his Mana-Coating. He gagged. With a quick touch, he looted the Beast's body.

The filthy fluids covering him dissipated into smoke, vanishing along with the corpse. Finally, he collapsed onto the ground, activating Flourish as he leaned back, catching his breath. He wasn't injured, the Voidling had barely landed a hit, but he was exhausted. The relentless assault had forced him to stay on the move constantly, and his body needed a moment to recover. Movement caught his eye as he rested on the soft grass around him.

The four men he had stopped from encountering the Beast were approaching cautiously. Joe raised a hand in greeting as they closed in. He activated Natural Identify. Natural Identify: Abdul-Alim, Human (Grade F), Warrior - 38. 0 Hidden stats, No Bloodline. Ikram, Human (Grade F), Warrior - 37. 0 Hidden stats, No Bloodline. They were all warriors, and their levels were roughly the same. Joe glanced down at the loot he had taken from the Voidling.

It was a pair of gloves that boosted Agility and vitality, nothing too special, no additional skills attached. It took only a few more moments for the group to reach him.

"Thank you for saving us, Progenitor," Abdul-Alim said respectfully. Joe paused for a moment, his mind focusing on the words the man had used. He didn't recognize the language.

"No problem, friend. Can you tell me where I am?" Abdul-alim's brows furrowed in confusion.

"We are in Afghanistan, Progenitor. Did you not know that?"

"I didn't, so thanks. India is south of here, right?" Joe asked.

"South is Pakistan, India is South East," Abdul-Alim corrected. Joe nodded.

"Perfect." He gazed around the barren landscape before landing back on the group of men.

"So what brings you gentlemen out here in the middle of nowhere? You should be more careful when travelling. It's clearly not very safe out here." The man then explained their journey for resources, they were running dangerously low on food and water. Not needing any more information, Joe had the men guide him to their town, where he spent the next hour using Flourish. By the time he was done, fruit trees dotted the landscape, and a freshwater spring bubbled up near the town's centre.

With his work done, he continued his journey toward India. Joe's trip through Afghanistan and Pakistan was far from uneventful. At every town or city he passed, he stopped to help, clearing dangerous Beast packs and providing Flourish-enhanced sustenance to struggling communities. Each battle was also an opportunity to level up his Space Farmer Class. It took two days of travel before he reached the unmarked border of India. He encountered and killed another Boss Beast in central Pakistan along the way.

Quest - Kill all 100 Gate bosses to restart Integration into the multiverse. Quest progress - 54/100 Time limit of Quest - 1. 5 Years Others had defeated two more bosses, bringing them closer to completion. They were on track to finish long before the time limit expired. Good good. Joe stepped across the border into India. The instant his foot touched Indian soil, a wave of foreboding swept through him, and his head snapped upward. Was that the system?

It was a strange sensation, not danger, not a warning, but an unshakable feeling that something was approaching. Not physically, like a Beast charging toward him. No. It was something more significant. Something inevitable. It was, honestly, the first time he had ever felt something like this. Something was coming. His thoughts drifted to the letter in his storage ring… He knew it had to be a joke. But that letter elicited a feeling of foreboding he didn't want to think about. He shook his head.

There was no way Drishti wrote that letter; the handwriting was nothing like hers. A tiny spark inside him told him to turn, run, leave, and just go. But something bigger stopped him. A gut feeling. Plus, that pull from before was undeniable now. It was like the gravitational pull of a sun dragging him forward. If you turn back now, you'll regret it. Joe took a deep breath, braced himself, and stepped forward. Two red dice tumbled inside his mind. India awaited. And whatever was coming, he would face it head-on.

As he walked, he began to mumble a song to himself.

"This fire is out of control; I'm gonna burn this…" Drishti burst through the door of her house at full speed. Something was happening. Suddenly, she felt Veda's presence flood her mind, a storm of emotions crashing into her. Elation. Relief. And anger. A pulse of raw, urgent emotion. Only one thing could elicit such a reaction from her mentor. Or rather, one person. He was back. And he was close. Veda pulsed her Aura again and again and again.

She sent mental pulses toward Samira and Drishti, a summons that could not be ignored. Come. Now. Damn that man. He had taken far too long to return. She knew Esha was still in China and hadn't left yet. That was a shame. That woman would have had the perfect plan to punish him for making them wait this long. Veda paced in circles, next to the fire, her tail twitching. Its warmth did nothing for her boiling impatience. Then. Drishti burst into the room. In an instant, Veda was wrapped around her shoulders.

"Get your things; we leave now." The command was unnecessary. She could feel Drishti's excitement just as much as her own. There was no hesitation as the woman grabbed a bag they had prepared two days ago when Veda had first felt his presence appear to the northwest. They should have prepared more. But his movements had been erratic, so much so that she had only confirmed that he was actually coming toward them yesterday evening. Now, there was no more time to prepare.

Drishti snatched the last of her things and with Veda wrapped around her, she ran outside. She leapt onto the rooftops, racing northwest. Samira joined them moments later, falling into step behind them–her smile unshaken.

"Are we still going with the planned greeting?" Samira asked. Veda felt Drishti tense beneath her. The plan had been… extensive. But plans could change. Veda raised her tail, and Samira reached out to lightly take hold, allowing them to connect and communicate directly.

"No, change of plan. Head to the fields just north of the city; we will wait for him out in the open. I want to set up a fire." Both women nodded and adjusted their course.

"Did you send for the others?" Veda asked.

"Yes," Samira confirmed.

"I'll send up a flare when we reach the meeting point. They'll find us easily." Veda nodded in satisfaction. Soon. Very soon. A massive fire burned just north of Nagpur City in central India, its flames flickering against the night sky. Beside it, a huge tent had been erected. Veda lay coiled close to the fire, her gaze fixed on the row of five women standing before her. They were dressed in India's most exquisite fabrics, adorned with intricate embroidery and dazzling jewellery.

Each woman radiated beauty, their elegance unmatched. But among them, one stood out, not for her beauty, but for her expression. Drishti. Her face flushed red, her eyes filled with barely contained panic. Veda sighed inwardly. She had explained the plan. Drishti knew the goal. Yet, here she was, drowning in nerves instead of embracing the moment. There would be a lecture later, but for now, Veda blurred into motion, appearing in an instant, wrapped around Drishti's shoulders.

"Breathe, Drish, and calm yourself." Veda's voice hummed inside Drishti's mind.

"This is a terrible idea." Drishti's plea was desperate, her hands trembling at her sides.

"This won't work."

"Oh, hush, child." Veda chided her gently.

"The look on that man's face alone will be worth all of this." She turned her attention to the other women. Poised. Elegant. Prepared. Unlike Drishti, who looked like she had bitten down on a popourri.

"Everyone else is ready." Veda motioned around with her tail.

"Only you seem like you're about to faint." Drishti shook herself, trying to slow her racing heart.

"It's just a prank. Nothing more." She whispered the words like a mantra, her hands clenched into fists.

"He will laugh, and it will be over." Veda tsk'd.

"Oh, sweet child. You truly don't understand men, do you?" Veda glanced toward the distance, sensing his presence growing nearer.

"He'll be here soon." She uncoiled herself, darting toward the tent in a blur. Drishti's breath hitched. Her skin prickled with sweat. This was going to be a disaster. __ Joe approached the massive fire that burned just outside the city, his footsteps slow and cautious. He had no idea what awaited him here, but one thing was certain. At no point had he expected to find five women standing before him, dressed in long, flowing gowns. He almost stopped dead at the sight.

He walked forward for a few more steps, trying to process what he was seeing, and then, he saw her. Drishti. She stood at the centre of the group, her presence commanding yet uncertain, her long, flowing purple dress cascading around her like silk. Joe's mind stalled. Why did it have to be purple? Purple was, of course, his favourite colour. Now, he stood roughly a hundred metres away, just staring. The women stared back, their expressions calm, unreadable.

Even Drishti, though the slight flush of her cheeks did not escape him. Joe slowly removed his glasses, slipping them into his storage ring. Then, his fur-lined cloak followed. He did not, however, remove his hiking boots, which left him looking absurd in a suit and rugged footwear. But then he always looked ridiculous. Still, he strode forward, determined to find out what the hell was going on. As he drew closer, he took in Drishti's expression. The slight sheen of sweat on her forehead.

The faint redness in her cheeks. The way she stood stiffly as if she were forced into this against her will. Joe almost sighed in relief. This isn't an ambush. This wasn't a serious ceremony. This was… That demon woman's doing. A smile tugged his lips. It had to be. Joe's eyes flickered past Drishti to the massive tent behind her and Samira, who was standing at the entrance, her hand covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking slightly.

"Esha! Get out here! I know this is your idea!" Joe's voice echoed across the open field. A minute passed. Nothing. His brow furrowed as he looked at Drishti and the four equally confused women beside her.

"Esha is not here," Drishti said, quiet but firm. Joe's eyes darted to Samira, searching for confirmation. But she offered nothing. No emotion. No reaction. Just a neutral indifference. Joe's confidence wavered.

"Okay.." he exhaled.

"So what's going on, Drish?" The four women around Drishti knelt in unison. Joe almost took a step back but held himself. He swallowed. Drishti twirled gracefully, closing the distance between them. Taking his arm, she guided him forward toward the first of the kneeling women.

"Oh God," Joe stammered, his mind reeling. Drishti pressed on.

"This is Anika." She gestured toward the first woman, who remained kneeling, her head held high with quiet dignity.

"She is twenty-five years old and a fabulous cook. She comes from quite a large family and looks forward to having at least five children." Joe's mouth opened. No words came out. His brain simply refused to function. Before he could recover, Drishti pulled him to the side.

"This is Navya." The next woman was just as poised.

"She is excellent at raising all types of animals and has four cats. She is twenty-eight and plans to have at least three children." Joe felt the panic rise in his chest. This was a joke, right? Drishti continued her march, dragging him toward the third woman.

"This is Ziana." Joe noted that this was the first of the women suppressing a smile.

"She is a scribe in the city, and she is thirty-one years old. She is a single mother but also looks forward to having at least three more children."

"Okay, enough!" Joe finally blurted out, stepping back, his hands raised in alarm.

"What the hell is this?" His voice bordered on panic. Drishti tilted her head.

"Why, it is for you to choose a concubine." Joe stared at her agape.

"A… what?" His voice cracked.

"Did you say concubine? But I don't even have a wife…" The second the words left his mouth, he immediately regretted them.

"Not yet." Drishti's expression was neutral.

"Our wedding is set for tomorrow." Joe choked. There was almost a straight face there… But no, there it was. That tiny smile she couldn't hold back. She almost had me. Joe inhaled dramatically, gathering his wits.

"Oh, well, that is fabulous. How about I take Samira as my second concubine while we are at it?" He turned his head, aiming a pointed look at Samira. Who promptly fell to the ground in a coughing fit.

"Not in your wildest dreams, Farmer," Samira finally managed once she had recovered. Joe laughed, which was soon followed by Drishti. Relief washed through him as he shook his head, trying to catch his breath.

"So, really." Joe wiped a hand down his face, still smiling.

"Who's idea was this? It was Esha, right? She's in the tent, isn't she?" He turned toward the large tent, his eyes narrowing. Yet… Something felt off. His senses reached out. Nothing. The tent was completely void of any aura. That was… odd. He could usually sense strong auras nearby.

"Why don't you go check?" Samira's voice shifted. The playfulness was gone. Now, she was serious. Joe's smile faltered. He looked around. The other women stood impassive, watching him. Waiting. Joe's gut fluttered with butterflies.

"What is going on?" He asked, his voice lower now.

"Just go inside." Samira's tone was firm, but her eyes held something else. Something expectant. Joe hesitated, his butterflies on overdrive, but his feet moved forward on their own. He stepped through the tent flap and froze. A smell hit him. A distinct, unforgettable, peppery scent. His heart stopped. The world blurred as a tear welled in the corner of his eye. His gaze darted wildly, searching, desperate. Until his eyes landed on a small, curled-up shape near a tiny sparkling fire.

A gleaming, red-scaled body coiled tightly in a warm glow. Joe's breath hitched. A crimson eye peeked out, sleepy yet piercing, locking onto him. A pulse of annoyance filled the air. Joe laughed, a shaky, breathless sound thick with emotion. He moved forward, his steps quickening as his chest tightened. His fingers trembled as he gently scooped the salamander up. Her scales were cold to the touch, but something inside her burned bright, familiar, comforting.

A choked, joyful laugh escaped him as he cradled her close, hugging her tightly against his chest. A weight inside him, one he hadn't even realized was there, lifted. A hollow space filled with something warm, something right.

"You're finally back." His voice shook, thick with relief, joy, and something deeper. His heart swelled, overflowing; she was back. His arms tightened around her, unwilling to let go. For the first time in a long, long time. Joe felt whole again. __ Veda lay curled up, basking in the blazing warmth that engulfed her. Joe's arms wrapped around her securely, his body radiating a soothing heat that seeped into her scales.

It was the kind of warmth she had craved, the kind she hadn't realized she had been desperate for until now. She stilled, allowing herself to exist in this moment simply. A strange energy flowed through him, subtle yet powerful, wrapping around them both like an invisible current. She had never felt anything like it. It wasn't mana, nor was it the system's power. Something else. Something… unfamiliar. Her tail twitched. Where was it coming from? A question for later. For now, she simply basked.

A pulse of bliss radiated from her into him, an instinctive expression of her overwhelming contentment. Joe responded immediately. His fingers ran down her back, slow and gentle, soothing and grounding. She purred, a deep, thrumming sound of happiness. She had known she missed him, but this was more than she had prepared for. The weight of being near him again nearly overwhelmed her. The spark within her flared. A strange sensation swept through her body, something shifting, returning.

Part of the spark inside her, the piece that had bound her to him, dimmed, its energy slowly seeping out and flowing back into Joe. A soft sigh escaped him, almost relieved, almost at peace. Veda pressed closer, nuzzling against the crook of his neck. She inhaled deeply, the scent of earth, mana, and something wholly Joe filling her senses. Her eyelids drooped. The steady rhythm of his breathing, the warmth cocooning her, the quiet security of being here. It was perfect.

As the world faded, she drifted into a deep slumber. __ Joe stood up and carefully adjusted Veda, wrapping her over his shoulders. She curled against his neck, her slow, rhythmic breathing signalling deep sleep. He had felt something return to him from within her, a spark, familiar yet altered. Something deep within his soul made him sure that he had felt Uriel's light. As it settled back inside him, something shifted. Deep in his chest, a tiny ember formed, radiating a soft warmth.

Joe inhaled, feeling a quiet sense of change. An urge tugged at his mind, guiding his gaze toward his status screen. He focused on the top section, noticing something new.

Status Name: Joseph Caldwell Age: 28 Race: High Human (Grade E - Rank 0) Alignment: High Human (World 43) Heritage: Path of Light Class: Magical Farmer (Unique) Level 50, Space Farmer (Pseudogod) Level 18 Professions: Nature's Guardian(Legendary) Level 54 Bloodline Light of the Eternal Spark (Grade E) Joe looked at the new heading, Heritage, and a description popped up. Heritage - You have discovered your path. Every person's path is unique and records their life, whether short-lived or endless.

Forge ahead down your path as you pursue the important goals that matter to you and you alone. Joe took a moment to reflect. His path was one of light. He wasn't sure what that truly meant yet, but he understood now why he had been unable to wield Uriel's light properly. Not only had he been using it wrong, but he had also subconsciously planted a piece inside Veda. Now that it had returned to him, clarity settled in. Uriel's light was never meant to kill. It was meant to protect life, not take it.

Joe made a silent vow to himself that he would never again use Uriel's light to harm. Something within him flared. His ember of light pulsed and grew ever so slightly, but it was there, a beginning. Looking up, he noticed Drishti and Samira standing outside the tent. They were both sweating, struggling under the weight of his unveiled aura. Realizing the pressure he was exerting, he quickly reined it in.

"Sorry," he said, raising his hands in apology. Drishti and Samira both exhaled in relief as the weight lifted. They approached, Drishti speaking first, guilt evident in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. Veda made us swear not to say anything." Joe chuckled.

"Now it all makes sense. Veda is even moodier than Esha." The tail wrapped around his neck gave a firm squeeze in protest.

"Oops. Even in sleep, she heard me." Drishti smiled while Samira shook her head.

"Don't worry, I sent the ladies away," Drishti added. Joe's expression fell into one of exaggerated disappointment.

"All of them? Maybe one or two can stay…" he said, only to get a solid punch on the arm from Samira.

"Ouch," he protested, rubbing his arm, though he wasn't actually hurt.

"Careful, Farmer," Samira warned with a smirk. Joe gasped in mock betrayal.

"Esha's been rubbing off on you, I see." Samira's grin turned devious.

"Someone has to keep you in check while she's away." Joe laughed, shaking his head.

"Ah, I missed you guys." As if silently agreeing, the three of them pulled into a group hug.