Bab 78: Return
The Sword Goddess laughed after being hurt.
She seemed exhilarated after finding a worthy opponent. Their battle shall be legendary!
At least, that was until she noticed his condition.
"Unconscious…?" Void looked at his bleeding face and body that had stiffened into a Bajiquan stance.
She stopped attacking and looked at Gaia.
"You lost." The sportswoman made it clear. There was no reason for her to say anything more of this.
Both of them knew what would come next.
However, the Sword Goddess no longer seemed against imparting her Divinity onto the youth.
Even giving some 'extra presents' as an apology.
She looked at his bleeding eyes and felt that she had gone overboard, but it was bound to happen.
Battles worked in such way…
If you plan to put your life on the line, then you also have to accept the injuries gained for victory.
"Since you're not all talk, I'll help you if you ever call out to me." She left those words and vanished.
Gaia couldn't help but sigh after she had left.
Her hand went over Adam's bleeding face and closed up the wound made by the godly blade.
'Divinity Striker' had damaged his vessel itself.
Similar to the kind of injuries Simon sustained.
In order to make sure the Pure Mana he so devotedly cultivated didn't disappear, she did what she could to awaken anything within him that could help patch up the wound done to his physical body.
She could only find one solution for this…
The remnants of Dark Steel Limit Ascension Compound that was left within his bloodstream.
Laying dormant until it was awakened.
'Forgive me for this.' She knew her actions were going out of her rights, but she was worried.
His sight might never come back to him.
*Creak* *Creak* *Creak*
Adam's joints cracked while the Dark Steel Limit Ascension Compound was ignited by his Pure Mana. It made a different kind of transformation take place. His body started glowing a light cyan.
Her hair went from black to the same colour of his Mana momentarily, before two new ears grew on it.
Two cyan wolf ears appeared on his head.
A bushy wolf tail appeared behind him, and the spiritual overload of sensations forced him to wake.
He saw new messages in his log…
[You have acquired the 'Sword Goddess Gift Box'.]
[You have received the favour of a Sword God.]
[Gift Box is automatically opened.]
[You have received 'Swd Arts' Personal Skill.]
[You have received the Divinity concept: 'Sever'.]
[You have received the Overlord Rank Cultivation Method of the Goddess: 'Mana Sharpening'.]
[You have awakened the Pure Wolf Divine Physique which was altered. It is now a 'Sword Physique']
[Would you like to learn more? Yes/No]
This was the first time he had read such a message at the end, but he was preoccupied with his state.
His eyes wasn't functioning anymore.
The reformation he went through had increased his overall strength. Adam could feel it broke its limits.
However, his sight was gone.
He couldn't immerse himself in the game of life anymore, and lost a crucial aspect of himself.
It made him feel like something was stolen.
"Gaia… Gaia!" He roared, and she came over to his side. Holding him in her arms to stop his struggles.
"I'm sorry."
"Fix my eyes for me."
"It can't be done…"
"Do it! I want my eyes back…! This… They're not hurting my face, but I can't see anything. I don't know what to do here. Help me… Help…" He clung onto her to beg the woman, but she didn't budge.
She had no way of fixing Void's damage to him.
Adam had no choice but to swallow his 'pain'.
He wanted to live a fuller life, but doubted that could be done without being able to see anyone.
It wasn't like he had echolocation either.
Maybe if he concentrated hard, it would be possible to navigate even without seeing anything.
But how would he be able to do anything else?
It wasn't like he'd be able to read the expression of others, or be able to read without outside help.
Who would possibly assist him at this time…?
It was at that point he remembered Kang Hyuk…
The self-proclaimed 'friend of all people' wouldn't betray him. He was sure he could trust that guy.
"Send me back there."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's just-"
"I don't want to hear your bullshit…!" He suddenly revealed the lack of faith he had towards her.
Recent events had taught him one thing: Gaia wasn't on his side. She just wanted him 'strong'.
Like trying to grow a house plant.
She 'watered' him with Skills, and watched him grow with a loving yet detached perspective.
He then realised he had animal ears now and a tail.
His senses had become sharper, and there seemed to be a special trait about the 'Sword Physique'.
But he didn't want to think about it anymore.
When Gaia heard his words, she had no choice but to give him what he wanted without explanation.
She was trying to tell him one thing earlier…
That Adam would be sent to when and where he first entered her own godly personal dimension.
His body suddenly vanished.
It reappeared back where Solaris once knelt.
"Aaagh…" The sounds of Beastkin moaning in pain could be heard. All of them survived the disaster.
He didn't have to see it to imagine the scene…
Lots of people had been terribly injured before he was taken by Red Rabbit. The place was a mess.
And there was only one culprit for all of this…
…him.
'What should I do?' He could easily kill them even without his sight. His stats were just THAT high.
However, that would all go against his interests.
Moreover, he had never killed someone in the entire time he'd came to this world. He was still a normal guy… even if there's that thing about his two derivative personalities that formed egos.
Adam Graham was not a cruel killer.
Therefore, he just needed to run all the way home instead… but which way was his mansion again?
He couldn't understand the directions…
"Hey, you there. Are you knew here?" Adam suddenly felt his spine stiffen at the familiar voice.
There was no way he'd forget it.
'Why is he saying that?' Given the situation and what the surroundings should've looked, he had the feeling that a misunderstanding was being formed. Most likely due to his Beastkin features.
He looked a little different, but it was obvious that he was one of them… from the wolf parts, at least.
"I'm… hurt…" Since it wasn't like anyone would be able to come up with a good response anyway, he decided to partly tell the truth. He covered his eyes, and tried to pass it off as him feeling pain.
The man who had arrived, Ardo Brigsy, felt pity for the newcomer before him. He had a thought:
'This guy must have ascended here at the wrong time… and got caught up in everything.' The lion man immediately felt remorseful for his earlier actions. He shouldn't have tried to scare Lumina.
Originally, he was only intending to mes with her and let her go. After all, Beastkin weren't all fools.
Even though they had been raised like Beasts, it wasn't like he'd force himself on a frail woman.
The others were like that as well.
However, they didn't exactly tell a lie too. It really was a custom to only welcome bound bloodlines.
Nyaura, their strict Esparda Queen, had gotten rid of this tradition. She had done her best for them.
Making them a lot less freak than before…
Regardless, outsiders were still unwelcome.
Ardo looked down on the new recruit's back, and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity to the voice.
'Wait…' The lion man walked around to face him.
"Can I have a look at your face?" He asked, and it seemed like the young man didn't want to do so.
"I'm fine."
"Please… I need to see it so we can do whatever we can." The vice leader was patient and polite.
He didn't force Adam to do anything.
Knowing that it was inevitable, the young man lowered his hands and showed his entire face.
A long and thick scar came into view…
There were signs of a fast regenerative ability having patched it up, but that was only temporary.
Too much shock to the face could cause the wound to open. It made the lion man more gentle.
"You look like someone else."
"…?" The blind young man made a confused face.
"I'm glad you came here when you did. I'll make sure to repay you if you help me with something."
"Which is…?"
"I think the man named 'Adam Graham' is dead. I and many others had seen what happened." The miracle gamer didn't react. His face not betraying even a hint of the ridiculousness of the situation.
"And?" He continued to inquire.
"You see… I've heard this plot of land is owned by that man. If he suddenly disappears, then so will our home." Ardo made sure to be clear on what he wanted. He grabbed the 'lookalike' by the hands.
Trying to convey his sincerity.
The gamer had enough of this farce!
"I… AM… 'Adam Graham'." When he spoke these words sharply, a hand landed on his shoulder.
The maned vice leader felt happy he 'got it'.
"Yes… You yourself are 'Adam'."
"No, I really mean it."
"It's great your getting the hang of it. Anyway, can I ask what's your real name so we're not confused?"
"…" Adam felt like facepalming, but decided to let him have this misunderstanding: "Amma Realguy."
"I thank you for cooperating, Mr Realguy."
'Is he for real…?' There was no way Ardo couldn't tell he was talking out of his ass at this point.
But because he was blind and couldn't see any expressions, he had to take this at face value.
"You can call me Amma."
"Will be nice cooperating, Amma. I'm going to have to go around and take care of my companions, so I'll have to guide you to the only place that's free at the moment." Adam nodded, but wanted to take back his agreement after realising where that was.
"….Is this place alright?"
"Don't worry. The Esparda Queen and Knight normally stay here. Are you alright alone, or do you need someone to take care of you? I can tell you're not used to your vision being like that."
"I'll manage." The blind gamer refused the nice offer. He felt a sense of alienation from all this.
Why was that asshole being so nice to him?
He had no idea what the man was thinking. All he knew was that this might be a trap of some sort.
There was no way this cunning lion believed him…
'Is he planning to have me lower my guard?' Adam got ready to react. His nerves were on edge.
An entire night passed…
The blind gamer had continued to stay awake all night, but all he bit in return was mental fatigue.
[You are recommended to rest.]
Ignoring the blue screen that only he could see, a breath was let out of his mouth while in thought.
He should be able to get back quietly at this rate.
But his curiosity was making him want to stay a bit longer. It felt like he was about to figure things out.
Maybe this was an opportunity…
Even though he was sure those like Nyaura and Velma, who had met him before, would come to recognise him… Adam knew exactly what he wanted. A clean break from taking responsibility.
Solaris and Lumina's actions were their own.
It was better if the 'Knight' and 'Queen' kept quiet about this, or else he'd part ways on bad terms.
The choice was there own to make.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone