บท 36: Chapter 35: An unexpected encounter.
Rigel was living in the forest after he left Vern and had been staying low there for a week. He managed to hunt some monsters there and was lucky enough to get 3 Cores from the monster leaders. The Cores weren't mature yet, so it barely gave him anything, but he knew it still affected him in some way.
"I have opened up 3rd circle of both fire and lightning elements. I can finally do intermediate spells and currently, on the 1st floor nothing can survive intermediate spells," Rigel looked at his fingertips and could feel the Mana move more naturally. "With the fire that can heal both my external wounds and internal wounds, I should be able to open the 4th circle or even the 5th circle."
The 4th circle was when the Mana inside the body coated every system inside a human's body. It helped the Mana flow even better and enhanced the amount of Mana that could be released.
The 5th circle was to train the system inside the body so it could flow even more Mana and increase the efficiency of Mana usage. It made the cost of Mana usage to be even less than before without reducing its power. With that being said, using an excessive amount of Mana would increase the magic power even further.
"Since I'm not in a hurry, I guess I should spend another week to try and open up 2 circles for both my magic," Rigel sighed as he walked to the river and tried to mediate there because the flow of Mana in the river was rich.
A week passed, and with Rigel's knowledge about magic, he unlocked both Fire and Lightning magic circles to the 5th circle. He felt overwhelming Mana running through his body and he tried to use high-level magic.
Rigel used fire magic on his left hand and lightning magic on his right hand.
When he lifted his left hand, he turned the Mana around and combusted it into fire. The forest was emblazed by fire, but that wasn't the final move. He concentrated all the fire into a tiny sphere and then released the pressure, creating a shockwave of flames that flattened his surroundings, turning all the trees, and grass into ashes, and drying up the river since it evaporated.
He lifted his right hand the moment he clenched it, the Mana in his surroundings turned into a blitz of lightning, tearing the air and sound barrier as it obliterated and ripped apart the trees in an instant. He then put his right hand on the ground, sending the traveling blitz of lightning to the ground and destroying the ground upside down like bombs that exploded underground.
He never thought the destructive power of those 2 spells could be like that, and he didn't know if anyone could survive that. Those spells were only the easiest ones, some spells required him to use more Mana and complicated combinations.
"6th circle magic, I don't think I can risk it, or my whole body would be beyond repair if I made a mistake or my body couldn't withstand it," Rigel muttered as he looked at his surroundings. "I guess that's it for now and get used to the current power that I have before progressing further."
Rigel left the forest since he had taken a lot of detours and decided to go to Alma City. There were things that he wanted to do there, and one of them was to try to challenge the Sacred Dungeon. The Sacred Dungeon was the fastest way to gain level and get rewards from clearing each level for new Players.
Caius recommended Rigel enter that place because even for Non-Players, the monsters inside the dungeon had a high chance of dropping a lot of Cores, and they were all mature Cores. What made that place risky was the fact that Non-Players could die in there because there was no System assistance. Players could forfeit from the dungeon by just simply clicking the screen and making them leave the dungeon immediately. Non-Players couldn't do that and had to manually leave the dungeon by walking back.
It took Rigel 2 months of traveling ever since he left Kane and the others to Alma City. He realized the traveling wasn't worth the time, but he had no choice because using teleporters had a high risk of him getting caught. He knew he was being hunted, and it would be better to avoid them until he was confident about his power.
"Alma City... seems like they weren't lying that it's the biggest place on the 1st floor," Rigel looked at the city from above the cliff. The city was big, with a 5km radius and a tower piercing throught the sky. "I wonder if there are Players from Earth there," he held his sword tightly.
Rigel went into the city and was immediately welcomed by the smell of freshly baked bread and meat. The city was crowded and when he remembered everyone that he saw was Players, he felt weird that he was the only one that was different from them. But nobody would know and as long as he didn't stand out too much, he would blend perfectly with the crowds.
He was looking at the notice board about the map of the city and found various interesting places while eating beef jerky. He wanted to go to the Sacred Dungeon immediately, but he needed to buy armor pieces first. He didn't want to go there without any protection, and he also wanted to forge his own armor with the lindworm's scales.
On his way to the least crowded area in the city where the blacksmith shop was, he noticed he was being followed. He didn't know who followed him, so he tried to break their legs, but when he tried to enter a dark alley, someone grabbed his shoulder.
"I knew it. It was you," A familiar woman's voice could be heard behind Rigel.
Rigel glanced and he couldn't believe he had met her on the 1st floor. The woman who mentored the Invitees before they entered the trial, Vania. He couldn't believe she could find him even though he was blending in with the crowds, and that was a bad sign for him because if Vania could spot him, that also meant those people who hunted him would be able to do so.
"The System said that the trial failed, but why are you here?" Vania looked so confused. "Wait, are you perhaps a Non-Pla—" Before Vania could finish her sentence, Rigel grabbed her hand that was on his shoulder and pulled her into the dark alley.
In an instant Rigel put his sword on her throat as he sat on top of her and put his left hand on her mouth. His pupils narrowed and it affected Vania and petrified her to her core. She didn't know what was going on, and the way Rigel looked at her with killing intent made her lose her composure.
"Do you want to live?" Rigel asked coldly.
Vania nodded her head repeatedly.
"But I don't think you want me to live after knowing that I'm a Non-Player or those Players that I have killed after they tried to kill me. So, give me the answer, and your life will depend on it," Rigel warned as he slowly removed his left hand from Vania's mouth.
"I'm not them, and we are from the same world... we both want to save Earth..." Vania answered with her trembling voice. "I know the dark truth about the tower, and I'm against it," she looked Rigel in the eyes and she showed that she meant it.
Rigel didn't buy her words, but he didn't know if Vania had abandoned Earth or if she died before she could leave Earth in his past life. He decided to spare her life and would keep an eye on her because if she changed her mind in the future, he wouldn't hesitate to put his sword in her heart.
Rigel helped Vania stand up, Vania was confused and couldn't believe that Rigel was that strong and skilled.
"Can I ask you what actually happened back there?" Vania asked.
"No, I don't think you need to know what happened back there. It's better if you don't pry on that matter," Rigel answered as he sheathed his sword.
"Okay..." Vania nodded with understanding. "But, I haven't asked your name. Can I know your name, at least? I promise in the name of God that I won't tell anyone or use it to harm you," she added and showed her serious expression.
"Rigel, that's my name," Rigel answered as he looked at his surroundings.
"I bet you're looking for a safe place to stay in the city. Follow me, I know where outlaws usually stay in this city, and the last thing people with authority want to go to is that place," Vania said.
"I can handle myself, you don't need to help me," Rigel responded.
"I know, but I can't just ignore the fact that someone from Earth is being hunted like an animal. I would hate myself if something happened to you, so please, let me help you, at least let me get you in a safe place for you to stay," Vania frowned and she was genuinely worried about Rigel.
"Alright, lead the way," Rigel said.
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