∼ Day 232 ∼

My rouse from sleep was slow as if my mind was emerging from a sea of molasses.

It was quite odd; having to acclimate to the normal world once again, the sheer contrast between it and the spirit realm bafflingly abstruse. But as memory and understanding came back to me, I found myself even more so flummoxed by the whole thing.

But even so with the strangeness of however long I had spent inside that space, there was only one thing I couldn't get out of my mind.

"Did I really just get blown by a tree? - in my head?" I thought to myself, incredulously.

The notion was just as, if not more so, strange than the whole spirit realm.

"Wait... does this technically count as a wet dream?" I couldn't help but wonder awkwardly.

As that thought struck, I tugged at my tattered pants, embarrassment flushing my cheeks as I looked down.

"Yeah... that's rather mortifying..." I muttered helplessly, already pulling out a new pair of clothes to replace the tattered remains that still miraculously clung onto my body from the fight against Cain.

Done with clothing myself again, the motions having become literally ingrained in my muscle with how many times I end up in fights that almost always completely ruin any that I wear.

I had already noticed the damp and dark of my surroundings which appeared to be safe, so there was no immediate haste for me to get going.

I found myself not at the clearing where I had made my last stand against The Hallowed Lord and his patron god, but deep inside a cave. Surprise at the fact that even with Orca obviously clear and gone, including my undoubtedly long time spent within the spirit realm recuperating myself, I had remained unmolested to any opportunity-seeking Lords or Ladies.

But the confusion as to why was quickly dashed as I spotted the strange circle I sat within.

Carved within the rocky stone floor of the cave, was a circle decorated with numerous simplistic symbols and markings. With them, were a few strategically placed items that wouldn't have seemed out of place amongst the bedding of a forest. I didn't need anyone to explain to me that it was in fact these things that somehow shrouded my presence from the outside, shockingly much better than even I was able to with my shadows.

From these items, I could sense an odd aura. Unlike that of normal mana, rather it gave me a sense of spirituality. Like how the expanse of the spirit realm had felt.

"He really did a lot for me..." I muttered quietly, offering up a silent thanks to the shamanic beastkin.

Although he had acted on the prerogative of the spirits, this was a great kindness nonetheless. A favor I'd be paying off in the late future.

Curious as to what uses I might be able to figure out with the seemingly innocuous and inconspicuous items, I tried to make heads and tails of what I could sense. Coming up with nothing, I just decided to stow them away for later inspection.

But the moment I reached for them, extending my hand out of the circle, the enchantment that had kept me safe and sound from the dangers of the world outside, broke. Turning the mystical aura from each item and the circle itself mute and dull. Like they were nothing more than twigs, leaves, and other oddities.

Maybe they hadn't really been magical artifacts or items of notice. Rather, they had been simple items imbued with the power of the spirits - merely as a temporary measure from the looks of it.

Regardless, I couldn't complain.

I was still alive and whole. In fact, I felt better than ever. Not only was my soul completely healed, it actually felt as if it was stronger... purer somehow. But most astonishing was the now sanguine tinge to it from what I could feel.

Actually, I could sense a distinctive aspect of some mystical aura to it. The aura of spirits.

"Luna..." I couldn't help but mutter.

Had she imbued my soul with her signature or aura in some way?

It felt much stronger and somehow freer than normal.

I definitely would need to ask her when I got back home.

On that note, I realized that I had failed to really ask Luna anything which had only become apparent right at the instance where I was broken from the realm of the spirits. Granted, Luna hadn't said anything about home either, or at least offered any information as to how things were going or if they were in any danger.

It might've been because she wasn't allowed to divulge information that didn't pertain to the spirit realm or the Trials I were currently isolated within? I hadn't broken any rules by technically leaving it with my consciousness, had I?

I honestly hadn't the faintest idea as I barely even understood the System, much less the spirit realm.

It didn't matter though as I couldn't change what had already happened. At the least, I could draw comfort from the reality that Luna hadn't seemed worried, panicked, or fearful during our encounter in the spirit realm. That had to mean that they were safe.

Still, that didn't mean I could dawdle around. I still didn't know how long I had spent in the spirit realm or the trials for that matter. With the experiences I've gone through, the counting of days had quickly become utterly lost to me.

While they may still be all safe and sound, it was only a matter of time until conflict came to my home. And by all means, that could not happen while I was away.

It was time I really focused on getting home, especially because of the dread of leaving them alone to fight for themselves ever since I had entered the trial had been gnawing away at my resolve. Ever since that one step through the portal.

With the impending struggle heading its way to my home, I would never be able to rest easy.

Firm determination setting into me, I reviewed the last order of business before I left this cave.

-Status!-

Status

Information Attributes

Traits, Titles, and Skills -Name- "Xavier Tal'chor" STR 74 ⇒ 84 Skills 22 -Race- Stragúl (Eldritch Avatar) VIT 302 ⇒ 328 Traits 10 ⇒ 11 -Sex- Male AGI 168 ⇒ 174 Titles 5 -Rank- C DEX 75 ⇒ 83 Skill Points 12 ⇒ 18 -Level- 9/75 ⇒ 15/75 INT 77 ⇒ 82 Resistances

Health 2730/2730 CHR 65 ⇒ 70 Physical 67 ⇒ 78 Stamina 534/534 WILL 89 ⇒ 93 Magical 76 ⇒ 85 Mana 698/698 MAG 250 ⇒ 271 Mental 58 ⇒ 61

The level gain at my evolutionary rank had been substantial, to say the least. But even so, after having killed literally six Sanctioned Lord existences, it had only amounted to fifteen measly levels. And that was even with Siphon and my rate of progression.

The amount of EXP needed for each new level as this new race was astronomical, and it was only going to get worse.

I could only imagine how much time some of the true monsters at the later ranks had spent on accumulating their strengths.

Moving on, I pulled up the notifications that had been readily awaiting my observation.

[Skill - Codex has leveled up from 7 ⇒ 8!]

[Skill - Blood Lord has leveled up from 4 ⇒ 5!]

[Skill - Blitz has leveled up from 13 ⇒ 14!]

[Skill - Flesh Rapture has leveled up from 3 ⇒ 5!]

[Skill - Greater Mana Mending has leveled up from 7 ⇒ 12!]

[Skill - Onyx Incarnate has leveled up from 3 ⇒ 5!]

[Skill - Mana Mastery has leveled up from 11 ⇒ 12!]

[Skill - Enshroud has leveled up from 1 ⇒ 2!]

[Skill - Eldritch Born has leveled up from 2 ⇒ 5!]

[Skill - Mana Condensation has leveled up from 7 ⇒ 9!]

[Skill - Greater Elemental Resistance has leveled up from 9 ⇒ 13!]

[Skill - Petrifying Gaze has leveled up from 3 ⇒ 4!]

[Skill - Domain of Life and Death has leveled up from 1 ⇒ 3!]

[Trait - Aethertouched has been added to Traits!]

Considerable increases, and even a new trait. It had to be regarding the reason why my soul had changed ever so slightly, but before I looked into it, I finally pulled up with curiosity towards the gains I've gained since coming into this trial.

Skill list Name Tiers LVL -Codex- 4 6/20 ⇒ 8/20 -Dominion Mastery- 4 5/20 ⇒ 10/20 -Blood Plague- 3 7/15 ⇒ 8/15 -Blood Lord- 4 3/20 ⇒ 5/20 -Blitz- 3 12/15 ⇒ 14/15 -Flesh Rupture- 4 1/20 ⇒ 5/20 -Ambrosial Senses- 3 12/15 ⇒ 15/15 -Greater Mana Mending- 3 6/15 ⇒ 12/15 -Onyx Incarnate- 4 2/20 ⇒ 5/20 -Mana Mastery- 4 3/20 ⇒ 12/20 -Enshroud- 4 1/20 ⇒ 2/20 -Formation Constructs- 4 3/20 ⇒ 5/20 -Blood Conversion- 1 5/5 -Eldritch Born- 4 1/20 ⇒ 5/20 -Shadow Lord- 4 1/20 ⇒ 3/20 -Stygian Transformation- 3 4/15 -Mana Condensation- 3 5/15 ⇒ 9/15 -Greater Elemental Resistance- 3 7/15 ⇒ 13/15 -Petrifying Gaze- 4 2/20 ⇒ 4/20 -Domain of Life and Death- 4 1/20 ⇒ 3/20- New -Synergize- 1 1/1