"Our school's prodigy, a year my senior, the future poster child for flowing water techniques, a second-generation affluent youth. His family manages a large commercial supply of medium-grade materials, commonly known as mine owners. He possesses an exceptionally difficult temperament," Redwyn succinctly summarized Leon's profile.
"You know him?"
"When I first gained minor recognition at school, he approached me. Fifty dollars per minute for a sparring match," Redwyn recalled the unpleasant memory.
"Why am I only half as cheap?" Mithra inquired with a surprisingly earnest tone.
But Redwyn instinctively felt she was merely fabricating an excuse.
It must be an illusion; how could Mithra possess such a shocking lack of principle?
"So, how much did you manage to earn?"
"Two hundred fifty..."
"..." Mithra's face remained utterly expressionless, yet Redwyn always felt Mithra must be secretly amused, simply choosing not to display it outwardly.
"Logically, you should have only lasted about 5 minutes," Mithra observed.
"Couldn't I have successfully defeated him within 5 minutes?" Redwyn blushed slightly.
Mithra offered no response, silently observing him.
He immediately deflated: "Right, I lasted five minutes before being thoroughly defeated, and that timeframe included his deliberate attempts to humiliate me. Otherwise, it would have been over in two minutes flat. He even arranged for my official leave the following day, which led to me being ridiculed at school for ages."
By the conclusion of his explanation, his tone was laced with barely suppressed rage.
"So he actually pays, right?" Mithra confirmed.
"Of course, he pays. He has a terrible temper but impeccable credit. I heard he started playing this game the moment he enrolled. Initially, he got severely taught a lesson by some older students, and there were even seniors who specifically tried to extort money from him. But no matter who challenged him, as long as they possessed the strength, he always settled the payment in the end." At this point, Redwyn paused again, then continued: "After a year or two, all the seniors who dared to extort money from him were beaten back by him, and he would always humiliate them by tossing them a few meager banknotes."
"Ah."
Mithra responded, then turned to regard Leon: "Alright, let's commence."
Leon was slightly surprised by Mithra's decisiveness, yet still maintained a subtly contemptuous smile: "No need for preparation, or finding an uninhabited, open area?" They were currently positioned at the school gate.
"That open space over there will suffice. Just ensure you don't impede others," Mithra stated.
Redwyn wasn't surprised Mithra agreed, but he actually held considerable confidence in her abilities.
"While I rarely concern myself with other people's sensibilities, even if you aren't a student here, if you get completely flattened on the ground in front of everyone, I guarantee your pathetic image will dominate the front page of the school forum tomorrow," Leon remarked, walking alongside Mithra.
"Perhaps it will be you?" Mithra countered casually.
"Hmm~, interesting. As expected of someone who also possesses Eyes of a Different Species," Leon responded with a smile.
The distinctive appearance of the Eyes of Night wasn't overtly noticeable. They weren't widely recognized on Earth; even the placement center only confirmed their unique nature after extensive testing.
Yet, Leon seemed to have recognized them immediately.
"Hey, I've temporarily reserved this area. Everyone please keep your distance. If you wish to stay and watch, that's fine; I will cover any injuries incurred." Leon walked to the edge of the open ground and announced loudly.
This individual was quite high-profile, almost ostentatious.
He was also something of a local celebrity. The surrounding people, recognizing him, immediately understood the situation and quickly gave them space. Surprisingly, no one was willing to linger, hoping to scam him for medical expenses.
The two stood face to face, not far apart.
"May I utilize a weapon?" Mithra inquired.
"As you wish, if you intend to rely on weaponry."
"How shall we determine the victor?"
"Whoever remains on the ground for three continuous seconds or longer first."
"How many life locks do you have remaining?"
"Hmm?" Leon's brow furrowed: "My life locks are, naturally, fully intact. Why inquire about that?"
"Apologies, merely a habit. So, how do we initiate the contest?"
Leon paid little attention, "...Monkey, toss a coin. How about we begin when the coin settles?"
"Agreed."
Redwyn muttered "dead crab" under his breath, then produced a coin and casually flipped it high into the air.
The coin ascended. Mithra and Leon paid no attention to the coin itself. Mithra was still seizing the moment to cast Calmness upon herself.
Until the coin landed.
Ding~.
Leon initiated the engagement, both fists simultaneously emerging, tracing two seemingly gentle yet fierce streams of water toward Mithra. Their trajectory swayed unpredictably, making them difficult to track at first glance.
His beautiful phoenix eyes widened slightly. His vision clearly registered the trajectory of Mithra's entire body movements, even perceiving the subtle, crucial shifts in her posture.
Time seemed to stretch within his mind. Beneath his confident veneer lay a meticulously analytical interior.
"Her entire form is full of vulnerabilities. She doesn't seem particularly imposing... Is she the type who excels at fighting monsters but is clumsy against people? That would be somewhat disappointing."
Leon couldn't immediately discern anything truly striking, but he still felt his initial assessment hadn't been wrong. Earlier, when he saw Mithra on the road, he instantly experienced the illusion of seeing a fierce, upright beast.
Mithra was certainly not weak, but facing his attack now, her reaction appeared completely standard. He could only draw such a conclusion for the moment.
Just as his disappointment began to surface, he suddenly noticed that Mithra's limb movements were becoming peculiar.
Why was she reaching toward her waist? Was there something concealed there? Or was it some hidden technique?
Hmm!?
Suddenly, Leon's eyes snapped wide open in utter disbelief.
He… couldn't see!
The vision he had relied upon since childhood, which he had honed to absolute perfection, was gradually losing its clarity alongside Mithra's movements.
So close, yet everything before him had turned blurry—no different from being instantly blinded!
Bang!
A sharp pain shot through his waist, immediately followed by his legs being tripped. His whole world spun as he crashed to the ground. A cascade of pain stimulated his brain, and only then did his vision snap back into focus.
Mithra stood with her hands casually tucked into her pockets, as if she hadn't moved at all. Now it was she who was looking down at Leon.
Leon froze momentarily, then reacted sharply: "What did you do?"
"A miracle," Mithra replied first, then added dryly: "That ended quickly, less than half a minute. I won't charge you a tip. Next time, please don't obstruct my path, thank you."
With that, she turned and walked away.
A user who specializes in enhanced perception?
The new Night Hunter sends its regards.
One of the Hunter miracles involves obscuring the senses, specifically targeting the eyes. Mithra had just utilized a very basic technique, "Shadow of the Hunt," which could temporarily cloud peripheral vision. When deployed by her highly proficient beast-transformed state, it could even achieve complete sensory erasure from others for a brief duration.
Mithra walked away lightly, leaving Leon sitting on the ground, covering his waist, deep in contemplation.
The surrounding spectators were equally shocked.
Leon was brought down by a mere slap and a leg sweep from his opponent?
A fixed match!
Whether the outcome was genuine or not, according to Leon himself, the news of his rare defeat in a challenge would surely dominate the front page of the school forum.
Mithra and Redwyn walked out past the school gate.
Redwyn remarked: "You used the same miracle as that church group? Come to think of it, even though I couldn't clearly see your movements, your posture definitely suggested you were about to swing a heavy hammer!"
Didn't he know her well enough if others didn't? That specific motion of reaching toward her own kidney clearly indicated an intention to pull out a hammer for a swing.
Mithra shrugged: "Lead the way; let's go purchase supplies."
Redwyn beamed: "Alright, alright, alright! That 'dead crab' hasn't tasted defeat in ages; he's probably going to be the subject of ridicule for a while."
"Why do you call him a crab?" Mithra finally voiced the question that had been piquing her curiosity earlier.
"Because his central structure looks remarkably like a crab. Oh, speaking of which, I'm craving some now too. Let's grab some hotpot for dinner. My treat!"
"Fine," Mithra agreed.
She did feel a slight hunger pang.
...
At a seafood hotpot establishment, the three sat together in a large dining area.
"So, why did you insist on joining us for hotpot?" Redwyn asked, looking at Leon with an incredulous expression. Leon still clutched his waist but had insisted on accompanying them.
"I've already treated you to good crab meat. Naturally, I want to join the feast," Leon stated matter-of-factly.
While the two conversed, Mithra silently gnawed on a crab leg.
Leon turned his attention to Mithra: "Earlier, you seemed to have used a miracle to obscure my vision."
Mithra continued methodically chewing the crab. Redwyn answered for her: "What, you aren't satisfied?"
Leon glared at Redwyn, then dismissed him: "Why would I act like a monkey, jumping around in frustration just because I couldn't win?"
"Dead crab." In response, Redwyn grabbed another crab, viciously broke off a leg, and bit into it.
Leon, however, persisted in speaking to Mithra: "There are methods to cloud vision; I've encountered similar phenomena before, but being completely incapacitated like that was a first. You didn't use ordinary sleight of hand, did you? Was it a Miracle of Divinity?"
"It was among the two scattered Inspirations you purchased," Mithra replied bluntly.
"Ah, that explains it. No wonder even scattered Inspirations linked to a Wandering God were sold off directly. Such items are priceless, and an unembellished direct sale is extremely unusual," Leon grasped the situation.
"Selling them all to you saved a lot of tiresome negotiation," Redwyn added.
Leon chuckled disdainfully, remarking: "On the contrary, you, this monkey, stumbled upon unexpected fortune. The experience of witnessing a confrontation involving a Wandering God composite entity is something that can only be observed, not sought out. Even a mere glimpse of it would probably be an incredible acquisition for me."
Do you want me to just transform and show you, or not?
Mithra thought to herself, making a mental joke.
"Heh heh." Redwyn only offered a cold laugh, but then recalled something important, adding: "I'm heading to Xyrin City for an internship immediately after this."
"Tch, do you think I'm as short-sighted as you, monkey?" Leon scoffed.
"It's hard to judge who is more short-sighted between us now, isn't it? I've witnessed a Wandering God composite entity; have you?" Redwyn counterattacked.
"What is Xyrin City?" At this moment, Mithra spat out crab shell fragments from her mouth, then inquired.
Redwyn had mentioned earlier that they were heading to Xyrin City for a school activity, and she had forgotten to ask.
"A city within the Dream Nexus, part of the Xyrin Empire—the first great nation of the Dream Nexus. It is its former historical capital," Leon preempted Redwyn, offering the introduction.
Mithra nodded: "Your third-year and fourth-year students' internship excursion?"
"It's an annual requirement for third-year and fourth-year students, lasting about two months. It's designed to help us acclimatize to the miracle environment of the Dream Nexus as much as possible. After all, the intensity of miracles differs significantly between the two worlds. Mastering something for a lifetime on Earth without verifying it in the Dream Nexus is ultimately just small-time knowledge."
Redwyn was about to interject, but Leon's steady voice cut him off.
Mithra looked at Redwyn.
Finally seizing the opening, Redwyn explained: "I took advantage of the break to proactively go over there and prepare. Although I had two weeks of field experience last semester, this official activity is suddenly extended to two months, which is a substantial difference. I'm aiming to reduce my adaptation time."
"For a monkey, that's actually a thoughtful consideration," Leon suddenly interjected.
Redwyn offered no retort, simply gnawing silently on a crab leg.
Crunch!
Mithra paused for a moment, then finally stated: "Then I wish you both good luck."
...
The computer and phone were in hand, but before Redwyn could even display his knowledge of Earth electronic products, Leon had taken over everything.
Moreover, Leon was indeed more professional than Redwyn, introducing things appropriately without any deliberate showboating.
His attitude toward Mithra became quite gentle, save for his inherently arrogant tone. He was completely a qualified guide.
Towards Redwyn, however, he maintained a completely different demeanor, showing utter disdain.
But Mithra didn't perceive anything wrong with this attitude. If she had encountered Redwyn in his original state without an immediate necessity, she probably would have dismissed him as inconsequential.
In the end, Leon almost directly offered to pay for Mithra's items. It was only because Redwyn reasoned with him, and Mithra herself refused Leon's gesture at that level, that the matter was resolved without monetary exchange.
"Thank you for your assistance." Later, upon returning to school, as they parted at the entrance, Mithra still offered him sincere thanks.
"Hmm~, in any case, you had no intention of charging me, and I did lose my composure, so I can only attempt to make amends through other channels. You are a master, and a very intriguing person. I will challenge you again." Leon closed his eyes and smiled, waving his hand before stepping into a luxurious car waiting for him by the roadside.
Redwyn watched this scene, finding it very peculiar, extremely peculiar.
Mithra turned and headed toward the placement center.
Redwyn caught up and cautioned her: "Mithra, be careful."
"Why?"
"I sense that dead crab is scheming something."
"I believe he is a very good person," Mithra countered, proudly displaying the phone and laptop she had just acquired.
Redwyn was rendered speechless.
In the end, they could only bid farewell as planned.
...
Days later, Mithra sat in the reading room, typing on her computer, reviewing collected data, and engaging in discussions with some recently acquainted, relatively agreeable instructors, posing various questions.
Although she possessed her own computer, perhaps due to habit cultivated by the reading room's atmosphere, she would still try to come here.
Redwyn and Leon had already departed for Xyrin City.
Leon had sought out Mithra for another challenge before leaving.
Naturally, he lost again.
However, this time, facing "Shadow of the Hunt," he wasn't stunned by the momentary vanishing act of Mithra's figure from his sight. He reacted quickly but still suffered a swift defeat under Mithra's continuous onslaught.
This solidified Leon's assessment of Mithra. The disparity between them was definitely not as simple as merely one Miracle of Divinity.
Although he hadn't even managed to fully execute his flowing water techniques twice in a row, the inability to display them was itself an indicator: his cultivation was too shallow, and the technical gap between him and Mithra was considerable.
Finally, he presented Mithra with a pair of clear-lensed glasses, advised her not to rely excessively on electronic devices, and then embarked on his journey toward Xyrin City.
Mithra now wore those black, square, delicately framed glasses while reviewing her materials.
Suddenly, a pair of hands clapped onto Mithra's shoulders: "What is the celebrity looking at today?"
The only person in this location who would dare perform such a casual gesture towards Mithra was Matsuri.
Mithra did not turn her head, did not move, and did not speak.
Matsuri skillfully took a seat beside Mithra. Ever since Mithra conveniently assisted her with the sewing needles, her level of familiarity with Mithra had visibly increased by a significant margin.
"You defeated Leon twice; your popularity at school is quite high now," Matsuri remarked.
"Never mind the tedious students, how do you have access to this information?" Mithra replied casually, glancing at the computer screen.
"I'm not completely out of the loop. You, on the other hand, are much more arrogant than you let on."
"I merely accepted his challenge. Earth should be abundant in martial virtue, correct? What is wrong with a proper confrontation?"
"That's debatable. At least on Earth, people subconsciously exercise some restraint," Matsuri noted, toying with her hair.
She glanced at Mithra's computer screen and was immediately slightly dazzled. There was a vast amount of content displayed, much of it sourced from various parts of Earth, written in different languages.
Matsuri gasped in surprise: "You can actually read all of this?!"
"...Hmm, I can 'read' it."
"Genius!" Matsuri exclaimed.
"Fake," Mithra immediately retorted.
Matsuri looked momentarily deflated: "In the short time I've been here, I've only managed to learn three common languages. Ah, I truly feel defeated."
Mithra offered no further meaningless words in response.
But Matsuri, looking closely at the materials Mithra was currently viewing, suddenly asked: "Are you researching Xyrin City?"
"I have told you that I know very little about the Dream Nexus, and I've only been hearing that term frequently lately," Mithra stated.
"Using it as an entry point? Not bad; Xyrin City is also considered a famous locale within the Dream Nexus," Matsuri replied, showing comprehension.
Mithra looked at the materials displayed on the computer screen, recording data about Xyrin City and, by extension, the Xyrin Empire.
During the era of the Forty-Four Gods, the territory of the Xyrin Empire once endured a massive catastrophe that even the Holy Sanctuary of the Dream Nexus failed to fully record. It was rumored that this catastrophe spread its influence across the entire Dream Nexus.
Led by a legendary artisan, mobilizing many artisans of various races at the time, they confronted that catastrophe. Ultimately, they assembled the "Sun."
Relying on this "Counterfeit Sun," the various races successfully resisted that calamity.
After this event, the place where this sun was created was named "Xyrin City."
In the late period of the Forty-Four Gods era, during the resistance struggle, humanity occupied this city and established one of the earliest nations. The Xyrin Empire thus came into being.
Xyrin City was once the capital of the Xyrin Empire. After enduring historical ups and downs, a period of destruction and reconstruction, its capital was relocated.
Even so, Xyrin City remained a renowned metropolis within the Xyrin Empire and even the entire Dream Nexus.
And Earth also established a certain cooperative relationship with the Xyrin Empire. Although it was not a full diplomatic relationship, the Xyrin Empire temporarily tolerated Earth people's numerous activities within the realm of miracles.
The further establishment of diplomatic relations with Xyrin City was the result of further dedicated efforts by the Crimson Administrative Region under the Earth Federation.
Through long-term endeavor, it was built into a major "capital city" for Earth people.
"I've searched extensively but found no materials related to that catastrophe. Not even slightly detailed scraps. It doesn't even specify what the Counterfeit Sun entity truly is. The materials are all so vague and speculative; it reads less like historical record and more like ancient mythology," Mithra said, resting her hands on the table, her fingers lightly tapping the surface.
"In a world with actual gods, there's not much to be done," Matsuri said, shrugging.
Mithra nodded: "True. If it involves gods, then labeling it mythology isn't really inappropriate."
"However, regarding what you're curious about, I have some descriptions of fragments you might find interesting," Matsuri suddenly stated.
Mithra finally turned her head, meeting those golden eyes.
Although she didn't speak, her intent gaze was very clear.
"Regarding that catastrophe, I vaguely recall some descriptions," Matsuri said, then whispered: "A black curtain draped over the world, the world falling toward an unknown future, until the cold Sun emerged, its light dispelling the darkness, restoring the era's trajectory."
As her voice faded, the reading room fell completely silent.
Mithra tilted her head in thought, one hand supporting her face.
Eternal Night?
Mithra recalled the Crystal of Eternal Night, which was still kept inside her body as reserve material.
Night Elf, Anderet.
This entity had once ushered in the Eternal Night during the era of the forty-four Pillar Gods. Then the Eternal Night concluded, and its remaining power transformed into the Crystal of Eternal Night.
Whether or not it was one of the forty-four Pillar Gods, possessing the audacity and power to raise its own tide in a previous age certainly marked it as no ordinary being.
Did "A black curtain draped over the world" refer to the Eternal Night?
If so, the force that ended the Eternal Night was not another powerful entity, but a collective of artisans who crafted the Counterfeit Sun.
What kind of artifact was that Counterfeit Sun?
Thoughts continuously surged within Mithra.
"Intrigued?" Matsuri asked with a smile.
Mithra nodded: "Yes."
Researching the forty-four Pillar Gods was one of the major topics Mithra had set for herself. After all, these figures were highly likely to be her behind-the-scenes overseers.
"Want to come see it soon? My outfit for you has actually been ready for a while, but you never seemed to have an occasion to wear it," Matsuri also rested her hands on her chin, mirroring Mithra's head tilt as she looked at her.
"I will find time to visit, there's no urgency," Mithra replied.
She still had classes for her general education courses approaching. She wanted to solidify her knowledge of those potential examination checkpoints first.
...
A few days later, Mithra completed the required knowledge points for her current general education courses.
As long as she answered the standard questions like a normal person, common sense queries would certainly be manageable. Other uncommon questions could only be tackled through rote memorization.
Mithra planned to visit Xyrin City next, partly as a form of relaxation after so many days of intensive study.
Before departing, after reporting her intentions to Chensar, she located Matsuri.
"Oh, Mithra, it's rare for you to seek me out proactively," Matsuri said, eyes twinkling, looking at Mithra.
Mithra bluntly extended her hand: "The clothes."
"Want new attire? These are my proudest creations…" Matsuri had barely gotten halfway through her sentence when Mithra turned to leave, forcing Matsuri to awkwardly pull her back.
Mithra was then invited into the room and saw an outfit hanging on a rack nearby.
A tightly fitted, plain dark gray leather trench coat, paired with a dark gray undershirt, long trousers with gaiters matching the coat's color, even a pair of gray shoes, with a small waist pouch resting beside them.
Originally, Mithra hadn't held high expectations, but this ensemble was truly exceptional.
Even...
[Regenerative Garment: Simple, ordinary fabric sewn into clothing by astonishing craftsmanship. Do not overanalyze. Under the influence of a certain special miracle, the fabric will regenerate based on the largest remaining intact section after being torn, although the wearer might unconsciously overlook their own injuries.]
[Subterranean Mystic Pouch: Simple material sewn into a portable pouch by astonishing craftsmanship. Under the influence of a certain special miracle, its interior contains another vast space, capable of holding even an elephant. The wearer's spatial awareness will be slightly compromised.]
Mithra was silent for a moment, gazing at the confident Matsuri.
Matsuri's smile remained: "Aren't you going to try it on?"
"How did you manage this?" Mithra inquired.
Sensing that Mithra seemed to have grasped something significant, Matsuri raised both hands, making a precise cutting motion with imaginary scissors: "Miracle of Mending?"
Without further deliberation, Mithra took the clothes into Matsuri's room to change, placing her old attire directly into the pouch.
As she pushed the door open to exit, she casually removed her glasses and tucked them into her pouch.
"How is it?"
"It fits perfectly… You didn't even take my measurements beforehand," Mithra expressed surprise yet again.
"Professional tailoring requires precise visual acuity and calculation," Matsuri stated, feigning profound insight.
Whose relative are you, Fasellos?
Mithra mused internally, but stated aloud: "Thank you. This outfit is worth far more than the sewing needles I brought you."
"My gains weren't just the sewing needles; it was also an excellent clothing model," Matsuri replied with satisfaction, appraising Mithra once more.
"Then this clothing model must have been a tremendous asset. You could take it out and sell it for currency," Mithra countered.
Matsuri shook her head, sitting down on a chair in the room: "For now, it's just a hobby and an interest. There's no need to involve oneself in such commerce, or it loses its inherent meaning."
Without dwelling on Matsuri's philosophical leanings, Mithra thanked her again and departed.
After borrowing a rubber band from Matsuri to secure her long hair, Mithra headed towards the familiar square Transmission Point.
Touching the Transmission Point, a vague map materialized in her mind. Following her pre-prepared notes to pinpoint the target destination, she initiated the teleportation sequence directly.
Her eyes closed and reopened briefly. Mithra arrived within the Dream Nexus, a location she hadn't visited in some time.
However, she did not materialize inside Xyrin City as anticipated.
Instead, she appeared just outside the city walls.
Moreover, this seemed to be a rarely utilized Transmission Point; there was practically no one else in sight.
Several figures, heavily cloaked, were engaged in hushed whispers. When Mithra appeared, they quickly turned to regard her.
A collection of bewildered faces met her own bewildered expression.
"We just activated this point! There are so many Transmission Points in Xyrin City; no one should have noticed this one!"
"Has our plan been compromised?"
"…I suspect she might have selected the wrong coordinate?"
Mithra listened to their voices, paused for a moment in contemplation, then glanced down at the small pouch secured at her waist.
Did the item description mentioning diminished spatial awareness also cover this flaw?
When teleporting, she couldn't clearly discern the map or the precise distribution of Transmission Points. She had selected a location that felt generally correct based on intuition. As a result, it seemed she had stumbled upon something rather peculiar…