Morwen stood tall above three bulky guys. The ones who were following them last night.
"Are they dead?" Ace asked cautiously.
She shook her head.
"Why are you acting like I'm a monster? I didn't kill any of them, just knocked them out. They found me here while I was sleeping. Well about 10 minutes ago to be exact."
"I see... Well you are from the second level. It is obvious"
She shrugged once more, dismissing Ace.
"Anyways. It would be better to get out of here before they wake up again. I also want to explore the third level like we discussed yesterday, so let's go."
She walked down from the three bulky bodies.
As Ace got a better look, he recognised who they were. The three Opolous brothers. They were some bullies who took food and necessities from the weak. So they deserved what happened today.
Both Ace and Morwen got out of the abandoned house going out to explore. The sun was climbing toward its peak, telling them the morning was far from over, they had a lot of time to explore.
Ace took her around the outskirts, saw some beasts but they didn't dare to go closer. Morwen might have stood a chance against a Rank 1 beast. But against a Rank 2, she would be lucky to escape alive.
Ace showed her the place where he tried to climb over to get onto the second level of the Region.
Ace pointed at the ancient walls. The regions had existed long before the Emperor of Death and the Saint of Radiance.
They were simply named after them, the only figures in recorded history powerful enough to leave a mark on the world.
"I tried to climb over that." Ace laughed.
Morwen looked at him sincerely.
"Do you want to leave this place and climb higher?"
"Who doesn't?"
Morwen was silent for a bit. She looked at Ace who was still looking at the tower of tenacity.
"Well, if you grow stronger. I mean really strong, form a second core. They should let you cross into the higher levels."
"Really? Well that'd be great."
"Mhm..."
Then she took off the gadget around her wrist.
"Here... I don't want to lose contact with a friend"
Ace was confused as he took it into his hand
"What is it?"
"It's an Atherband. If you pour some soul essence into it, you will be able to see something called a hologram. It is a projection of what you hear in your head. Well, since you were able to absorb the spirit crystal, I knew you were an awakened. I was going to scam you with that if you weren't though"
She chuckled.
"Anyways. You will see every detail about you and your ability from it, be careful to use it around someone you can't trust since they can see the hologram too. And it can be used as a contacting device as well, I remember it's ID so when I get a new one I'll contact you. So we can stay in touch"
Ace absorbed all of the new information, it almost felt like he had discovered a new world. How advanced were those from the higher levels? And Ace suddenly remembered, why did she open the hologram in front of him, did she trust him? He was flooded with a lot of questions but soon he cleared his mind.
"Why are you going this far? Isn't this thing, Aether whatever valuable?"
"Well not really, everyone on the higher levels have one, it's something necessary to have to survive in your social life. Though what I just gave you is the newest model so be grateful. And we're friends now no? Sure we met not so long ago but a lot of things happened. And also can I consider my debt paid with that?"
Ace nodded, happy with having made a friend. His first friend that was around his age.
They spent the remaining time going to wrecked places and exploring them. Ace looked at a small lake near the hills when Morwen suddenly pushed him in. He quickly got out, his ragged clothes were drenched in water and the soaked jet-black hair draping over his pale face. His eyes shone from the water beads. He looked at the Atherband he had around his wrist.
"Don't worry, it's waterproof" Morwen said from the distance while laughing.
Ace was furious and he decided to run after her to somehow get her back.
The small moments was shattered. Without any time to react they were hit with a giant wave.
'What the... Why the hell is there a tidal wave in a lake!?'
Suddenly the voice rang again in his head.
[Your destiny has sensed a disturbance. A trial has begun.]
'what the hell does that even mean!? Morwen! Is she alright?!'
Ace looked around in panic as the wave slowly went back. It was produced by the creature in the waters.
Suddenly Ace felt a flow of electricity running through his body.
"Argh!"
He was shocked. Literally.
Ace mustered up all his strength to run away from the water while scanning the surrounding for Morwen.
'is that a rank 2 beast!? Or a rank 3!? I can't tell! Damn it!'
In the corner of Ace's eyes, he saw Morwen trying to crawl away from the lake. Her foot seemed to be hurt by hitting something while being dragged by the sudden wave that hit them.
Ace, still keeping his pace suddenly turned towards Morwen and dashed at full speed trying to reach Morwen.
As he did, he saw the eel-like horror , coming up from the water. As he took a glance he saw the ominous eel like creature suddenly turning it's attention to Morwen, he panicked and jumped grabbing Morwen and rolling away from the sudden attack.
"Shit!"
Ace didn't notice yet but when he grabbed her and tried to stand up, an indescribable pain ran through his leg.
He looked down.
Flesh was gone.
A chunk of his right calf had been torn clean off.
Blood poured into the grass.