What is this thing…?
When Eldros woke up In the morning, he found all his wounds healed.
His eyes gleamed. "I really must have hit gold this time. It can heal the living?"
His grip on the apple tightened. He glanced around, heart racing, wary despite the silence. He didn't expect to find another soul here, but caution had kept him alive this long.
But even then, his face was filled with wonder.
This was the first good thing he found in the cursed world.
Apart from his book of Arcane Art of course.
This apple might be connected to the Tower of Heaven light but regardless of its origin, it was an incredible treasure, something no gutter dweller like him should ever possess. He was sure of it..
Come to think of it, could it be related to the reason he woke up alone in a strange body?
He didn't have an answer.
He stared at the fruit and his face turned cold.
"In the streets, if you don't hide your money, others will take it and they'll kill you for it."
He had to hide it.
He studied it.
He looked down at his own wounds. All healed overnight.
Then, he looked at the apple. His face hardened and then without hesitation he bit into it. Agony flared, but he gritted his teeth. There was no safer hiding place than inside himself, and no better way to gain its power than to take risks.
What did he have to lose? He lost everything when he died in the gutter by the sewers. Rival gangs beating his drugs ridden body.
This time though...he was given another chance and he would make use if it. He won't let himself be weak again.
He mouth was cold and hot at the same time, his eyes stung and it felt as if his head would explode but he didn't stop eating it.
Instantly, he felt it, mana rushing toward him in waves. From the air, the ground, from everything. So much that his skin turned faintly dark.
The Noxium was thick in the power, but he had expected that.
He activated the Hand of the Demon arts.
His chest lit up with silver light that filled his eyes with an angry glow and the image of the silver fruit changed and turned into something that resembled a rune in his mind.
He didn't have much time to study it.
As he stimulate it, something extraordinary began to happen!
The Noxium was separated, and only pure spirit power flowed into his body. It roared through his body like a flood.
Popping sounds rang out from within. It felt like something stuck inside him was breaking apart. His muscles surged. His flesh tingled and tightened.
A vivid image formed in his mind—a Demon hand.
The Hand of the Demon wasn't a magical Arcane Art. It was a Magus Primaris Arcane Art which focused on body enchantments.
Ten stars, each tied to a stage of the Initiate of the Arcana, the first stage of the Magus Advancement.
The crystal in his chest spun like a vortex, pulling in energy from all around. His mana surged forward.
Time passed. Filth seeped from his pores, black, reeking. It coated his body like tar.
Then the energy stopped.
He opened his eyes. They glowed silver in the dark.
He blinked. Despite the pitch-black hole, he could see everything clearly.
Amazed, he stood and punched the air. Wind cracked against the wooden wall with a rippling shockwave.
Excitement filled him.
He'd broken into the first star of the Initiate of the Arcana. He used initial power of the silver apple to break advance.
He had taken his very real step into the world of the Magus!
Carefully, he unsealed the cave entrance and stepped out. Looking up, he saw no clouds. No haze. Just the bright, unwavering sun.
The city shimmered under the morning glow, golden and beautiful, more than he'd ever imagined. The haze of darkness had lifted.
Eldros seems to be seeing the ruined city for the first time because everything he stared at had a strange new quality to it. Also, he felt something clicked in his mind.
It seems he could finally leave the ruined city.
For the first time in days, the world looked alive.
He breathed deeply.
Time to leave it all behind the shit hole behind and found out what the world has to offer. He turned and bolted into the city, his eyes flicking, looking for what to take with him.
Suddenly, a woman's voice cut through the air. "So...a rat is here already?"
A few steps ahead, four figures stood scattered in a loose arc, two men and two woman. They wore cloaks with weapons around them and the energy that surrounded each one of them made the air on Eldros rose.
His eyes narrowed.
They...are Magus. And far stronger than him.
He studied them.
A bulky guy that carries an hammer, a guy filled with scars that carried an arrow, a short woman with an enchanting eyes with a cat curled around her neck.
And then finally, a tall Old woman that seems to be in her sixties but she had the bearing of someone still strong.
Eldros didn't need long to size them up. These were Foragers.
Now that the city was open, they would enter to plunder the Dungeon and what's left of the city resources. It was one of the reasons he wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.
There were many like them in Greenhaven continent.
Eldros's instincts kicked in. He turned, ready to vanish.
"Running, are you?" the bulky man said in a rough tone. "You had better get out of here before things turned rough."
Eldros narrowed his eyes without saying anything.
The woman with the cat on her neck pointed up at the sky. "Ninefold Eclipse."
Eldros looked up and he was shocked once again.
Something loomed on the sky above him. It was a ship but like none he had ever seen before. It was painted a strong black, the hull made in the image of a growling beast.
Around the ship was different symbols and shapes of translucent light that flickered off and on. A terrifying pressure radiated from it and pressed on everyone and everything on the ground.
Eldros trembled slightly. The power in that ship could possibly wiped him out of existence.
What....the fuck?
"What is that?" He didn't know when he asked.
It was the Old woman that seems to be the leader that answered, she snorted and looked at him with strange warmth. "That, the Ninefold Eclipse is an organization that's prominent around here. And it seems they want a first hand pick of the Dungeons here.
"If you don't want to die, you'll get out before they touch down."
The lean man with the scar looked at the ship with irritation. "A wasted trip. If we knew they were coming too, we won't have bothered! Jarek, this is really our loss!"
The woman smiled. "Patience. We'll have to go back to picking seeds then. Come, let's go. We can always wait till they have their pick too."
The bulky man with the warhammer shook his head. "You know we won't see anything valuable. We should go."
They turned to go, leaving Eldros behind as if they've already forgotten about him.
The pressure above was getting closer when the woman suddenly turned. "You...why don't you follow me?"
Eldros looked at her with suspicious. "Why?"
Jarek shook her head. "Because you look familiar."
Eldros blinked. Then shrugged.
If anything happens, he would just escape.
He followed behind them.