Over the following few weeks I travelled across the archipelago with little of interest happening.
My [Soul Archive] updated for every new location and new species I came across. Most of the new creatures I came across were odd existences that I didn't get much information on.
The octopus blob for examples.
[Soul Archive]
[???]
[Seeks sandy beaches to lay its eggs in. Has long thin tentacles that it uses to drag itself on shore. Its main body looks like a black blob.]
Not a very useful description.
The map updates have been far more useful though. When I want to view the map, I get a 3D holographic image in front of me that I can zoom in on to extraordinary detail. The map seems to be limited by the extent of my sensory and cognitive capabilities though.
For example, if I focus on a building and take in every little detail about it then that building will engrave itself to my map.
However, if I don't focus on the details I may get nothing on the map or just a hazy looking building in its location.
The map also expresses information I already know about the world. Such as the stadiums I used to play at. Every stadium that I've visited is marked on the map. The general shape of the continents and islands I know of are present too.
However, if I don't have a good memory of the area, the details are hazy. Or if it's likely outdated information, [Soul Archive] rejects the information and doesn't display it. A lot of the areas I used to know are reduced to hazy figures due to the fact they've likely degraded or been destroyed.
Regardless, my map of the archipelago has come a long way. It's without a doubt enough information to find my way back later on.
Along the way I have also been practicing making glass constructs and shaping my flames.
I haven't made any progress to developing a new spell that I'm aware of but I figure as long as I keep practicing inspiration will hit one day.
Or [Soul Manifest] will give me a helping hand.
For the spells I already have I've been idly activating them in turn to get more used to their functions and casting.
[Accel] and [Incras] for example are percentage based physical buffs and with my increasing [Physical Level: 57] the effect of each gets more pronounced.
They are also mastery 2 so continued use should push them to a higher mastery in time.
[Rubius] hasn't been getting much use due to my long-range capabilities but occasional I have allowed creatures to bash at it before I kill them just for practice.
[Sea of Flames] and [Plasma Arrow] are the main things I've been working on.
My immediate goal for improving my current skills is to get these two to mastery 2. [Sea of Flames] is a no brainer. More destructive flames essentially mean for effective attacks. So continually using my flames to push this to the next level is paramount.
[Plasma Arrow] is a bit different. As my first ever original spell it has proven quite effective already. Being able to control the arrow at will gives me a lot of versatility. However, if I could also improve the mana cost of the arrow, I could start controlling multiple arrows and maybe even one day and entire swarm of plasma arrows.
Wouldn't that be a sight to behold.
Hellfire raining down from the sky to destroy and entire army of dark creatures.
I want it!
I've also opted to using [Spark] more often than I have been. It's convenient but ultimately, I haven't needed it. My flames provide all the light I could need and my arm is literally a manifested flame so [Spark] hasn't been of much use.
I also don't have any idea how to improve it. I can already manifest a light source anywhere I want with it. The only distance requirements is the mana usage but it's already so low that [Soul Manifest] doesn't even mention it.
I'm simply stumped on this one.
Regardless I've been using it, and as I cycle through all my spells and abilities I'm hoping for some kind of improvement.
I've been doing this constantly until now, where I have finally reached the continent of Uro.
Between the last island and the continents is a shallow sand bank which the water only reaches to about knee height at low tide.
Walking through the water I finally step foot on the mainland.
Hopefully I will be able to find people around here, or if not then some kind of clues as to how I can save Eardh.
Really would've been helpful if that Goddess gave me some kind of clues on how to do that.
First things first, I want to get a lay of the land.
It's mid afternoon now so I will explore the general vicinity before finding a spot to nap. Then I'll spend most of tomorrow just exploring and updating [Soul Archive].
Given that Uro is the largest land mass in the world, starting with expunging this land from the dark creatures permanently is a big but effective goal. And to do that I'll have to explore every corner of it.
Therefore, having an accurate map of the land is paramount.
Without further ado I explore the general area. Mainly I'm looking for major landmarks which can be seen from a distance. The map doesn't have a kind of GPS system so I'm relying on my sense of location to know where on the map I am.
The area around me all beaches followed by old, abandoned condos. This definitely would've been a popular tourist destination in the old days.
The beaches are crystal clear and run for as far as the eye can see in both directions.
There are no local mountain ranges or natural elevations in sight. The buildings are all old hotels or shopping malls.
Passing through one of the walking strips I see an old sign on the front of what I'm assuming was a souvenir shop.
It said 'Wolaroo Beaches'.
Like taking a snapshot in my mind I feel [Soul Archive] update the area with this sign as a landmark.
This town, Wolaroo, definitely made its dues with tourists' money. Various entertainment options are in sight from the beach front such as shops, movie theatres and restaurants.
The general feel of the area was a bright sunshine paradise.
Or at least it would be if it wasn't a dead, abandoned version of sunshine paradise.
The town spread a few kilometres in land before becoming mostly residential, then country lands.
Moving in land and northward I scour the local towns and cities whilst culling creatures and discovering landmarks.
Based on [Soul Archives] general understanding of the continents size, my discoveries amount to about a drop of water in the ocean.
Finding an abandoned building that seems mostly intact I spend some of the night planning my exploration route.
If I wanted to cover as much land as possible as quickly as possible I should search for something to give the names of each city or town to use as landmarks before moving on.
I'll travel along the northern coast before wrapping heading for the centre of the continents. Once I'm there I can plan from there.
I'll kill most of the creatures I come across as I travel but until I find a more permanent means of controlling the population, there isn't much point in focusing on extermination.
For the entirety of the next day, I ran northward and marked landmarks. I must have travelled hundreds of kilometres as my mana was mostly drained from exerting [Accel] at the end of the day.
I repeat this for the next 3 days, covering a significant portion of distance but it still felt like nothing compared to the total area I have to cover. Not much changed in this time until I finally came across something more interesting.
A long way north from Wolaroo I came across a large mountain range. Ordinarily that wouldn't mean much but these mountains were unusual because I could see from a distance that the snow on its peaks was shining.
Like really shining.
Like a second sun.
Naturally my curiosity was running wild at the discovery so changed my route slightly to head to the nearest peak.
It was at the base of this peak that I came across the first major anomaly.
A fight between two creatures was on going and the relative area around them was being destroyed in the process. The fight was between a corrupted creature that resembled and overgrown, diseased deer and a small bright insanely fast fox creature with three tails and bright white fur.
The fox creature had the upper hand in the battle as it's deer opponent couldn't keep up with its speed.
It darted left and right between the deer's hooves with ease before scratching at its under belly and the soft parts of its legs, causing deep wounds that bleed profusely.
Watching the fight from a safe distance I noticed that the fox didn't seem to have the same affinity for corruption as the deer.
Not only because it was clean, shiny and had an aura of purity about it, but also because during its fight with the deer, the fox flung a long-distance attack shaped like four claws in my direction.
I was far enough away to react with plenty of time to spare, but the fact the creature attacked me shows it has enmity with the corruption. The orb I'm carrying gives me an aura the dark creatures accept, and the fox sees me as one of them to.
Backing away from the fight to get out of the foxes range I decide to through the orb into the dirt and get away from it to see if the fox still attacks me.
Although I'm worried about losing the orb permanently, I am super curious about this fox.
This is the first time I've come across a creature that wasn't corrupted since returning.
And on top of that it seems to have a hatred for the corruption too. I would like to be friendly with it but if it isn't down for that I'll take it on.
As the battle raged on, I watched from the sidelines with my sword drawn, prepared for anything.
The fox launched claw attacks at the deer which cut deep into its pelt, leaving grievous wounds in its wake.
The deer's blood sizzled as it landed on the dirt, evaporating into thin air.
It didn't take long for the fox to finish off the deer. It wasn't even close to a fair fight. The deer died of blood lose without ever landing an attack. The fox was just that much stronger than it.
Once the fox was satisfied that the deer was dead it turned towards the location of the orb and then to me.
We stared at each other for a bit before…
"So, are you one of them or not?"
What the fuck…