Roy drove out of his territory and the world beyond was a vast contrast compared to what he had. At least back there it still had some semblance to Earth — with the dense foliage and all, it still bore some resemblance to home.
But out here?
Mountains towered into the skies, their caps so high they pierced through the clouds, eluding the human eye. Some held powerful roaring waterfalls which barreled down the bellies of the colossal green peaks.
Long rushing rivers could be seen at their bases. Monsters looked peaceful as they silently drank from the refreshing waters. Some even gathered in groups, all seeming to live quiet and peaceful lives — a stark contrast to their innate feral and aggressive nature.
In the distance he saw massive ravines winding into long stretches, their width astoundingly wide, while their depths remained unknown, cloaked by ominous shadows. From the eerie howls and growls that bellowed from below, one could tell it held its own share of horrors.
Roy smiled. Indeed, Earth was long gone. Sights like these would be his new normal. He applied pressure on the accelerator as his buggy pushed its limits further. Rough, swampy, slippery terrain — none could impede the rugged vehicle.
Even with the perilous path, the buggy's seats remained stable and still. Roy leaned further back. To think a ride could be this comfortable. Indeed, system products were forever the best!
Sigh! I still have some Gacha Tokens with me… when I get some JP I'll boost probability then try my luck. He sighed comfortably.
Very soon he was at the border of his mysterious neighboring Lord's territory. His buggy came to a screeching halt. Staring at the rocky plains before him, he frowned.
Empty. Even though he could sense the presence of hunters, no one came out to greet him, no one to direct him, and apparently the map ended here. I see, they are trying to disrespect me, huh…
He was well aware of these tactics. By making an opponent or partner wait for you, you automatically built an edge over them, cementing your position as superior.
And Roy had no plans of giving his opponent an edge. He might be weaker, but that did nothing to reduce his pride. He was also a Lord of Arcana — a future hegemon — and it was time he started acting like one.
He cranked the gear up to the highest, his foot clutching both the brake and accelerator at once. The buggy roared in an igniting fury. He was giving a last announcement of his arrival.
And still, no one was in sight. His eyes went cold as he let go of the brake, allowing the buggy to burst into a fit of speed almost impossible for its build. The rush of wind caused his scattered silver hair to billow.
The rough, uneven rocky terrain did nothing to deter the buggy's speed.
A warning chimed the moment he crossed the border.
[Host has trespassed into another Lord's territory without permission!]
[Proceed with caution, as this act might be interpreted as hostile!]
He ignored it, his eyes glued to the distance, following the traces of civilization. They invited him, then tried to leave him stranded outside?
Fine. He would invite himself!
Behind a rock his buggy sped past, three silhouettes lurked stealthily. One peeked his head, gazing at the back of the speeding buggy. He stuttered in shock, "W-was that a vehicle? A working, functional modern tech?"
Another popped his head by the side, his expression uncertain. "I thought Master said no modern tech would be functional in Arcana, and it would take some time for others to recreate them with Ether resources."
The last revealed his head with a scowl and added, "It means two things. Either this Lord is an early comer like Master, or he has unfathomable abilities… Either way, we have to relay the information to Master. She has to reassess his value."
They all nodded simultaneously. The only reason their Lord made contact with that weakling in the first place was because he had with him the only individuals that knew the location of a nearby dungeon.
But now, they had to rethink if that was all they stood to gain from him. Their eyes flickered insidiously. It seemed they had stumbled upon a golden egg-laying goose.
…
Along the vast rocky territory of the mysterious Lord, deep within the mountains — a region which Roy was rapidly approaching — lay civilization. Though still in its early stages, the terrain was rife with life. Children hunters ran through the streets, adults could be seen busying themselves with one work or another.
Constructing buildings, bridges, and roads. Some were even farming, small buddings peeking through the ridges. All in all, it was several times more prosperous than Roy's.
It was a land with order and hierarchy already in place. Guards stood at their posts, upright and alert. At the center of it all, a beautiful spire stood tall, its walls of an obsidian hue that seemed to refuse the sunlight, giving a chilling feel. Golden runes stood inscribed at its rims, giving it an enchanting, ethereal look.
At the heart of this massive structure, sitting leisurely at the head of a throne room, was a dazzling damsel. She was dressed in enchanting crystal-pink robes, matching her vibrant rose-pink locks which lay neatly sprawled over her shoulders.
Her pupils glinted an enchanting emerald green, adding to her royalty. Her stunningly tender features suggested she was in her early twenties.
Her jewelry-adorned fingers tapped the armrest of her throne in a steady, unsettling rhythm, as a mesmerizing smile suddenly graced her features.
Her eyes shone with a calculating light as she chuckled, "It seems I've underestimated him…"
Then her fingers caressed her chin as she wondered, "Which is he? An early comer like me? Or is he just that talented?"
"I guess we will find out soon."
As she finished speaking, a shadow stealthily appeared before her throne. With a bow, he relayed, "Master, he's rapidly approaching the city gates. Do we stop him or…"
She cut him off, her gaze piercing. "Let him in. And this time treat him with the respect he deserves. He's a Lord after all — and also a possible ally."
The shadow seemed to frown, but still kept his thoughts to himself and answered affirmatively. "As you command, Master." With that, he vanished as fast as he came.