Chapter 26：3rd Stage Mortal Realm (2/2)

”Hey, what are you waiting for? Let's go!”

”What? Where?”

Ah. I don't coincidentally meet her. She's waiting for me outside.

”To the Old Man. He told me to bring you to him.”

I wonder what's her relationship with him? Father? Grandfather? They don't look alike, a student of his?

I followed Erin and we arrived at a slightly larger tent than mine, she announced our arrival and it was responded by the old man's voice.

Erin chose to stay outside and she immediately vanished from my sight. She used her Augmented Skill again. That girl, she's best suited as an assassin. Maybe she's already one.

I noticed the activity around the tribe, they're all busy preparing for the upcoming war. Maybe she will also join it which explains why she keeps training her skill.

I entered the tent and was greeted by Old Man Reol staring at me. It's the same. He really noticed the change in me.

”3rd Stage Mortal Realm in just one night? That's unprecedented.”

He started.

There are beast skins scrolls in front of him. Intelligence reports?

”Is it?”

”Yes. When you told us you're different from him, is this how you are different? Tomorrow, will you reach the Augmented Realm?”

I wish it was that easy. But maybe in 3 or 4 days?

”No. That's impossible. If I can explain this, this is just a small boost for me?”

”That's somewhat unbelievable. The Chieftain doesn't seem to think highly of you but he considers you as a friend.”

Friend? Well, maybe it's because we're both from Earth.

”Like I first told you, I'm just a support. I have a skill that he needed and that's the only thing he saw as useful in me.”

”Right. We will be marching to war in 2 days. He doesn't require your presence yet. He told me to let you do what you want. Tell me, what do you want to do?”

I see. Even with the impending war, he doesn't need my support. Is he confident without my help? Now I don't know if he's an idiot or just really confident with his ability.

”I'm here to support him but his focus is elsewhere. Our real objective for coming here is to repel the Invading World or what you call the foreign invaders.”

”I see. Are they that dangerous?”

”They are and they're here to destroy this world of yours, I'm amazed that you could still fight among yourselves with that danger lurking around.”

”We already encountered them before and they're not much of a threat.”

They developed a misconception because of how weak their earlier waves were.

This is bad, right? But yeah, what can a 3rd Stage Mortal Realm do? Their Chieftain declared war, the whole tribe will follow.

”Among your subordinate tribes, are there any sightings of the foreign invaders?”

”Is that what you want to do?”

He doesn't need my support. This is the time for me to lay my foundation and at the same time, I want to know the invading forces from a higher world. Are they the same world as the Dark Soldiers from the World of Systems?

The Principal told me that they all look different from each other but there's a possibility that they came from the same world.

”Yes. I need to know and see them.”

”Here.”

He handed me one of the scrolls on his table.

I opened it. It's a message from a small tribe requesting help. They are being attacked by foreign invaders.

”Is this?”

”All of these are letters sent from our subordinate tribes, that's the only one talking about the foreign invaders.”

”I see. Since you're all busy for that war, you don't have the time to save a small tribe, right?”

”You want to see them, no? You can go there. I'll send Erin with you.”

This old man…

Thinking about it, this is currently the best course of action.

I won't be able to influence a war of that scale but a small tribe? I may be.

I can use this time as well to grow stronger.

Since that is a subordinate tribe, helping them will be considered as supporting him. My system will level up along with my Physique Cultivation during my time there.

”Alright.”

”You're right. You are different from the Chieftain.”

Old Man Reol released a sigh after saying that.

Why did he sigh?

”Huh? I told you I am different.”

”No. I meant that look in your eyes. It is different from him. He's strong but his head is always held high but you, you're staring straight at us. You're not even terrified of me.”

Terrified of him? Why would I?

Ah. Now that he mentioned it, it became colder in here.

He's releasing his pressure, isn't he?

He's not as strong as that incarnation that's why my Adaptability kicked in. It's not enough to let me fear him.

”You're an ally, why will I be terrified?”

”I see. You're right. You can go now and prepare. Erin will pick you up when everything's ready.”

Somehow I can't grasp the true intent of this Old Man. Is he favoring the way Raiden runs his tribe or is it all about strength?

Anyway. For the time that I am not needed, I'll take a look at that small tribe and see the real enemy of this world.

I have the Orb of Concealment if ever things go south. Maybe I can take Erin and escape but she has almost the same ability. If we can save the tribe then good but if not there's nothing I can do. This is just the 2nd World, what more will I encounter in the remaining worlds?