Chapter 173: A Hermit? (1/2)

Though the memory contained more than a day in that World, it only took moments for it to merge with my memory.

In the end, her Transcendence also only showed me the first part but with Yuko's retelling of her experience, I now got the gist of what to expect once I stepped inside the Door.

Also, my Incarnation somehow progressed my relationship with Zerina.

Ah. That's still me even if that was my Incarnation.

I'm sure I will do the same actions. Kissing her, prioritizing her over others. There's also the realization that I became too focused on my Companions which led me to neglect our surroundings. I should start changing that. If they could help us then I will help them. Only when there's no choice will I abandon our allies

After that Fortress Battle, the Corrupted and Dark Soldiers were slaughtered by the new troops from the Allied Forces that were empowered by Yuko's Awakening. Though that only lasted for a few minutes it became enough to overwhelm them and bring victory to the denizens of the World of System.

Like the first time she used that, her stats were halved after the duration of Awakening ended.

Err… Yuko confessed by using Awakening, she would have an excuse to fall back. That way we could spend the remaining time together.

Haa... That girl also has to make her priorities straight so I told her my realization during the battle.

Those with us in the fortress were also told to stand down and rest after the Fortress was cleaned up of the enemies. That's why Zerina and the other three also came with us.

Though a lot of defenders died, for the people in that world, it's already a normal occurrence due to how harsh and how aggressive the Dark Soldiers and Corrupted have become.

While we spent the remaining hours together, the Allied Forces continued their march to liberate the Corrupted Kingdom.

Before the duration of my Incarnation ended, Yuko also told me her plans for that world. To annihilate them and find the Portals that were being used by the Dark World. If she could close it before the widening of their Portals then her job there will be over and she can finally be relieved of her duty to save that world. Even if they wage war amongst themselves, it doesn't matter anymore.

After becoming a Transcendent, she could now undoubtedly sweep across the whole world and no one would be able to cross her.

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16 hours later, the Purple Haze has finally arrived at the vicinity of the Scorched Forest indicated by Nysia.

Before entering I made sure that I was not monitored by anyone or someone tailing me.

I experienced Yuko's Transcendence and the way those guys wanted to stop her. I don't know what will happen if they manage to reach the Door but I'm sure I don't want to try and see what will happen.

The Scorched Forest was true to its name, For as long as my eye could see, everything was black. The trees, the ground, the creatures lurking in it. Until now there's even heat that was being exuded by it and some spots where it was still burning.

Even inside the Purple Haze, I could see how it was creating a mirage due to extreme heat.

”Where are those ethnic tribes? They wouldn't happen to be inside this forest, right?”

I took out the phone everyone was using here and saw that like always, it didn't have a signal at this desolate place. I already used the Interdimensional Communication earlier when the cooldown ended to check upon Yumiko's state after she Transcended. Like Yuko, she was too happy to tell me how she succeeded and what she experienced inside the door, or what she could remember. It was really a bit different than what Yuko experienced.

Due to that, I already expected that I would also experience different things on the 2nd and 3rd part.

There's still more than a day before the Door appears, should I still look for those tribes or postpone it for after I was done with Transcendence?

Haa... Alright, I'll explore this land first. Just looking at it now, it's completely different from the ruins or Nysia's City. I haven't been to any of the three factions yet but I guess they're more prosperous than the Free City.

However, here… you're already lucky enough to find one of those Mutant Beasts.

”It should be fine here.”

I eyed an empty spot and landed the Purple Haze there.

After putting on the vagrant cloak I disembarked from the Metagen and put it back to the compressed state.

The heat from the Scorched Forest was probably enough to scald a normal human but yeah, I'm not normal anymore, all it was doing now was to give me a slight discomfort.

After deliberating for a minute, I stepped inside the forest to look for a place where I could wait for the appearance of the Door.

Now that I think of it, this is the first time that I've been really alone ever since I was exposed to these Otherworlds and saving them from the Dark World.

In the first world, I was always with the Party. That one time where I scouted and looked for the others, I met Zerina.

In the 2nd world, it's either Erin or Avelin who was with me. I had a little scouting again and was forced to retreat by those three Dark Beastmasters.

In the 3rd world, it's either with Yumiko and Jayna. In fact, I've never been alone there except when disguised as Ember for a day.

And now here, I was always with Nysia. I did go out for a Patrol Mission and there were still others with me.