A System That Beats Death

The female previously saved from the bandit leader had returned to her village. Before peace could return to her life though, a spectacle began to unfold. The sky suddenly turned dark and stormy despite it previously being sunny without any hint of a storm, rain, or even clouds.

Then gigantic tidal waves began to emerge from the base of the mountain where no lake, river, or even a pond resided. Taller than the mountain from which they originated, two opposing tidal waves that reached the sky, crashed against each other in a gambit for dominance before being negated by gigantic infernos of equal size.

Luckily the village was quite a distance away from that mountain or the torrents which could raise the elevation of a lake and the intense flooding would have totaled their homes. There was also no rampant forest fires caused by the gigantic infernos as the downpour that suddenly started became so intense that it felt like the sky was punching the earth.

The two beings stared at each from opposite sides of the ravine. With a wave of her hand, a long stalagmite shot forth from the earth. He then grasped the spike and disconnected it. Through moderate exertion, he then returned it to the nymph. As the earthen spike neared her, it abruptly crumbled.

Using the wind to levitate, the nymph then left the ground and flew as close to the sky as she was able to. As Guren wondered what she would do next, the howling tempest intensified and began to flow downwards. Threatening to push him against the ground in the same way that extreme gravitational force did. Once again, the Earth began to rumble and the ground started to distort.

Knowing that he was unaffected by fire and water due to his ability to replicate her attacks, she started to exclusively use wind and earth. As the entirety of the mountain morphed into what looked like a forest of spikes, a considerable portion of the mountain exploded.

Despite having incredible strength, he was unable to crush the dense spikes in the same way that he could do to boulders. So in order to counteract her flight ability, he borrowed Kamui's strength.

Before the manipulated rock formations could pierce his body, he blasted the earth. Then he unleashed a lunar blast skywards and grimaced when she managed to direct his own projectile back at him. Avoiding the explosion, he swiftly formed a web which had the ends connected to the peak of the tallest earthen spikes and launched himself.

As he neared the slightly spent nymph, he experimented to see if he could accelerate with Speed A.

[Technique Learned: Aerial Stride]

As a substitute for being able to fly, he could now maintain and increase altitude through swift and pressurized treading.

Nearing her, she then abruptly swung the elemental Steel Slayer. An arc consisting of fierce flames, compact earth, and raging water flew towards him.

As she had finally used up her remaining energy reserves, she then gradually descended before she would start plummeting.

"To.. think.. he was on the level of those Lords", she said while gasping for air.

Then she froze and looked skywards fearfully.

Her slash which had embodied the elements of nature was crushed under the single swing of a weapon that exuded visible bloodl.u.s.t and a d.e.s.i.r.e to kill indiscriminately.

Breaking into a cold sweat, she felt the overwhelming urge to flee. Before she could, he already had the blade against her neck. Just having Dark Revelation near her could numb her mental faculties.

Sheathing the Dark Revelation, Atlas looked back the nymph which had been shivering so intensely that one would believe that she seen the underworld.

"Now that your prejudice towards otherworlders has been curbed, I would like to know the origins of that sword", Atlas said before pointing at the Steel Slayer.

Inhaling deeply as she tried to calm herself, she then revealed a helpless smile.

"I suppose I have no choice. It was made in the Kingdom of Smiths", she responded and returned the Steel Slayer.

"Why are you returning it? Is it not your sword?", Atlas asked slightly confused.

"I gave it away. Since you have his body, it makes more sense for you to have it", she said and then paused for a moment.

"In case, you were wondering. I only recognized you because of the sword"

Pointing at Guren's dashing visage which was no longer covered by a mask due to the intense battle, she said, "I have no idea what you did but you don't look like Guren. Your appearance is far more attractive and it would take a stalker or his parents to recognize him"

"I will remember that", Atlas replied before continuing the conversation regarding the previous subject.

To hide the Steel Slayer which he had long since realized could allow others to identify him, he had been picking up and using the shoddy weapons of other warriors. Out of all of them, the Steel Slayer was the only decent one. Of course, this was before he found out about its ability to synergize with the elements. He would not make use of that function though as like the Dark Revelation, it was too distinctive and easily recognized when he was trying to stay incognito and low-key. After all, people only knew he had a mask but the mask itself was able to blur its appearance to those inferior.

"I bear no ill will towards this world. In fact, I'm merely here to gather information and will likely be gone soon which is why... I would like to know more about this Kingdom", Atlas said.

"Since I am no longer enraged, it is unnecessary to explain that to me. Someone of your ability could have destroyed the world easily. As for the Kingdom, why don't you go there yourself?"

She then signaled for him to follow. As they passed the aftermath of their fight, she slightly cringed from the catastrophe she caused and furtively sighed in relief, knowing that the otherworlder was magnanimous enough to pardon her despite her attempting to kill him.

Arriving at the forefront of a tree that had bark the color of rubies, they stopped.

"Is this your home?", Atlas asked.

The nymph nodded and then said, "Are you curious about what kind of tree it is?"

"Slightly"

"It is a tree that survived the massacre of this world's greatest empire"

Atlas then thought, I wonder if it absorbed the blood like that other type of tree. I wonder how powerful Dark Revelation would be if it absorbed the blood of an entire empire?

The bark split apart to reveal its hollowed inside and they entered.

"The Kingdom of Smiths is what remains of the empire", she said in a wistful tone.

As they walked past furniture and numerous artifacts, Atlas noticed an ingredient.

[Nymph Sap

Type: Ingredient

Grade: Platinum 1

Condition: Recent

Description: Secretions of a nymph in euphoria. It has the ability to nurture plants. Consumed during a marriage ceremony with the nymph. This nymph is already married]

[System: Host, I recommend against consuming that substance. Your soulmate would be displeased]

Atlas then scoffed and replied, "I would also be furious if my soulmate ate someone else's c.u.m"

As Atlas debated with the System about how much he enjoyed exotic ingredients, the nymph was oblivious and said, "This platform will send you to a lake. In the lake, there is a dwarven sword with a gem that will guide you to the Kingdom"

He had halted the conversation with the System and nodded in response to the nymph.

The platform then shone radiantly and he felt the floor disappear.

I wonder if magic teleportation is similar to high-tech teleportation, he thought.

Once he had left, the nymph collapsed in relief. Somehow, the same feeling of complete helplessness had returned. The first time she felt that sensation was upon witnessing the 6 Lords which were unable to enter.

She then meekly smiled. Maybe he could stop the 7th one that bypassed the barrier?