449 A New Place

After a week, Alex finally opened his eyes and saw an unfamiliar ceiling. He wanted to move his body but to no avail. The last thing he could recall was the error in the teleportation array.

"Ah, you have finally woken up." A soothing voice echoed in his ears as a person came inside the room.

Alex looked to the side and saw a person. This person had long blonde hair and smooth skin together with a tall build. Unless there were no mountains on the chest area as Alex could see this person as this person was a male.

(AN: It's a he, not she… If you expect it is a woman, then…)

"I was worried about you as I saw you dying on the ground. Surprisingly, you have survived. Well, I will boil you medicine, so wait for me, alright. Well, in your state, you should not be able to speak, so just wait for me."

Alex simply looked at him, not knowing what to do. He remembered the scene of the sea in a story. He was stranded because of a sea creature and was found by a woman that saved him. However, not only was he stranded because the array malfunctioned, the person who saved him was also a man. Yet, he did not care about it. He was wondering if any of his spirits noticed his condition.

His answer came when he felt a sense of touch on his hand. He tried hard to see what it was and was surprised to see Anya, sleeping beside him as she was too exhausted.

"System, what happened to me?" Alex asked in his mind.

[Because of the incident, you are stranded to another world different from the upper world where Anna and the others are. But it seems this world is close to that world as I can still sense the connection between them.

[Anyway, Anna and the others want to come to your place, but considering this place is particularly safe. Anya would be the only one to come first as she needs to heal you. As for the others, it will be up to your decision.

[You almost died while Anya almost killed him. The guy offered some help for shelter until you have woken up, so she took his offer. Well, even if he were not there, you would not die anyway as Anya would take you to another safe place.]

"I see. Anyway, I should thank him too." Alex said. "After I can move, that is…"

He checked his body and was surprised that his heart, as well as his meridians, were fine. Because he had sealed most of his cultivation as well as his soul in that special realm, there was no crack on his foundation or an injury on his soul.

The only thing he needed to worry about was his physical injuries, as well as a bit of internal injury such as his other organs.

It was already healed a bit after Anya's continuous treatment. However, because of how worse his injuries were, he was still in this state.

After a few more days, Alex could finally move his body.

He was looking for the blonde guy to say his thanks while wondering what to give him as a reward. He was even confused if this person was considered to save his life or not.

"I am very thankful for these ten days," Alex said. "I don't know how to express how thankful I am."

"You don't need to thank me as the person behind you is the one who heals you. She is far more powerful than me and could easily find another shelter. So, you should thank her." He said.

"Of course. But I also feel grateful to you." Alex said.

"Don't be. I am sure you want to come back to your own place… you are not from here… no, this world, right?"

Alex and Anna frowned when they heard this.

"Don't need to be wary against me. I am just a small priest that lives here until the end of my time." He explained.

Anya also had looked around the area, and this place could be considered hidden from the rest of the world. She did not find any settlements inside a few kilometers radius. "How do you know we are not from here?"

"God… No, the world told me…" The priest said. "I was a simple priest back then because I could hear this voice. After a certain point, I finally revealed what happened. I was driven out of the church for making dubious claims about hearing World's voice… That's why, Alexander Sirius, do you want to hear the world's voice?"

"!!!" Anya and Alex were amazed. To think he even knew his name. Alex pondered for a moment before saying, "Is a path something that must be shown to you? One might advise or suggest my path, but I shall be the one to choose whether I will walk in that path or not."

"No… for you, a path does not mean spending your days in your fated paths or something. Your life will create a storm that will shake the Kingdom of Flores.

"If you wish to simply go back to where you belong and cannot stop the desire in your heart. I will convey the voice of the World to you." He said while clasping his hands in front of his chest.

"When darkness falls upon the land,

"The supreme's blood will restore life once more.

"In accordance with the ancient pact,

"When the six big races are gathered,

"The sphere that leads the light will awaken.

"The supreme will return."

Alex and Anya looked at him with vigilance. They did not know what this guy was doing, but when the tension filled the atmosphere, the priest suddenly collapsed on the ground.

"Conveying the World's voice requires Spiritual Energy…"

They looked at this person and sighed. However, a purple crystal suddenly appeared from the ground, revealing its appearance.

Alex immediately activated and found many arrays sealed inside the crystal.

The priest finally rose from the ground and continued. "You miraculously escaped death, and I believe that was not a miracle, but because the world's will leading you here. Just like what you believe, the world can only show you the option, you must walk in the path you believe in as there is no correct answer before you reach the end."

The priest then grabbed the crystal and presented it to Alex.

"There is a portal that can lead you to another world, and that portal is buried in the deepest part of the ocean. Bring the six crystals, and the portal will open." He said.

"..." Alex did not want to believe it, but after checking the crystal, he had no other choice than to believe it. He found many teleportation symbols inside, and the number of symbols was more than three hundred thousand symbols. And all of those symbols were compressed into the form of crystal.

"You don't need to pay me anything about this. But if you feel grateful to me, then please heed this request of mine. If you fully intend to go back, then you must see everything through the end." He said.

"... Even so, I don't know anything about this world." Alex sighed.

"This world's name is Brundra. It has four continents, while most of the place is filled with water, which is why the portal is buried under the sea. Formerly, the monsters were ruling the continents until finally, six big races rose and fought them.

"The six big races are Human Race, Dragon Race, Phoenix Race, Angel Race, Elven Race, and Naga Race.

"Dragon Race is proud of its strength and resides within the Rigan Continent. Phoenix Race's fire is unbeatable and lives inside this continent, Tradin Continent. Angel Race's light race could heal someone at the death door to full health, and they inhabit the flying continent, Breleabus.

"Naga Race is ruling upon the sea, their utopia is known by the name of Atlantis. The last continent is called Lapone, and this is where we live together with the Elves. Back in the day, we could live side by side, but because we lost our leaders back then, no one is close enough to become a sovereign that can stand toe to toe with the Elven ruler. That's why before long, the elves rule this continent with their wind.

"All of these races want to try the world beyond this world. For that, you need the six crystals from the six big races to finally open the portal. Each race is still holding it until the world buried the Human Race's crystal. Even this crystal in front of you is from the world itself as the world feels you shall open the portal again."

"May I know the reason why this world buried this crystal?"

"War." The priest said with a sharp eye. "After dealing with the monsters, we need to deal with the invasion from the other world. That's why the world decides to hide one of the crystals to prevent anyone from entering this world."

"I see." Alex closed his eyes, thinking. "But… how do I even get the crystal from the other races…"

"Fret not. There is a rule within this world… One can get another race's crystal if they manage to pass their trial. However, the requirement for that is they need to collect every crystal without help. In other words, he/she shall be the savior that liberates this world. Not one race, but one person." He said. "In other words, you need to pass all five races' trials to get all of their crystal.

"This is a story of the past. A guy from Naga race wanted to open the portal, and he challenged every race. It was said that when the crystals near each other, they would show a reaction, and the trial would take place, and all races would abide by this rule if they did not want the world's retaliation.

"The guy managed to get four crystals, but he failed the fifth crystal's trial as it would be very hard for someone to pass all fifth trials, thus resulting in the crystal to be dispersed and going back to their respective race." He said.

"In other words, I should bring this crystal to other places and pass the trials," Alex said. "But what would happen if I fail?"

"The crystal will always be with you as the world decides you to become the representative of the human race. However, if you fail, then the other crystals will go back to their respective race, and you need to challenge it again." The priest said.

"I see…" Alex nodded.

"However, there is one thing that is certain. As long as you possess this crystal, the others might want to kill you… especially Humans. Of course, it is not like they can kill you as the race itself could not kill someone who possesses the race's crystal. This includes the other races… as long as you get their crystal, they could not kill you. But this comes with a certain loophole, they can make the monsters kill you or torture you so you will surrender the crystal."

Alex could somehow imagine why the humans wanted to kill him for this crystal. He did not know about the other races though.

He pondered for a moment. It was indeed the only way he could go back to the original world. And according to the system, this world itself was still considered a lower world, just a bit more powerful than what he knew as the world barrier itself allowed the Martial Emperor to live here. Past that would be impossible.

If he wanted to challenge the trials, he would need information. He already recalled Nano to scout this world as the other spies were needed for Anna and co. Even so, Nano might get the information about this world, but for folklore and the like, it would be best to know about it from the person in front of him.

"I have no other choice then… But I still need information." Alex said.