Chapter 129 - Dark Lands Part 3

They readied themselves to resume the travel. Getting inside the carriages and then rested while on the way. Joan then settled at the same seat where he sat in the past. Extinguishing the greatsword that he once used and was curling his arms in his armpits. Eyes closed and were seen sleeping. But the truth was, he was doing something important.

Into the depths of his soul was a dimension created for putting the souls he collected. His hands and feet were of a kid and was wearing white robes. Stature was smaller than his actual body, making him look like a kid. Just as he was floating in the nothingness, he saw vast space with clouds inside him. Still, waters were what he paved and he didn't submerge in the slightest. Up ahead was a land that was seen to have crows and wolves.

All his summons were there and they saw him up ahead: Bears who were roaring, Vines creeping on the ground, Giant Treants that were walking, Multitudes of Skeletons, Ghosts that roamed, Dragons flying up above, Live Plants and Trees..

They all greeted him and as he approached them, he saw the Giant wolves that he collected. Ten of them were present and they approached him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Asked the biggest one of them.

"You are in my soul dimension, my dear. You can't escape from here. Unless you want to battle them all before you escape here. Anyways, it's useless to struggle. Want to chat a bit with you so loosen up. Unless you escape here and want your souls to disappear instead. You will cease to exists in that part of the story," Joan briefly explained. The Wolf was silent and didn't talk back.

"And the place here is fun. You can battle all the time. My space here is vast so you can rest assured that you can adventure and go to places that were yet unexplored. My space here will expand and it depends on the mana well that I have. You can have a more vast world if you will think of it," Joan duplicate said then winked.

"I am impressed, I can't win if I battle them all I guess. I am Lukan, leader of the Giant Dire wolves pack! I am pleased to make you my master," Lukan said to him.

It was then, the Dragon that was flying overhead descended on him. Flapping his wings to control his descend.

Bang!

His sheer weight has made the ground shake.

"It has been so long since you summoned us, master," Said the Dragon in fiery red scales.

"Oh, Aldwin! Nice to see you again!" Joan said to him.

"This dimension has become smaller. Did you perhaps become weak again?" Aldwin asked.

"Ah, Master, that is my rank now, I became weak as I have been transmigrated. Doing [Soul transmigration] then became a boy," Joan duplicate said.

"Ah, my brethren were still coming here to see you. Those are always late. Anyways, I greet you for your success in becoming young again. It is my heartfelt joy to see you not suffering in a curse anymore," Aldwin said.

"I will wait for the others, it's been a while," Joan duplicate said.

It was then, a thundering roar accompanied with lightning appeared in the sky.

"Master!" Said the voice.

Also, a fast-approaching flying creature appeared. Turbulent winds were created in its path.

From the waters, a creature too appeared and the water blasted after it jumped upwards. Earth also rumbles as a dragon emerged from the ground. A dragon covered in green walks towards him and the trees made way for her. All of the dragons appeared and landed in his front.

"It has been a while, everyone!" Joan duplicate shouted.

"Oh, master! Are you alright? What happened? Why did the dimension become so small? At least it is bigger now. Did you transmigrate? Your soul looks the same for me," Said the female dragon.

"Lusia, I became weak again. You can tell it to the space of our dimension. But worry not, I will restore it once more. Just you wait," Joan said to her.

"Ah am well pleased by our reunion, the treants are well aware that you have weakened. This place became in turmoil the time you became corrupted. I hope that you will not do it again. If not for yourself, then for us who dwelled here," The green dragon said to him.

"I am ashamed that I made you all worried. I once again need your service as the world I live in was in great danger. All of you will soon be summoned, that time will be sooner as I will delve deeper into the dark lands. More enemies will come and thus I need more allies," Joan said.

"We are waiting for master's summoning, though your mana well is not yet adequate for all of us. It needs greater mana well. But the time will be sooner. Master is capable enough," Said Aldwin.

"Yeah, see you all again in the future. I will visit once in a while," Joan duplicate said to them.

His soul then travelled and went back to his body. Making him open his eyes then breathed deeply. He was in the same carriage as we speak and the same faces that he has met. Making their bodies rock and forth as the road was bumpy.

He can't get stronger like the original but he can absorb essences like him. But can't make it into stats nor absorb and convert mana in the surroundings to increase his mana well. It was a handicap but it was enough for the meantime.

Getting back to the original was also not an option as he will use [Stat manipulation]. Making his stats into a quarter of its current stats. He will have to wait until Joan will catch up with him.

"We are here! We arrived at the outpost!" Shouted one of the guards.

Walls made of wood with spikes on top. Torches that brightly lit day and night without getting rest. Guards on top and were holding the fort.

"Welcome to the Lukarian outpost, my newbies. Or you can even call it Lukarian fort. Anyways, we will restock their supplies and rest here at the night. We can't afford to travel at night as monsters lurk there. Well, we can play games inside if you like lads! Just not go out in the night," Said the axe wielder Chaos Knight.