Chapter 25：Darkness of the World

"Start a war?"

I repeated his words.

"Yes. We will march in three days."

With a smirk on his face, Raiden confirmed.

What the hell is wrong with this guy? The first thing he will do upon his return is to declare war.

The Invading World has probably started encroaching and corrupting various individuals around the world and this guy is busy at declaring a war.

"Is there a reason?"

I asked, acting like in doubt.

For now, I need to lower his expectation of me. I'll hide what I can really do. If it's supporting him, Psyche Boost is what he thinks as the only thing useful from me.

I'm weak and not a Hero like him. His intelligence is even lower than Yuko, he can't be that cunning, right? He probably thinks I don't have any use aside from refilling his Psyche Energy.

"Simple, they're near us and they will not bow to me or to my strength. They think their Chieftain is stronger."

He swung his sledgehammer. The wind generated from it almost blew me away.

I hate being this weak. I can't change an outcome like this. This guy is really heading to his doom.

Maybe not his doom but this world.

But yeah, it's still my first day here. He said everything is ruled by strength. If he defeated their Chieftain won't it be easy to absorb them?

"Why not settle it with a duel?"

Hearing my question, not only Raiden laughed but also the two barbarians he asked to stay. Only Old Man Reol stayed silent.

"Where's the fun in that?"

Ah. Right. This guy is hopeless. He's absorbed in bloodbaths.

He'd rather slaughter in a battlefield than participate in a duel.

When he previously left, that tribe started putting pressure on his tribe and now that they bolstered their army and he came back from Earth, he will immediately march to war.

"I see. What should I do then?"

"You can tour the tribe for now. With your outfit, no one will mess with you. Well, except those at Saint Realm but they wouldn't stoop low to step on you so rest assured."

He doesn't want me in this Great Hall anymore. Like I thought, in his eyes, my only use for him is that Psyche Boost.

"Alright."

I started walking out of the Great Hall. The two barbarians are still laughing but with one glance by Raiden, they both stopped.

Upon exiting it, I was stopped by an old voice.

"Young man, wait."

"Old Man Reol?"

This old man who's probably stronger than Raiden stopped me. He seems to be his loyal aide.

"It's your first time in this world, let me assign you a guide."

"Thank you, that's a great help."

The old man nodded at me. He looked to his left and right like he's looking for someone.

"Erin, are you here?"

It's only a whisper but someone suddenly appeared in front of us.

A woman of average height and build, her light green hair was tied into a ponytail. Her brown skin is darker than most of the barbarians of this world. She had two red tattoos on her left cheek. Her neck and mouth are covered by a black leather that was made into a scarf. Her outfit is a skimpy outfit made from furs and leathers of wild beasts like any other barbarians.

"I'm here, Old man."

A ninja? A barbarian ninja?!

Ah no. But the way she appeared somehow resembled my Orb of Concealment when it wears off.

"Why are you using that Augmented Skill of yours?"

"I'm training it."

Augmented Skill? So this woman is at least at Augmented Realm.

"Stop for now and guide this young man. Tell him things he doesn't know and things he needs to know."

"Eh? That sounds troublesome. Who's this guy? He looks so weak."

Well, sorry for being weak.

"I'm Daisuke. It's nice meeting you."

I held out my hand for a handshake, she only looked at it confused at what I'm getting at.

So they don't do handshakes here?

"Erin. And I don't do handshakes to someone I just met."

I see. I guess me being weak put her off. Strength ruled this world after all.

I took back my hand and smiled.

"He's someone from the same world as the Chieftain."

When she heard that from Old Man Reol's mouth, the same reaction as earlier happened. She took a step back from me.

"I'm sorry if I was rude. Here, let's do that handshake."

Slightly trembling, she held out her hand.

"No. It's fine. You don't have to worry about that."

"No no. I insist. You're surely not a weak character if you're the same as the Chieftain."

"What's with you and your fear about someone from another world?"

I alternately looked at her and Old Man Reol.

Erin looked at the old man, asking for confirmation. He nodded in response.

"The Chieftain's growth is unstoppable. Even if he's just a Saint Realm, a King Realm expert is no match for him. King Realm is the standard for Chieftain of a large tribe."

"So you think, I will be the same as him?"

They held fear for Raiden's growth and somehow I got the benefit of being from the same world as him.

"Isn't that the case?"

"No. I'm different from him. I'm an uninvited visitor of this world."

I need to establish myself as someone different from him. Raiden looks down at the denizens of this world and he enjoys bloodbaths. I have to correct his mindset but before that, I need to grow stronger.

"Then…"

"You don't have to fear me."

Fearing me will put me in the same category as him. If I want to establish my influence here, I have to be in contrast to him.

"I-if you say so…"

"Let's go. I have a lot of questions to ask you."

Saying my thanks to Old Man Reol, I don't know why he's this good to me. Did Raiden put him to that task or his own choice?

According to Erin, Old Man Reol is someone to be feared as well. He's the one running the tribe whenever Raiden goes back to Earth. No one knew his real strength. Whether he's a King Realm or even higher, no one knew.

They only know that he's loyal to Raiden. He purposely doesn't quell rebellion so there will always be that spectacle I witnessed every time Raiden was transported here.

I had her explain to me the power level of this world.

From Premortal, one can become a Mortal Realm easily. Mortal Realm will then consist of five stages, the first four stages will strengthen the Physique Cultivator's body; Skin, Muscles, Organs and Bones. The last stage will then allow the cultivator to store Brute Energy in his body.

This stage will be easily cleared by me. And with another explanation from Erin, Augmented Realm became clear to me.

It's almost the same. Physique Cultivation focuses on strengthening one's body through Brute Energy.

So to reach Augmented Realm, one has to condense Brute Energy to further strengthen his or her body. By condensing it, one needs to derive an Augmented Skill or it will disperse.

One can create his own Augmented Skill or use a manual as reference. Take her as an example, to reach Augmented Realm, she condensed a blob of Brute Energy, absorbed it inside her and stored it somewhere in her body. Using that blob of Brute Energy, she created the Augmented Skill, Shadow Concealment. After she created that, the condensed Brute Energy spread equally in her body, and the Augmented Skill can be used anytime through channeling Brute Energy.

It all depended on a person's inspiration. She showed me her written manual with instructions on how to generate her Augmented Skill.

Most barbarians are incapable of creating their own so they rely on written manuals to advance to Augmented Realm.

There are also five stages to Augmented Realm one can create five Augmented Skills of his own or use someone else's manual.

This meant I'm more of a cheat than Raiden? Not only can I pass the Mortal Realm easily, but I can also condense Brute Energy even without reaching the Augmented Realm. The only problem is how will I create a skill, should I go for original or refer to manuals?

Ah. I'll worry about that later.

The tour on Heavenly Lightning Tribe ended when the sun set, I was led by Erin to a tent which was supposed to be my dwelling. It's spacious than most. I thanked Erin before she went on her own way.

Upon entering it, there's already a meal prepared, a gallon of water and a basin.

On one corner of the tent is a woman in tattered fur clothes with a shackle on both of her feet.

I see. This one is a slave. Why did Raiden put one here? That guy is practicing slavery in this world. Did the Principal know about this?

Upon seeing me, the woman cowered but she immediately bowed towards me. She lifted the gallon of water to fill the basin.

I stopped her. She looked scared thinking she made a mistake. She's not letting out any sound.

Was she not allowed to?

"You don't have to do this."

She only shook her head, fear still apparent on her face.

"You can leave now."

She shook her head again.

I see. She's supposed to stay here and serve me.

What the hell is this world? No, what the hell is that guy thinking?

Only upon repeated persuasion did the woman stopped and listened to what I was saying.

How can I do my cheat if she's here? She will probably be punished if I push her out.

I gave her the blanket on the bed prepared for me and told her to cover herself and sleep.

She's tired and immediately fell asleep on her corner after a few minutes.

In the end, I never heard her voice. Just how much fear did they instill on their slaves?

Now, I feel Yuko's Otherworld is much better than here. But yeah, darkness always exists no matter which world. Maybe I just didn't see it during my time there. But here, it's in full bare.

Bloodbath and Slavery. Tsk.

I'll grow stronger and put that guy in his place. Let's start this Physique Cultivation.