Chapter 306 303: Blinding light.
Chapter 306 303: Blinding light.
He elegantly took off his coat, rolling up his cuffs with meticulous care.
With a sense of anticipation, he adorned the bracelet, feeling its power encircle his wrist.
To ensure its concealment, he carefully rolled his cuffs back down and put on his coat, effectively hiding the bracelet from prying eyes.
Then, Val couldn't help but grin evilly.
"If my enemies are fortunate enough to break through my defenses and land an attack, they're in for a nasty surprise," he thought.
The bracelet was literally a hidden ace up his sleeve. It had added an extra layer of security and intimidation to Val's already formidable arsenal.
Val thought he should clean the mess left on his clothes and body due to absorbing the shard before returning to his companion. He quickly brushed off any residue from the shard with his soul power, stepped out of the shrine, and then made his way back to his companions.
What the?
Val was taken aback when he returned and saw the remnants of their feast; the massive chicken was now reduced to nothing more than a pile of bones. He couldn't help but be surprised. After all, the chicken was large enough to feed an entire army, and yet it had been completely devoured by three men. Admittedly, the reason behind this feat was Alfred and Rowan's extreme hunger as they hadn't eaten in days, coupled with Oliver's appetite which seemed to exponentially increase after his first bite, leading him to relish every part of the meal.
"It looks like you guys enjoyed the meal," Val commented, successfully capturing the attention of his companions.
Rowan, still licking his lips, replied with a satisfied smile, "Yeah, it was delicious. Thanks for hunting it for us."
"No problem," Val responded, feeling a sense of accomplishment at their contented expressions.
Alfred, noticing the remnants of the meal around Rowan's mouth, couldn't help but chime in, "Rowan, you've got some oil on your mouth, wipe it off."
Without a second thought, Rowan disgustingly wiped it away with the back of his hand, leaving a smeared streak.
Alfred cringed at the sight, his face contorting in disgust. He shook his head, deciding it was better not to comment any further.
"Now, let's get moving. We still have a core to find," Val promptly said, redirecting their focus to the task at hand.
With renewed energy from their hearty meal, the group resumed their journey through the vast forest. With Val leading the way, they were more determined than ever to find the core of corruption and put an end to the dimensional threat.
However, the day wore on without any sign of the core, and the fatigue of the journey began to set in for the group. Being just low-level bloodline users, the journey had taken its toll on everyone except for Val.
"Guys, I think we should take a break," Oliver voiced out, his breaths heavy with exhaustion.
"Yeah, I'm beat. We've been walking non-stop," Alfred agreed, feeling the weight of the journey in his limbs.
Rowan chimed in, "A little rest wouldn't hurt. Besides, I can barely keep my eyes open."
Val observed his companions. He noticed the fatigue that was evident in their posture and expressions. He knew that pushing forward in their current state would be unwise. After all, it was better if all of them were in top-notch condition when they find the core. For destroying it won't be easy. They'll have to fight the dimension master, and for that, they'll need all the strength they can get.
"You're right," Val voiced out his agreement with the rest of the group. "Let's rest."
With the decision made, Val led them to a nearby cave he had spotted from a few kilometers away with his heavenly eye.
The interior of the cave was surprisingly cozy, providing a good shelter for them to rest.
Once inside, they set up their defenses to ensure a safe resting place.
Satisfied with their arrangements, they finally allowed themselves to relax and succumb to the exhaustion.
Several hours passed as they slept soundly, recharging their energy for the challenges that awaited them.
The sun had risen, hanging brightly in the sky of the lesser dimension, casting its light across the vast expanse of the forest. A gentle yet crisp breeze was blowing through the trees, making its way into the cave where the group had taken refuge. As the cool air touched them, Rowan and the others couldn't help but shiver.
Hm?
Sitting with his back against the cave wall, legs sprawled out in front of him, was a young man clad entirely in black. With his handsome features and composed demeanor, there was no mistaking that it was Val.
Realizing that morning had arrived, Val decided it was time for the group to get moving. They had rested enough.
"Hey, wake up everyone. It's time to get moving," Val called out, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space.
One by one, the others began to stir, waking up from their slumber. They rubbed their eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
"What time is it?" Alfred asked, his voice groggy.
"The day has just begun. It's early morning," Val replied.
Rowan, however, wasn't as ready to start the day. "Why'd you wake us up so early? Could've let us rest a bit more," he complained, his voice filled with a hint of annoyance. 𝒇𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Alfred rolled his eyes at Rowan's words. "We're not out on a picnic here. The faster we solve this dimension problem, the faster we can go home, and then you can rest as much as you want," he retorted, his tone laced with urgency.
Val then took the lead, addressing the group, "Let's start the search for the core early today, guys."
"No breakfast?" Rowan immediately complained, his priorities clear.
"We're in a tense situation here, and all you can think about is food?" Alfred couldn't help but scold him, his patience wearing thin.
"It's not my fault I can't think straight when I'm hungry," Rowan shot back, frustration evident in his tone.
Val observed the exchange, slightly amused yet bewildered at Rowan's capacity for food, especially after the massive meal he had the previous night.
'Does he have a black hole for a stomach or something?' he wondered to himself.
Oliver, always the one to mediate, stepped in before the bickering could escalate any further. "Alright, let's stop bickering. We have a job to do," he said, his tone firm yet calming.
With that, the group stepped out of the cave, ready to resume their search for the core of corruption, their energies renewed and their focus sharper than before.
In the distance, a sudden, magnificent beam of light shot up into the sky, capturing the attention of Val and his companions instantly. Its color was a brilliant golden, and its thickness was comparable to the legendary pillars of heaven, believed in ancient myths to support the sky and prevent it from crumbling.
Just then, Val experienced an influx of information. Although it would've left anyone confused, he made sense of it instantly.
'Ah, it's finally working. This must be the destined time when the mirror would reveal the truth if the dimension to me,' Val thought in glee.
The Truth Reflecting Mirror had responded, indicating that this was the destined moment mentioned in the item's description provided by the system. Val, now granted insight into the intricacies of the lesser dimension, felt a wave of information flood his mind. It was overwhelming, and he needed a moment to process it all. Closing his eyes, he focused on assimilating the knowledge in his brain.
"What's going on over there?" Rowan inquired, his voice a mix of curiosity and caution.
Oliver, having read about such phenomena in books, responded, "The appearance of such a radiant light, especially in a lesser dimension, is often considered an auspicious sign. It could mean the birth of a rare treasure, maybe a unique magic herb of some kind."
Rowan and Alfred exchanged glances, contemplating whether they should investigate.
"But it could be dangerous," Alfred voiced his concern.
"Yeah, we don't know what's waiting for us there," Rowan agreed, his usual bravado tempered by caution.
Turning to Val, Oliver asked, "What do you think we should do?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Val turned to his companions and said, "Wait here, I'll check it out."
"No way, I'm not letting you take such a risk alone," Rowan interjected immediately.
Val looked at him as if he had lost his mind, "Who said anything about taking risks?"
"How else will you check out the situation?" Rowan challenged.
Val simply replied, "I have my ways."
Rowan and Alfred exchanged curious glances, clearly intrigued.
Seeing their curiosity, Oliver decided to explain, "Val possesses the Heavenly Eye, a unique ability that allows him to perceive and analyze things from a great distance. He can see through obstacles and discern the truth of matters without needing to be physically present."
"Ah, I see." Rowan and Alfred were both shocked and amazed.