Sariel sat opposite Miyoung, observing the cloaked human woman devour another plateful of pastries. Her expression somewhat awkward, watching as Miyoung almost swallow a piece of strawberry cheesecake whole, cupping her cheek and sighing, leaning back into the Mortal Ranked chair behind her.

  “This… this is the life…” Miyoung muttered, softly patting her stomach and embracing the dozens of different buffing effects that coursed throughout her system.

  The effects of food natured buffs or chef natured buffs were often weak but long-lasting. Temporary increases to certain resistances or a minute increase to certain physical capabilities were amongst the more common types of buffs.

  As a result, food created in conjunction with a Chef Mana Core or Food Mana Core possessed far more calories and a much deeper flavour. Of course, the proficiency of the chef was another important factor to consider as was the one consuming the aforementioned food.

  Knights and Lords had pushed their inherent biology beyond the range of their Mortal counterparts. Their physical capabilities were greater. Lifespans longer. Sensory organs more acute and mental facilities honed to a knifes edge.

  The requirements needed in order to sustain themselves had grown significantly, although could go much longer without sustenance.

  Miyoung, since becoming a Knight, had done nothing but forage for food or hunt mutated beasts in order to sustain herself. She had not yet had a taste of true Knight Ranked luxuries such as this one. Neither Rosenrot, Long Shen Xi, or Jiu Mei Lan mentioning anything in the past about Chef Mana Cores or Food Mana Cores.

  Although given Rosenrot could not stop mentioning Lust Mana Cores and Sin Mana Cores, she felt realized that she might have unconsciously ignored her words.

  “Are you sure that you do not want anything Sariel?” Miyoung asked, glancing towards the other half-dozen-or-so plates still scattered around the table. She could see that the blue-skinned woman appeared somewhat hesitant before shaking her head.

  “No. I’m fine thank you. Wilheim should be back with Shamael shortly. I’ll wait for the two of them to arrive before ordering anything for myself.” Sariel replied, watching as the Archon Of Reigning Dragons nodded, able to see nothing but the bottom half of her face.

  Miyoung quiet for several moments before gesturing towards the sight behind her. Despite the Mortal Ranked Quiet Glass that existed between herself and the streets of Saltstream Town behind her, she could not help but watch as a Sixth Initiated Mortal manifested a building-type construct across the road.

  Her eyes widening as watched the drus manifest a house-type summoned construct. Three stories tall and enclosed within an eastern-styled perimeter wall. A circular gate serving as the entrance to its inner garden, mouth dropping as her Fragment Of Piercing-Iris penetrated through its Mortal-level defences.

  “It has its own hot spring!?” Miyoung gasped, mouth dropping at the realization.

  Her head whipping back towards Sariel, seeing that her fellow Second-Veined Knight appeared unfazed, despite her growing excitement. The Adeptus Sanctus Medicus just nodded her head, shrugging softly within her chair.

  “Hmm? Oh, that is quite good for a Mortal Ranked ability. Little small though. The owner of the Nara-kyo Springs; Spiritual Restoration Waters within Springtown just reached Knighthood a few weeks ago. If you enjoy hot springs, then perhaps you should look to try it out sometime?” Sariel suggested, smiling as she watched Miyoung nod, before sitting back down in her chair.

  “Is there something… different about Springtown? I mean, this is the first Safe Zone that I have ever been to, and it seems, well, amazing! Is there more people living there or something else about it?”

  For the first time since their conversation started, Miyoung noticed Sariel laugh, raising her hand and softly giggling into her palm. Her Rahu-Ocean Shadow mimicking the action, nodding its head alongside her.

  “Springtown… well, lacks the natural advantages of other Safe Zones. Unlike Mountain Craig Pass it does not sit atop a Dungeon, one filled with a tremendous amount of natural minerals and ores. Unlike Lakeriver Valley it lacks the overabundance of rare types of flora, ones that could be used by Creationists, Alchemists and Weavers in order to create spiritual items.”

  “Saltstream Town here is surrounded by two Wonders, allowing those that reside here to obtain tremendous numbers of fragments and Mana Cores without even having to hunt mutated beasts or other dangerous creatures.”

  “Springtown… if I were to put it simply, is just perhaps the safest of the four Safe Zones.”

  Sariel took a sip of water before continuing.

  “The original three leaders of Springtown all possess Memento Source wielding summoned companions. Through virtue of strength alone, each one of them stood head and shoulders above the other participants in the System Introduction. It allowed them to form the basis for a community within the Safe Zone, through the promotion of open trade and teaching language.”

  “We started focusing on cultivating this sense of community within everyone. Emphasizing the importance of our creationists through public tournaments for both Mortals and Knights alike. Cooking spiritual meals. Brewing potions. Painting. Sculpting. Woodworking. As Delila put it, “it was our own little renaissance.” Sariel said, watching as Miyoung smiled at the reference.

  “Amadeus, one of our other leaders, in partnership with Jon started forming tournaments for our fighters and warriors. Both of them emphasizing the importance of increasing ability mastery over just increasing ones Rank and Tier. After Amadeus obtained his Memento Source Item; Flavius Imperialis, we finally had a place where fighters could refine their offensive abilities.”

  “And where healers, defenders and supportive buffers could practice their abilities without fear of damaging the surrounding flora or buildings. We started holding tournaments where individuals or teams could battle each other, even going so far as to commentate the events.”

  The blue-skinned woman leaned her own back against the Mortal Ranked chair behind her, nodding her head as she recounted all the memories and experiences she had accumulated over the past year. Despite having a rough first couple months, Sariel found herself… loving the System Introduction.

  Fighting powerful monsters and mutated creatures.

  Discovering Wonders and delving into Dungeons.

  Creating her first dual-fragment pathway and flying atop the backs of Despoina and Aerion.

  The System Introduction did not just change the course of her life.

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  It changed the lives of tens of millions of lifeforms. All across the 37th universe.

  Sariel sighed, adjusting the collar of her Knight Ranked Boundless-Rejuvenation Cape. Alongside both her Will-Shield Ring and Scale-Protection Shirt, formed a three-part defensive barrier that could resist even a Mortal Ranked Fragment Of Eradication.

  “Springtown… at least I think, is what each of us hope to bring back to our respective worlds. Regardless of the differences in ideology, religion, wealth, social class, or even Race, we managed to create a society that, for all intents and purposes, is relatively peaceful. One that emphasizes community, but not at the cost of someone’s individuality.”

  “I’m not saying it’s a perfect system but…”

  Sariel flashed a smile, one that seemed stir something with Miyoung’s chest.

  “But it’s ours, you know?”

  The Archon Of Reigning Dragons lifting a hand to clutch at her chest, nodding her head in understanding. Her Fragment Of Heart resonated with the words that Sariel had spoken, as did both her Fragment Of Mind and Fragment Of Spirit.

  The human and satanas both stared at each other, before Sariel’s cheeks flushed dark-blue in embarrassment.

  “I mean, that is just my opinion I guess. Something that Jon said once in passing,” Sariel confessed before turning her attention towards the street, gesturing to the familiar figures of Wilheim and Shamael. Her eyes brightening after seeing that Shamael was both uninjured and unharmed.

  “Shamael! You’re back! How was the-.” Her words cut off halfway through, feeling the surging emanations of spiritual energy from her brother.

  Sariel lowering the hand that she intended on waving towards them, noticing the grim-looking expression on her brothers face. The Legionnaire Of Virtuous Pestilence emanating a foul, lernaean-esque presence as he walked through the streets of Saltstream Town.

  His Noxious-Scale Aura limited to just a small radius around him, but potent enough for even Mortals to sense it from more than a dozen-metres away. Wilheim trailing behind him, biting his lower lip as he tried to call out towards Shamael.

  “It’s not your fault Shamael! What happened to Yueli and Vaa’mina is sad but-.” Wilheim tried to talk to the blue-skinned man, even going so far as to place a hand on his bicep, hoping that he was pause his stride mid-step.

  All however, to no avail.

  “Wilheim… Please… I’d like to be alone for a little bit.” Was all Wilheim heard Shamael say, watching as he tore his arm away from him and continued walking the direction of Saltstream Town’s Merchant Guild Branch.

  His head hung low, and his Throne Of Temperament Mycelium turbulent, producing countless spores filled with regret and self-doubt. Not once turning back to even glimpse at the figure of his friend or sister, who had exited the confectionery store she was visiting.

  Miyoung following behind her, torn between staring at Shamael walking off in the distance and the two new companions that she had just made.

  “Wilheim! Did something happen on Shamael’s mission!? Where is Vaa’mina and Yueli?! Weren’t the three of them supposed to come back all together?” Sariel questioned, watching as Wilheim’s expression grew tight, not daring to say a word.

  The distinct lack of response caused Sariel to gasp, watching as Wilheim just shook his head, showing a forlorn expression.

  “The three of them encountered the System-generated Lord. Shamael was able to escape, after Yueli and Vaa’mina-.” The Wisdom Of Myriad Lands clenched his fist, hearing Sariel break out into a sob. His Second-Veined floresiensis gritting his teeth, trembling slightly as the realization set into his mind.

  Miyoung beside the two could not nothing but watch as the Adeptus Sanctus Medicus wrapped her arms around the hazelnut-skinned man, crying into his shirt, trying to muffle her overflowing emotions. Awkwardly, Miyoung turned her attention back towards Shamael, gazing at him with a befuddled expression on her face.

  Her brows furrowing together, watching Shamael walk through the streets of Saltstream Town. Her Fragment Of Piercing-Iris observing strange wisps of spiritual energy around his body.

  ‘Are those… threads?’

  Break.

  Hundreds of kilometres away, Jon sat atop the walls of the Wonderous Citadel Dwelling, observing the myriad sights that stretched from one side of the Safe Zone to the other. His eyes drawn to both the Boundless Heaven Gate and Immortal Training Arena on either side of Springtown.

  Alongside the Vanishing Time Palace and Dimensional Dungeon Shadow near the centre of this growing community. The four Memento Source Items stood tall and stalwart, even as hundreds of Knights and Mortals scrambled around them, preparing for the upcoming battle.

  Maliq, using his Piercing-Void Ship had been ordered to travel to Saltstream Town in order to retrieve the personnel that had been sent to assist their fellow Safe Zone. Wilheim and the others would return with the next twenty-four hours, depending on how swift Maliq could travel.

  The expeditionary group had also been recalled.

  Their coordinates given to the Right-Eye Of Life And Nightmares who would similarly pick them up before returning back to Springtown.

  Jon humming in thought for a few moments.

  “Is there really that much of a difference between Knighthood and Lordship? I mean, I know that it is a Sixth-Honoured Lord, something that stands upon the precipice of Barony, but it cannot be that powerful… can it?” He muttered, feeling both Eis and Rana stir within his Sea Of Knowledge.

  The Earth Reincarnation Womb rustling around in the back of his mind.

  “It is… not just that Jon.” Rana said, “System-generated Lords are… how can I put this, existences similar to summoned companions. As we once walked the integrated universes with our own flesh, mind and spirit, so to did these Lords, who have since died and accepted the Systems invitation to have their concepts placed within fragments.”

  “However, in special situations such as a System Introduction, these fragments are… once again given flesh, albeit with certain… changes to their mind and spirit. The information contained within these fragments are copied onto a perfect replica of the existence from when they were Knights and then set loose upon a small realm.”

  “As such it is possible that this System-generated Lord will have both fragment pathways and a Memento Source Item. Titles with complete effects and even summoned companions who have long since become mere echoes of their original selves.”

  Jon felt his eyes widen.

  “Memento Source Item!? Really? Does that mean that it will also-.”

  “Yes Jon,” Eis replied, “It is possible that the defeat of this Lord will allow one individual within Springtown to obtain a Memento Source Item. Not only that, but the one that ends up landing the final blow against the Lord will undoubtedly earn themselves a System Acknowledged Feat.”

  Jon let out a loud and overexaggerated breath, feeling his Helel-Star Pride ripple beneath the surface of his Sea Of Knowledge. His Fragment Of Superbia stretching out its star-shaped fingers hoping to reach forward and grasp the achievement in his hands.

  Any shred of hesitation that he once felt, crumbled beneath his Hades-Draconian Shadow and Carcosa-Form Horrors. Each one of his mutations trembling within his flesh, mind and spirit, urging him towards the goal in his mind.

  His gaze half-glancing towards the new effect description in the corner of his eye.

  [Fragment Of Battle-Deception]

  [Inverted Fool, Advancing Against Life And Death]

  (War, Stealth, Illusion, Spell, Technique, Sensory, Debuff)

  Effect (Knight): Enter [Le Mat Avancement] obscuring oneself with a flickering haze of war natured spiritual energy and preventing others from seeing their physical appearance. Leaving [Le Mat Avancement] while possessing [Fool Charges] will instead restore spiritual energy.

  While within [Le Mat Avancement] successful strikes against enemies will generate instances of [Fool Charges] up to a maximum threshold. While within the [Le Mat Avancement] expend [Fool Charges] to cast either [Crying Fool] or [Foolish Smile].

  [Le Mat Avancement]: Increases resistances towards abilities with the Perception Trait or Sensory Trait. Physical strikes will inflict traces of war natured damage.

  [Fool Charges]: Infinitesimally increases the effectiveness of abilities with the Technique Trait. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  [Crying Fool]: Manifests an image within your field of view. Requires three [Fool Charges].

  [Foolish Smile]: Expand the flickering haze of war natured spiritual energy. Requires one [Fool Charges] per square metre of expansion.

  Jon smiled, moving his attention back towards the Springtown.

  He was almost finished with all of his preparations.