Ryan sat up on the grass, blinking hard. He was trying to get his bearings, drifting in and out of consciousness. Gamielle was a little ways away, she was chastising the embarrassed crow.

  “You shit on these lands and I will start ripping out feathers. Understand?”

  The crow, Cerul, nodded its head, ignoring the blood trickling down its leg. It cawwed pleadingly at Gamielle.

  Ryan shook his head, spreading blood everywhere from his broken nose. He covered it, wondering if a weak healing potion would even fix the damage. He didn’t notice someone had stepped silently beside him.

  “Here.”

  A hand offered him a glass vial with sparkling red liquid in it. Ryan took it.

  “Thanks–whoa, who the hell are you?”

  The human man who had offered him a healing potion wore immaculate black robes. A hood covered his face though unlike Ryan’s he could make the details of the man quite clearly. A wickedly trimmed goatee poked out into the sunlight. Very sinister.

  The man bowed slightly.

  “My name is Larix Vailsafe. I believe it’s polite on Earth to offer your name before asking. Though I understand culture varies depending on where you’re from.”

  “Uh, sorry my name’s…”

  Ryan trailed off as he touched his face, he was still wearing the mask. The hooded figure finished the sentence for him.

  “Artigan.”

  Ryan blinked at how casual the hooded man was acting. Larix just chuckled.

  “A third realm elf stomping around with an aura that puts eighth realms to shame. I should have guessed that it was the Witch’s doing.”

  Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Creates villainous blacklisters often, does she?”

  Larix raised an eyebrow as he looked away from Ryan and towards the hills. A distinguished contemplative look.

  “The disciples of the Witch are known for doing great or terrible things. Often both.”

  A disciple of the Witch Tyrant? As far as he knew there wasn't anyone that took that kind of title. Maybe it was someone like Pinkie. But she wasn’t famous either. Disciple of the Witch Tyrant…

  He didn’t like that title one bit.

  Ryan looked at the uncorked vial and sniffed it. It smelt nothing like the minor potions he’d been using. Gamielle was watching, it was probably safe. Ryan then recorked the potion and put it in a belt pouch. He took out one of the minor healing potions from fighting fancy and drank half of it instead.

  Larix eyed him but didn’t ask for the vial back.

  He tilted his head then poured the remainder of the weak potion down his nose. Ryan held his breath as he let the terrible healing potion do its magic. . Almost enough to make him regret not using the moderate potion.

  It didn’t fix the broken nose. Not immediately, but it was doing its magic. Ryan blew out the excess onto the grass. Congealed blood, snot and healing potion flying everywhere.

  He grinned at Larix who was clearly judging this new ‘disciple of the Witch’. If the man thought Artigan was her disciple then he would be happy to ruin that title. Though he did feel like he had to defend his actions.

  “Well, the stuff at Lazhen wasn’t just to -”

  Larix put up a hand as he shook his head.

  “There’s no need to justify or explain yourself to me. I don’t have the strength nor wisdom to judge the Witch Tyrant’s actions.”

  “Right...”

  Ryan didn’t like that answer, and that wasn’t just because he wasn’t able to explain his brilliant plan. The idea that his actions were all attributed to the Witch Tyrant annoyed him. Still, he wasn’t going to sit here and argue with this man that gave off weird vibes.

  Gamielle walked back to save him from the awkward silence. She waved the duo down, the crow still watching the [Mage] like a hawk. It noticed his stare then turned to him.

  The shitcrow was significantly stronger than he had expected. It seemed stronger than it had expected too. The bird narrowed its eyes at him.

  Ryan narrowed his eyes back.

  Gamielle smacked him in the back of his head.

  “Are you all ready to go?”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To a little cult.”

  Larix shifted uncomfortably, the seemingly confident man looked at Ryan then turned to Gamielle in confusion.

  “Lady Gamielle, is it really okay to invite him back to the…”

  The man looked back at Ryan, no longer looking comfortable with presence. Gamielle waved the man down and walked ahead.

  “Not my problem if you decided not to take Artigan’s measure. Maybe you shouldn’t have so much blind faith in others, .”

  Larix Vailsafe stiffened at the last few words. He hurried after the little tyrant.

  Ryan was still figuring out if he was still concussed or not. Cult? Sect? He had heard of Sects popping up near system portals on Earth. People said that the residual energy from the portals and adventurers could help people from Earth to cultivate to realm 0. A few countries had sects, academies and more near the system portals. Hoping to cultivate or get people to sign up to their very expensive classes.

  But a sect in The Realm? Ryan hadn’t really heard of them. Most of the Realmers that wanted to progress would sign up to an army or the institute.

  Larix trailed after Gamielle, trying to plead with her.

  “Please, Xie Gamielle, I can help guide him out here, there isn’t a need–”

  Gamielle turned around, annoyed, “It’s just Gamielle, and there is every need to show him everything. After all, Artigan follows the original philosophy of the Obsidian Sect. It will be good for him to show our successes,”

  She paused as she turned to Ryan.

  “And our failures.”

  Larix watched Ryan’s expressions carefully. The [Rogue] gave nothing away because there wasn’t anything to give. They continued the walk at a brisk pace, the sect leader was maintaining his dignity. He had his arms clasped behind his back, the back of the robes having a simple pattern of a purple rock?

  It added to the mystique, Ryan would’ve been impressed… if Larix wasn’t desperately trying to argue with a Gamielle that was blatantly ignoring him.

  After a few more minutes Larix finally stopped, swishing his robes around.

  “. I cannot let this into our sect. He should never have been told of such a secret in the first place. I would ask you to explain yourself Gamielle.”

  Even when he demanded something from her it sounded like he was asking politely. Gamielle gave him an arch look.

  “And why do I have to explain anything to you?”

  Larix caved immediately, “At least have him sign–”

  She tutted in disappointment. “No.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Gamielle simply interrupted the poor man and turned around. She floated towards some apparent secret sect. As exciting as a whole secret sect was, there was nothing around them but the Emerald Hills.

  Ryan was getting the vague feeling that Gamielle was plotting something.

  They jogged for another fifteen minutes. The shitcrow hopped behind them, trying to stay inconspicuous and occasionally pecking at a feather. For a moment a sapphire feather flashed brighter and it squawked in triumph. It turned at Gamielle excitedly and then deflated when it realized she didn’t care.

  Gamielle turned around and pointed at Ryan’s face.

  “Okay, you should take off your mask before we head into the sect. It’ll be a pain to explain everything with Artigan.”

  Ryan gave Larix the side eye, pointing out the obvious issue, “Uh, no. Can’t you illusion me up with a different face or something?”

  Larix was like an opportunistic snake, the Sect Leader latched onto the weakness, “You wish to waste Lady Gamielle’s allocation of mana on such a meager usage? Come now, if you wish to know our secret it might as well be that I should know yours as well.”

  Ryan was starting to see the game Gamielle was playing at. He gave the [Mage] a flat stare as she looked at the two of them for entertainment.

  Ryan shook his head and scoffed at the blind Larix.

  “Hell no, and your ‘Lady’ Gamielle wastes mana on way more stupid shit. Like fake food.”

  Both Gamielle and Larix twitched at his words. Larix probably because Ryan was being disrespectful to ‘Lady Gamielle’, and Gamielle because she was being reminded she wasn’t allowed to eat illusionary food.

  Ryan smirked as he crossed his arms.

  “I’m not taking my mask off. Give me a hood or something,” he pointed at Larix’s outfit, “like yours.”

  Asking for the same robes of a Sect leader might be considered rude. At this point Ryan didn’t care. If he was being forced into a plot then he would rather see how far Gamielle would go.

  Larix Vailsafe did not enjoy the shit eating grin from a junior that was half his age. He turned at Gamielle’s expectant face as he finally caught onto the ploy.

  “Ah, it seems manners were not taught to this child. Would you like for me to correct it?”

  Gamielle sighed, she was pretending like this wasn’t exactly what she had planned.

  “It seems like we have no choice then. You two can spar, Artigan will have to unmask if he loses. If he wins then he gets your robes.”

  Larix bowed.

  “As expected of Lady Gamielle.”

  Ryan just looked up at the sudden decision, he had expected something like a test considering they had landed far away, but an actual spar wasn’t it.

  He was getting better at judging peoples’ strength using his Epic. Valee tried to ignore it and counter with small wins, Zedart stood like a stone against a current. Unlike either of them, Larix wasn’t affected at all.

  Ryan frowned.

  “Wait hold on, how is that fair? I’m not fighting someone in the fifth realm that you’ve been raising in secret.”

  Gamielle blinked. “Huh, and here I thought you might just dive in.” She turned to the Sect Leader. “Larix?”

  Larix Vailsafe stepped forward. He put his fist into his palm and bowed.

  “I may have more experience than you but I have never had the fortune to be blessed by the Trial System.”

  “Wait that would mean-”

  “Yes, from the day I was born, I have only known of The Realm. I am a native Realmer.”

  The man flared his own presence as he pushed hard against Ryan’s Epic. Larix Vailsafe took a stance, his right first up and in front of his face. A guard of iron. Left fist held to the side. A weapon ready to fire.

  “Now then, shall we exchange pointers?”

  Ryan grinned as he beheld a true Realmer cultivator in full glory.

  –

  He tried to match the cultivator in hand to hand combat and failed. Ryan tried to up the ante by building up his momentum but found that no matter how fast he got, or how hard he hit, the cultivator redirected his blows.

  Like a master making fun of a peasant.

  Ryan tried everything, he did a sudden straight kick from an awkward position. The sect leader blocked the full strike kick with his right arm and didn’t even budge. Ryan tried a snap kick then spun into a full roundhouse.

  Larix simply blocked both strikes again. One with his arm, the other with a flick of an elbow.

  Ryan used the sudden inertia to spin his body the other way, his hands reaching out to at least grab the smug bastard by his flowing robes. It was stupid to wear such a -

  The chambered left fist came flying out. Ryan twisted in midair to get out of the way.

  Then the right arm came down. It was like an iron wall crashing down at his head.

  [Instant Dodge]

  He flew backwards as the ground shattered under Larix’s arm. Ryan blinked at the cracked gound, then back up at the impeccably unruffled sect leader. His stance back to neutral.

  Larix gave him a smile.

  “I would suggest you use your weapons. Do not worry. I will not get injured by your level of skill.”

  Ryan let out a breath, trying to not let the taunt get to him. From what he had seen, the sect leader wasn’t much stronger than a [Warrior] that had gone through the fifth realm. Definitely stronger than General Grivkas but not too much more. Larix’s skill however, was on a completely different level.

  The sect leader fought with his hands like Zedart had fought with his blade.

  Economical perfection that gave no openings. Ryan would bet everything that this wasn’t everything either. If he wanted to win he’d have to do it without forcing Larix to reveal his true capabilities.

  Larix Vailsafe flicked out his robes in confidence.

  “Don’t feel bad about not being able to match me in hand to hand combat, I may not have your bestowed Trial skills but I have been practicing for well over three decades. You are doing well.”

  Ryan narrowed his eyes at the condescending words. Larix was stronger and almost as quick as he was, just with a hell of a lot more experience.

  It was time to be smart about it.

  Ryan flared out his Epic as he put on a furious, arrogant expression. His aura even started condensing a little to add to the effect.

  “I’ve been holding back, I bet you can’t actually handle my real strength.”

  He switched to a knife hand. Ryan had never done this before, but he remembered Gamielle telling him it was a great idea to try out things in real combat scenarios like these. Ryan charged straight in like an idiot and stabbed forward with his knife hand. Right into the iron guard of Larix’s right hand.

  The pain of stabbing his fingers into a solid defense almost made him regret his decision. Larix looked down at him, unmoved, unimpressed and even a little disappointed.

  That was when the deviated second stab of [Double Stab] hit the man in the chest. It was tinted red, imbued with his aura. Hidden under the layer of condensed aura in his arm. The sect leader instinctively stepped back the moment he felt the tap against his chest.

  Ryan grinned.

  “I win.”

  “Hold on-”

  “Artigan wins.”

  Gamielle parroted, a wicked look on her face. The Witch’s daughter had hedged her bets, no matter who had won she would have enjoyed the outcome.

  Larix tried to argue again.

  “A strike like that would do no damage, we never stated the rules of the spar, it was-”

  Ryan cleared his throat. “Wow, a Sect Leader refusing to admit defeat to someone who’s half your age. Very mature.”

  Larix clenched his jaw, he didn’t have a retort that wouldn’t lower his image to a watching ‘Lady Gamielle’. Gamielle just shook her head and looked disappointed at the sect leader.

  “Maybe if Artigan used a sword you’d have noticed the skill activation. Or you’d have a hole in your chest right now. He used his aura well and you didn’t notice. A spar is a spar and a loss is a loss. It’s a good lesson, Larix. You got overconfident and cocky.”

  Ryan went up to the frustrated sect leader and extended a hand facing up.

  “It wasn’t a fair fight, I have Trial Skills and you don’t. Don’t worry too much about it.”

  Larix twitched at the shit eating grin on Ryan’s face. The Sect leader closed his eyes and sighed at his hand and tried to shake it. Ryan pulled his hand back, confused.

  “No dude. Give me your robes.”

  Larix Vailsafe froze. ‘Lady’ Gamielle cackled in the background and the sect leader knew it was all over.

  It went without saying that the warning blew his [Dangersense]. Gamielle flicked her hands. The system text started to change. It meant that she or maybe her mother had a hand in the creation of these robes.

  An emergency teleportation spell? That was on top of the fact that the robes seemed completely impervious to the emerald grass. Gamielle noticed his eyes widening.

  “Consider the teleportation spell a one time use. If you use it I’ll be taking the robes back. Maybe a punishment on top depending on how stupid your use was.”

  “Where’s it keyed to?”

  Gamielle winked at him, “That’s a surprise, if you use it in a leveled zone, the spell will be restricted. If you use it outside of a leveled zone… well, I’ll just leave that as a surprise. Depending on the timing you might find yourself throwing yourself from one bad situation into another.”

  As ominous as she tried to make that sound, an emergency teleport matrix was very welcome. He also guessed that these robes were significantly better than whatever he should be having at his realm grade… He took out a knife

  Larix, freshly denuded of his robes, looked on in dismay as Ryan started testing the durability and flexibility of the robes by trying to cut it.

  His knife blunted first. There wasn’t a single scratch on the robes.

  “Holy crap.”

  Gamielle nodded. “Mhmm, consider it as a well deserved reward. I didn’t think you’d actually manage to beat little Larry.”

  The supposed sect leader was trying to maintain his dignity. Like before, he had his hands clasped behind his back and had his chest forward like Ryan’s actions and Gamielle’s words didn’t bother him. It was slightly destroyed by the fact that the man with a wicked goatee was only wearing a tight singlet and a pair of blue shorts.

  The combination really didn’t work.

  Ryan pulled at his new sleeve, hard. Larix’s jaw clenched at the disrespect. Before Ryan could continue testing out the robes’ durability Gamielle waved them along.

  “Alright, alright. Artigan, hood up. We’re close now.”

  They walked a little further, the darkening sky that denoted the fourth sector was now visible in the distance. An ominous sky for a dark sector. Other than that there still wasn’t anything else that differentiated the land. No buildings, no people, no sect. Even the crow was confused as to why it was hopping on the ground next to them.

  Gamielle didn’t care about their questioning looks, she was taking her time to take photos of both Larix and Ryan side by side.

  At least the sect leader knew arguing or trying to stop her was futile. Gamielle took a close up picture of Larix’s ass. Ryan raised an eyebrow.

  “Okay, Gamielle, I think that’s sexual harassment.”

  The [Mage] put the camera away with a smirk. Blackmail material for sure.

  “Says the big bad Artigan who robbed the man.”

  “I like to think of it as winning from the rich and giving to the poor. Actually, how much do you think these robes would sell for?”

  Larix’s eyes widened as a vein bulged on his forehead. Gamielle paused and looked in the distance, then back at Ryan.

  “You sell those robes and you’re going to get hexed ten ways to Sunday. Seriously.”

  “So your mom made these robes, good to know.”

  “Damn. Okay, that was well played. I’ll get you back for that.”

  “Spoken like a witch’s daughter indeed.”

  “Spoken like someone that decided that they enjoyed the first telekinetic crushing and wants more.”

  They continued to banter the rest of the way. Larix Vailsafe seemed completely shocked at Ryan’s complete lack of regard towards the most vengeful Tyrant and her daughter. They dropped down to the valley of a hill, one where it looked like Ryan was standing at a crater surrounded by hills.

  It reminded him of the place where Gamielle had originally sent him to duel Zedart to death.

  Gamielle stepped forward and clapped her hands. Ryan tensed, getting ready to [Instant Dodge]. A short static wave of magic hit him. The amount of magical vibration blinded him for a second while he instinctively leapt backwards.

  He landed and looked forward, then he saw. The entirety of the ground they were walking on had been one big illusion, people in robes looked up as they pointed up at them.

  Larix turned to him and put a fist in his palm and bowed to Ryan.

  “Welcome to the Obsidian Sect.”