"I originally thought you were a native of this region," Muria said, his eyes glimmering as he gazed at the enormous spatial gate connecting two worlds. "But it seems I was wrong. Your true homeland lies beyond that door, doesn't it?"
Judging from the state of the gate, it was clear that it had appeared only recently. Otherwise, things would look very different. A civilization capable of building steel warships would easily overwhelm the primitive, totem-worshiping tribes on this side.
For now, however, the explorers from the other side were still in the cautious, initial stages of reconnaissance. The untouched islands below, with only a small fraction explored, made that obvious.
"Yes, I am not a native of this land," Jiuli admitted without hesitation. There was no point hiding it—his form was vastly different from the creatures of the islands.
"I figured as much. It's hard to imagine such a primitive and untamed sea region producing a legacy as refined as the one you inherited."
"Refined or not, it doesn't matter. Back in my homeland, lineages like mine have already fallen out of favor and are no longer mainstream."
"Hmm? Why is that?"
"Because it's nearly impossible to find the resources needed to advance," Jiuli replied with a wry smile. Starting his training as a child and spending over a decade just to lay a foundation had taken a tremendous toll.
"Ah, I see. But here, it seems you can find what you need much more easily." Muria nodded thoughtfully.
Resources within a world were rarely distributed evenly—some areas were lush and bountiful, while others were barren wastelands. If this was true within a single world, it would hold even more so for a cluster-world like this one, divided into countless regions. It wouldn't be surprising for some areas to resemble the twilight of a magical era.
"Indeed. In my homeland, completing even basic cultivation was a struggle. But here, I've gained two powerful combat forms."
"Enough reflection. Let's go down and have a look, young Earth God," Muria urged.
"Can we avoid causing too much commotion? The explorers from my homeland are extremely vigilant right now and might attack anything beyond their understanding," Jiuli said, trying to dissuade Muria.
"Fine, I'll keep a low profile. That's easy enough."
…
"Is this your true form? You look just like..."
On a bustling beach, a well-dressed boy scrutinized the slender, pale young man before him with a peculiar expression.
"I know. I look weak and unhealthy, but it's just a side effect of my cultivation method. In truth, my body is stronger than any normal human's," Jiuli explained, surprised by the boy's young appearance but answering regardless.
"It must be hard for you to find a girlfriend looking like that," Muria quipped, eyeing Jiuli's pale complexion and straw-like hair.
"I already have one," Jiuli replied, a hint of pride creeping into his tone.
"Really? How did someone like you manage that? Did you show off your abilities? Didn't you say transcendent powers are rare in your homeland?"
"Exactly. Because extraordinary abilities have become rare, someone like me who has mastered even basic cultivation is highly attractive."
"Ah, so you're a once-in-a-lifetime genius?"
"No, not at all. I'm quite average, and I'm well aware of that. I've just been lucky."
"Fair enough. I believe you—your luck is indeed exceptional." Muria's gaze grew distant, his golden eyes reflecting a depth of understanding as he glanced up at the sky.
"Let's go, Mr. Muria. I'll take you to my domain," Jiuli said, gesturing toward the forest beyond the beach.
"Why not show me around that base over there first?" Muria asked, looking toward the concrete structures built atop cleared jungle land.
"That's unnecessary. If anyone there offends you, it could lead to serious trouble," Jiuli said with a forced laugh. Though his nature had transcended humanity, he still considered himself one of them and didn't want to risk bringing such a powerful being into their midst.
"Don't overthink it. I'm not as haughty as you imagine—I'm a very kind dragon," Muria declared with mock seriousness.
"This way, Mr. Muria," Jiuli replied, bowing slightly and leading him into the forest. As they walked, a faint mist enveloped them, refracting the light in soft hues.
"Jiuli, every time you pass through the spatial gate to come here, do you always travel to your domain like this?" Muria asked suddenly.
"Uh—" Jiuli stammered, caught off guard.
"Why so flustered?"
"I… no, it's just..."
"Don't try to hide anything from me. If you don't want to answer, don't. I detest lies the most." Muria's tone turned stern, making Jiuli, still young and inexperienced, visibly anxious.
"You're worried about your family's safety, aren't you?" Muria stopped walking and looked back toward the towering spatial gate. "You're afraid I might enter your homeland, use your connections to find your relatives, and do something terrible, right?"
"I..." Jiuli felt suffocated under Muria's piercing gaze, his thoughts laid bare.
"You don't need to worry. I have no interest in harming weak creatures." Muria chuckled, amused by the youth's reaction. "Tell me, when you walk down a path and accidentally step on an ant, do you then go looking for its nest to destroy it completely?"
"...No," Jiuli replied after a moment.
"Exactly. Now, there are evil gods who grow stronger by slaughtering countless lives and maniacs who find joy in killing, but I'm neither."
Jiuli said nothing, leading Muria silently through the forest. After a while, he began muttering an incantation under his breath, inaudible to anyone but himself.
The sound of snapping branches and rustling foliage soon reached their ears. A dozen spider-mounted green-skinned riders burst from the forest, their faces lighting up with fervent joy when they saw Jiuli.
The riders dismounted from their massive spiders and knelt before Jiuli, bowing deeply in reverence.
Jiuli, his expression calm and solemn, showed no reaction to their worship. Clearly, he was accustomed to this treatment.
"Mr. Muria, would you like a mount?" Jiuli asked, turning to Muria while the spider-riders remained prostrate.
"No need," Muria replied, shaking his head as he observed the large spiders, which were just the right size for human riders.
"Then I'll walk as well," Jiuli said, slightly disappointed as he forwent the convenience of a mount.
With that, the young Earth God and the humanoid black dragon, flanked by spider-riders, made their way toward a small tribal settlement. Along the way, Jiuli recounted his journey to this region of the world.
"So you stumbled upon a group of exiled natives, took pity on them, and agreed to become their protector, helping them rebuild their tribe?" Muria summarized.
"That's right," Jiuli replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I never imagined I'd end up as an Earth God."
"Hmm. Let me ask you this: did you help them out of compassion, or were you just looking for a novel experience?" Muria asked with a sly smile.
In truth, the green-skinned natives, resembling goblins, were far from aesthetically pleasing. It was hard to imagine someone feeling genuine pity for them at first glance.
"At the time, I just wanted to try something new and experience life differently, so I didn't think too much about it," Jiuli admitted.
"Let me remind you, Jiuli, you didn't just pick up a tribe—you've tied your fate to theirs," Muria said, his tone suddenly serious.
"What do you mean?"
"Becoming an Earth God isn't as simple as it seems. You've gained power and authority, but you're also bound by responsibility. If your tribe falls, you won't escape unscathed."
Jiuli's face stiffened. He had never considered this. Becoming the tribe's protector had been more about enjoying their worship than understanding the consequences.
"Don't worry too much. Just treat it like a real-life strategy game—only, you can't afford to lose," Muria said with a chuckle.
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