"Ok, now listen carefully," the bartender began, leaning forward with a gleam in his eye. "I've heard some alarming news… Two high-level CREATORs are searching for someone named Shiddharth. I don't know all the details, but trust me, there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of people hunting him. And right now, he is the first most wanted criminal on the mercenary list across the entire universe. The bounty? A staggering 1000 Diamonds."
Shiddharth's eyes widened, and even Himanshu froze mid-step. 1000 Diamonds—it was almost incomprehensible. If one Diamond equaled 1000 Gold, then 1000 Diamonds amounted to 1,000,000 Gold. Enough to purchase a small kingdom with a thriving city and fertile lands.
The bartender continued, his tone both serious and calculating. "I'm not overly greedy, but I want 10% of that reward. For that, I'll help you capture him."
Himanshu's mind immediately began analyzing the situation. He had seen Shiddharth in action—how even with sealed stats, he had dispatched someone like Vikash with shocking efficiency, and that was without considering his pet dragon, which could emit fire from its mouth. "If someone with this kind of power has a bounty this high, either he possesses something of immense value or he has done something incredibly destructive," Himanshu thought, his expression unreadable.
He decided to remain cautious, choosing to observe Shiddharth further before taking any steps. After selling the adult firedeer horns and skins at the mercenary building, they gained roughly 23 Gold—a modest sum, but enough for basic expenses. Their journey continued toward Uthaiyes County, where a teleportation device would take them to Hicabues City. Nearing the city, they borrowed two sturdy mounts, as walking across the desert would have been exhausting for both Shiddharth and Himanshu.
Fifteen Days Later.....
The sun blazed overhead, casting long shadows across the desert as the two continued their trek. Suddenly, a massive shadow blotted out the sun. Both men squinted upwards and saw a magnificent Feydragon soaring gracefully through the sky. Its scales shimmered like molten gemstones, and its wings beat with a rhythm that created small gusts of wind.
Then, in a blur of motion, it descended and landed lightly, creating a soft thud in the sand. A woman of ethereal beauty gracefully dismounted, her hair flowing like liquid silver. Her eyes immediately locked on Shiddharth.
"Are you Shiddharth?" she asked, her voice calm yet commanding, pointing directly at him.
Himanshu quickly stepped forward, pushing Shiddharth behind him. "No, he is Akash," he said firmly, keeping a wary eye on the woman.
The Feydragon woman raised an eyebrow. "Why are you lying? Can't he speak for himself?"
Shiddharth stepped forward slowly, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his old sword. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady, though his eyes were alert and assessing.
"Nothing much," the woman replied, her tone casual but laced with authority. "My CREATOR wishes to speak with you."
Himanshu's brows knitted in concern. "He is not interested," he said firmly, placing himself slightly in front of Shiddharth.
The woman's patience wore thin. "Will you stop interrupting me?" she demanded, raising her spear and pointing it toward Shiddharth's neck.
Shiddharth did not flinch. He calmly leveled his sword at her. "You stop that. I will not meet your CREATOR, nor will I form any pact with them."
The woman blinked in surprise at his defiance but quickly recovered. "May I join your journey then?" she asked, her tone softening slightly.
"No," Himanshu replied immediately. "We travel alone."
Before anyone could respond, the Feydragon unleashed a small burst of flames, igniting the mounts they had borrowed. The sudden blaze startled both men.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Himanshu shouted, shielding his eyes from the flames.
"Let's travel together," the woman said calmly. "I have a Feydragon. It can carry three people comfortably."
Himanshu's face twisted in anger and disbelief. "Do you want to die?"
The woman's gaze softened, but her determination remained unwavering. "Yes. I cannot leave his side," she said, nodding toward Shiddharth. "I must stay with him until he agrees to meet the CREATOR."
Shiddharth sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Stop arguing. Our mounts are gone. We have no choice but to ride with her," he said firmly.
"I'll walk my way," Himanshu muttered, still grumbling under his breath as he began to stride ahead.
Shiddharth reluctantly followed, walking alongside Himanshu. Both men endured the blistering heat of the desert, the sun scorching their skin, and the sand burning through their worn boots. Every step was a reminder of their exhaustion, especially Shiddharth, whose stats were still not fully optimized.
Two Months Later – Uthaiyes County
Finally, they reached their destination: Uthaiyes County. Shiddharth sank into a shadowed corner, relief flooding his exhausted body. "Yes… now I can rest in the shadows," he muttered, closing his eyes. The journey had drained him completely; every muscle ached, and each breath was heavy.
Venya Shi, observing him closely, was surprised. She had expected someone sought by a high-level CREATOR to be imposing, strong, or striking in appearance—but Shiddharth appeared ordinary, even weak. Yet, she dared not question the wisdom of her CREATOR.
A mercenary approached. "Sir, the mounts?"
Venya handed over a pouch of gold. "Here is the compensation," she said with a composed smile.
"Well… that will be fine," the mercenary said, pocketing the gold.
"I want some mist fog, and a good hotel for the night," she instructed, her tone crisp and professional.
"Of course, ma'am. How many rooms will you need?" the mercenary asked, bowing slightly.
"Two rooms."
"Two rooms? We are three people. Shouldn't it be three rooms?" Shiddharth interrupted, pointing at Himanshu. "I don't want to sleep with him."
"No, no. Two rooms. One for us, and one for Himanshu," she clarified, her voice patient.
"That still doesn't work. I want a separate room," Shiddharth insisted, snatching a key from the receptionist and stomping off toward the room as quickly as possible. He refused to be in the same space as her any longer.
Himanshu, taken aback by Shiddharth's sudden decision, shook his head in disbelief. "He just left… like that?"
Venya Shi, frustrated and a bit flustered, muttered to herself, "Why is he unaffected by my charm? Should I lose more weight… or put on more makeup?"
Suddenly, a message appeared before her, glowing softly:
['Fire is Mighty' CREATOR wants to know when he can meet the one.]
"Soon," she replied carefully.
"And… can you make me more charming? I feel that in this deserted area, I lost my ability to attract others," she asked quietly, more to herself than anyone else.