As the silhouette came nearer, a short, fugly-looking man with a smirk emerged from the shadows. He glared at the group with a mix of anger and contempt. "Bastards, how dare you come here?" he spat. Without warning, the man brandished a wand and summoned a flurry of wind bullets, launching them at the group with deadly precision.
Zen quickly reacted, creating a sturdy wall using his earthly elemental arts. The wind bullets pounded against the wall; their force was so strong that they nearly penetrated it entirely. The man, realizing his attack was ineffective, cursed under his breath and fled into the depths of the ruin.
Zen, Yawen, and Rui exchanged confused glances. "Why did he attack us and then run away without putting up a fight?" Zen wondered aloud, already considering the chase.
Yawen placed a firm hand on Zen's shoulder. "No, Zen. There might be traps waiting for us. We don't know what kind of creatures or dangers lie ahead."
Rui nodded in agreement. "The guy seems to specialize in wind arts. We should let him go for now and focus on our work here."
Reluctantly, Zen agreed. They turned their attention back to the ancient scrolls spread out before them. Despite their best efforts, the texts were inscrutable. "I can't make any sense of these," Zen admitted, frustration creeping into his voice.
"Keep trying," Yawen encouraged, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar symbols. "Maybe something will click."
Meanwhile, Zen decided to make good use of their downtime. "Yawen, you continue working on deciphering these scrolls. Rui and I will work on crafting weapons and armor from the serpent scales we found."
Rui's eyes lit up. "I'll help you, Zen."
The two moved to a corner of the room, using their combined skills to forge new gear. Before starting, they blocked the door from which the strange man had entered with another earth wall, ensuring no more surprises. As they worked, their conversation drifted back to the peculiar encounter.
"He could be a necromancer," Rui suggested, his tone serious.
Zen looked thoughtful. "Maybe, but I'm not sure. I've never met a necromancer or read much about necromancy."
Rui nodded, recalling what he knew. "Necromancers usually carry wands and are often found in ruins, looking for ancient weapons and dark arts. I read in a book called 'Malleus Cole' that anyone practicing necromancy or associating with a necromancer must be burned at the stake."
Zen frowned. "Dark arts are not true arts; they go against nature's laws."
They fell silent for a moment, the clinking of metal the only sound in the room. Zen shifted the conversation to lighter topics. "Tell me about your childhood, Rui."
Rui smiled. "I came to the Wetian Mountains because I was bored. I lived in the central plains, and my family is quite wealthy. But life in the plains bored me, so I came to the famous Wetian Mountains to see the foggy hills."
Zen listened intently. "I've lived in the mountains all my life. I've always wanted to see the plains. There's something about them that fascinates me."
Rui nodded. "The plains are bustling with life. Thousands of shops, millions of people, and food from all over the world. It's a vibrant place."
Zen's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Tell me about the food. What kinds of dishes did you find there?"
Rui's face lit up as he began describing the culinary delights of the plains. "One of my favorite dishes is tempura, from the island of Yamato to the east of the central plains. Their culture is quite similar to ours. Tempura is made by dipping fish, shellfish, meat, or vegetables in a light flour batter and then deep-frying them. The crunchiness is what makes it so delicious."
Zen's mouth watered at the description. "What about other dishes? Did you find any interesting ones?"
"Yes!" Rui continued excitedly. "There's also biryani, which comes from the west. It's a mixed-rice dish with various spices and meats. The flavors are incredible—a real treat for the taste buds."
Yawen glanced at them, happy to see Zen and Rui enjoying their conversation. Despite the tension of their situation, moments like these brought a sense of normalcy and camaraderie.
Zen turned back to Rui, still curious. "What's your favorite dish?"
Rui paused, thinking. "It's hard to choose, but I'd say ramen, also from Yamato. It's a noodle soup with a rich, savory broth and various toppings. Simply irresistible."
Zen was intrigued. "Tell me more about this land east of the central plains. What else do you know about Yamato?"
Rui's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I've never been there, but I've heard the men are honorable warriors known as Bushi. They wield legendary katanas and short daggers. The Bushi are divided into different groups, with the elite known as the Kasai. They are battle-hardened warriors, often called butchers for their prowess in combat. A single Kasai can take on several hundred opponents."
Zen asks, What are the other tiers of warriors on the island of Yamato?
Rui replies that the Bushi are ranked asgokenin (housemen), the lowest and vassals of a lord. Goshi (a rustic warrior), they could not have the two swords of the full samurai rank. Hatamoto (bannermen), the highest rank. Only these warriors were expected to die to protect their lord's interests.
"Tell me about the southern islands, Rui," Zen said, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames. "I've heard they're vast and full of wonders."
Rui smiled, eager to share his knowledge. "The southern islands are indeed vast pieces of land, stretching over 1000 kilometers wide. They're mostly inhabited by local tribes and clans that have lived there for generations. The largest city is Gangnam, a bustling hub of activity and culture. Following that is Utsuka, another significant city. These cities are located in the regions of Bali and Kula. The islands are teeming with a variety of creatures, some of which are unique to that part of the world."
Zen's interest was piqued even more. "What about summons? I don't know much about them. Can you educate me?"
Rui's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Of course! Summoning is a fascinating aspect of our world. It's categorized into nine different tiers: SSS+, SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, and E. Normal summoning can be performed at the summoner's will, but special ones will only respond if they feel a connection or liking towards the summoner. However, a very strong summoner has the ability to command any summoned entity at will, regardless of their preference."
"Is there a requirement for summoning?" Zen asked, leaning forward.
"Yes, usually a tool or an artifact is required to call upon a summon," Rui explained. "But once a bond is established between the summoner and the summoned creature, they can use contracts. These contracts create a deeper connection, allowing the summoner to call upon the creature without the need for tools."
Zen nodded, absorbing the information. "How strong are the kasai if we compare them to summons?"
Rui considered this for a moment. "Summons above A rank can communicate with us through speech. I'd say a Kasai is probably as strong as an S-rank summoning."
Zen's eyes widened in surprise. "They're that strong?"
Rui nodded affirmatively. "Yes, they are."
"What rank was the Serpent King?" Zen asked, his expression turning serious.
"The Serpent King was an A-rank," Rui replied. "We were able to take it down because it was already weakened by something here."
Zen furrowed his brows. "I did notice that the JT attacks were kind of sloppy. What do you think weakened it?"
Rui's expression turned grim. "It's likely a necromancer was draining its energy."
"How can you say that?" Zen inquired, intrigued.
"I saw some marks left by the necromancer there," Rui explained. "Necromancers are known for their ability to sap the life force from their targets, leaving behind specific signs."
Zen's concern grew. "We have to be more careful. What are a necromancer's weaknesses?"
Rui nodded. "Necromancers are physically weak and rely heavily on their puppets and summoned creatures to fight for them. If you can get past their defenses and their minions, they can be taken down more easily."
Rui continued, "Necromancers typically avoid direct confrontation. Their magic is potent, but it requires time to cast. If we can interrupt their rituals or catch them off guard, we can defeat them."
Rui added. "Indeed. Knowledge is our greatest weapon. The more we know about our enemies and the lands we traverse, the better equipped we'll be to handle whatever comes our way."
Zen listened, captivated by Rui's tales. "When we get out of here, we should visit Yamato together."
Rui smiled. "I'd like that, but there's a war going on there right now. The island is in turmoil."
Zen nodded. "We'll worry about that later. For now, let's focus on our task."
Yawen interrupted their conversation, frustration evident in her voice. "I can't figure out these scrolls. They're too complex."
Zen sighed. "Maybe we should take the scrolls with us and find someone who can decipher them."
Rui chimed in. "I know someone who might be able to help."
Yawen looked at Rui, impressed. "You're quite resourceful for a child."
Rui smiled shyly. "Thank you."
Zen agreed. "We'll take the scrolls with us. Meanwhile, I'll continue making weapons and armor for us. We need to be prepared for any future encounters with that necromancer."
Zen handed Rui a newly forged dagger. "This is for you. It will take some time to make armor for all of us, but we'll need shields too."
Zen takes a while to make armor with full focus.
Yawen sighed, looking wistfully at the blocked doorway. "It's been so long since I've seen the sun."
Zen and Rui nodded in agreement. The weight of their journey and the challenges ahead felt heavy, but their resolve remained strong.
Zen and the others decide that they are going to head further, and Zen breaks the stone wall and goes further. They then find old paintings on the wall there that seem to describe a war that took place. The paintings showed a fight between humans and mythical creatures.
Yawen says those creatures are all from the stories we heard as children. The monkey king, the black dragon, the immortal warrior, and much more. Rui says that the monkey king would be SSS rank summoning along with the black dragon. Zen asks, What about the immortal warrior? Rui is in confusion; I do not know about that, but he is definitely up there with the monkey king and black dragon.
Yawen looks further and sees other summons: the Artic bird, the Moleten bird, and the Zap bird. Rui says they are S-rank summoners, and all three were owned by the legendary female warrior Lady Fu Hao.
Meanwhile, Rui's parents are worried as they found out that Rui is missing, and they head to the Wetian Mountains. Yun had gone away from the Wetian mountains in the harsh desert in the north-west of With Pali to train. Pali exclaims that the desert heat truly drains the soul, and Yun agrees by nodding to it.