Saga:- Journey to the Sunrise
Arc 1:- Retro Anomaly
Chapter → 18
→ IMMORTAL, REGRESSOR, CULTIVATOR.
After a chit-chat with that fairy-like fragment of the Stained Ruler, Lanmyth went on seeking his other members of the Crown Squad. By the revelations of the fragment, Lanmyth found out something shocking and eldritch.
The anomaly was carrying the power of a month. In the past, the calendar had 13 months, but after a certain time period, there were only 12. One whole month was dissected from the flow of time, memories, and written descriptions. It was a totally unique season.
So in short, the ANOMALY was the embodiment of the thirteenth month of the year.
Lanmyth was carrying these secrets in his heart as he found out Erika was being healed by the saint folk, and others were there too, waiting for Lanmyth.
Pina and Tuna informed Lanmyth about this when he was walking near the riverside, watching the folks lay rice plants in the gentle river.
Lanmyth soon changed his ruptured clothes from the fight and wore a cape with a gem on the front. A white royal coat with golden designs on it.
A white cane and a single eyeglass (whatever it's called—like the one Amon wears) with a long chain going down to his chest pocket, where was his pocket watch. He had left the castle with this much preparation easily.
As for his nano-bots, the assistant running on the system power was temporarily sealed by the fairy-fragment, because even though they were working because of the system, they were also reincarnated here because of the transmigration.
Now, the terms TRANSMIGRATION and REINCARNATION are two different ways to go into a parallel world—unless some special cases.
The child curse put on their mother was because their children were destined to die, and their souls would be replaced by these four's—hence creating a transmigration or reincarnation at the same time.
These nano-bots just came through the wormhole-like thing that opened inside Lanmyth's body.
This entire information was dumped on Lanmyth by that fairy-fragment to not waste his time.
Lanmyth's mind was smoked by this much information. As for the four's security, they were given some magic powers for protection by the fairy-fragment.
Lanmyth was given water control, Myale should have received air manipulation, fire for Zarita, and electric for Scyures.
However, they could use their powers they were learning to some extent—like Zarita still had her physical brute force, Myale still had her basic cultivation powers.
Scyures could do good in hand-to-hand. And then me, I was doomed. I always relied on my intellect and system.
...
Hein had reached the spot where Erika was lying unconscious near the large tree. The saint flusk was hovering his hand slowly over her neck to chest without making physical contact.
Zarita was sitting near them, resting her back on the tree's bark while Myale was carefully observing the aura of the saint healing Erika from the aftereffects of the Anomaly.
Scyures was trying to juggle some stones to kill time, however, he kept failing at three stones together...
"Man! Why can't I do this properly?" Scyures inwardly spoke to himself. The effects of system power being drained away had not been noticed yet by them.
Hein's steps grew slower, and he drew some air inside, watching all of them do something or nothing. Gunbo was trying to balance his stance with the swords by himself.
The wind suddenly changed. Hein felt goosebumps rise on his skin as 'someone' was closing distance to them; the atmosphere was getting gloomier, nearly soul-sucking, strained.
"I can't use my healing," muttered Myale, staring at her palm while she was rubbing Erika's feet... "I can sense all of you have lost significant levels of power," commented the old saint Flusk.
"The system window isn't opening either!" Zarita complained as she stood up and stomped her feet on the ground in anger.
Swoosh!!
A quick gale of wind cut past, nearly chopping off Zarita's neck if she hadn't dodged it. Even if she had lost her powers of the system, she still was a skillful fighter with instincts to carry her in these dreadful situations where even luck might fail to protect.
There was a man in a long robe, looking like a generic cultivator with a yellow blade sword in his arm, levitating in the air while glaring at everyone down there.
"It's a demonic cultivator!" Gunbo cried out as he rushed towards the tree where Erika was being healed, while Myale and Scyures took their stance.
"I shall sacrifice every one of you in my sight to attain the blessing of God Blood Ogre!"
God Blood Ogre was a samurai who was worshipped by many cultivators. The ogre had two demonic teeth that were said to be powerful enough to rival 10,000 heavenly demons.
He was also said to be the root and creator of the Blood Moon.
The man with long hair and robe frowned as suddenly the ground was shaking. Scyures and Myale held their hands while the Saint was stable with Erika.
Gunbo and Hein were trying to stand still as suddenly two lumps of rock-like tentacles rose from the ground and crushed the cultivator in a split-second.
Everyone felt a grave terror in their hearts as a man slowly paced through the trees and came there. He was taller than above average people, his hands hidden in his long cloak wrists, and his robe flowing with peacock and lily patterns all over.
His deep crystal eyes reflected shades of blue, gold, and greed. His greenish-blue eyelashes fluttered as his lips opened up.
"Yo! Everyone!" He raised both of his hands which were entwined in their long sleeves.
To the surprise of everyone, his aura was still menacing and violent, yet he had a smile worthy of Oscars.
"Who was that person? And who are you?" Myale stepped in front — because why not? A 'cultivator' would sure sense another 'cultivator' if their paths crossed.
Myale gulped and clenched her fist... Who is he? How strong is he? Did he use..?
"Hey! Chill! He was a bad person and I killed him using 'True Cultivation's 'Limbs of Hearth'. Don't you know? Like..."
He added without letting Myale question.
"The earth feels like our hands or feet and we control it. Similar to psychic powers. You know? You sure have seen superheros? Like that!"
Superhero? Sure this phrase could've mean entirely different thing or it might exists here but the tone that man blurted that phrase out was sure of an modern person. Even though Myale never lived an easy life but she also had friends when she was a kid, she used to sneak out of her home just to meet them and talk about the world.
Some used to bring comics too.
"Your way of talking," Scyures walked upfront and pointed at that man. "Are you by any chance a person from earth?"
Scyures said this so easily which might've acted as an trump card if not leaked, at that moment emotions surged into her because however she looked at that man. He was giving her same vibes as the anomaly.
"Well," he scratched his cheek. "I don't come from there but sure I've seen many things from there, even read comics, mangas and all. You come from a quite interesting place!"
He...? He has seen earth without going there?
This sentence was such a calamitous for Myale because on first glance you might definitely ask him if he could help you regarding returning their own respective homes on a specific point of time. But...
On a second thought, how powerful is this person is?
"You've seen that place as well? Who are you? A hero?" Zarita's question had shaken the silence as she walked near him. "You seem quite tall."
"Me?" That man pointed at his chest. ''I am a hero in this dangerous world. I even have a great title you wanna hear?"
'Sure' they nodded while Myale was trying not to engage in this conversation and just let this man leave. Erika was still in a weak state even though Saint had healed her injuries.
Saint?... what is he doing right now?
Myale looked under the tree and Saint was again returned to his meditation while Hein was sitting beside Gunbo and Erika who was still unconscious.
"I am called, the 'IMMORTAL'.."
Immortal? Myale gasped as these words resounded in her eardrums.
" '-REGRESSOR..."
Regressor? This felt like a fever dream and a angelic opportunity combined in a twisted 'horror'. However the last phrase was predictable.
" 'Cultivator!"
"In short, 'IRC'."
"So, are you really immortal?" Zarita asked.
"Can you regress?" Scyures questioned.
Myale couldn't help but ask softly, "What kind of cultivator are you?" While giving an side eyes both hands crossed.
"Erm... look. I am like a developer to you guys!"
Developer? What kind of term usage was that?
Everyone nearly no reaction except some twitches in expression.
"Hey, I mean the system's you were using were all my creation! I was the designer!!" On his words, their eyes lit up in surprise and excitement meeting someone who created the system? Like an architect?
It was equally special to them as meeting an author of their favourite novel.
"Then what about that different path and all?"
Scyures asked in curiosity, Zaita smiled wider in interest.
"Oh that!"
"Yeah that!" Zarita added.
"Yeah that." That man added too.
"I did develop them but I gave their authorities to diffrent friends of mine in this whole world. Like Heaven, hell, celestials..!"
"How does that work?" Zarita questioned, her air-headed brain wasn't enough to retain some development knowledge easily.
Scyures laughed inwardly.
"It's like I'm the owner but the authority is in their hands. In most cases authority and ownership are same but sometimes it differ."
Zarita tilted her head still wanting to ask something.
"Good grief, too many questions. You guys haven't even asked my name yet!"
True. Myale spoke inwardly, whatever he was friend or foe. They should at the least have basic information.
"What is you name?'' Hein spoke who had sneaked out of Gunbo's grip.
That man gave a calm but unsatisfied look to Hein after speaking while clasping his hands together.
"I am MING HUAN! Isn't it cool?"
"It is... but you...?." Hein questioned as he slowly got closer to that man.
"I don't like this child!" He spoke as he slowly drove his finger out and and pointed at Hein's forehead. Suddenly surprise hit Hein as he was perplexed of what he was doing.
Zarita rested her hands on her waist with an uncontrollable smile. She spoke as if she is about to drop the highest wisdom.
"Well, you know. He is the current king of this land!" Scyures and Myale's eyes drew towards Zarita then again Ming huan to only see he had no reaction.
"King?..." he seemed as if someone put pepper in his jelly. "I don't care."
At this moment, the king's subordinates; the infamous crown squad felt the atmosphere getting deeper as they felt the minor change in the ability ro breath easily.
The crimson blood accumilated in his right eye glaring at Hein while others didn't quite knew what was going on until the trees made rustling sound. The bushes moved as someone phased through them, a known figure. Lanmyth arrived only to see a grave scenery.
A crimson sphere, size similar to of a small pearl in Ming huan's pupil shot like a sniper through Hein's heart!
It pierced and vanished in a single split-second. Hein wasn't hurt, and others weren't quick enough to react so none even knew much that what had happened except Myale and Lanmyth. Hein pressed his arm on his chest feeling warm and something uncanny on that particular spot.
Undoubtedly, he was the strongest there. His curled up hiding it in the shadow of his robe, suddenly crimson sparks rose like firely around his wrist illuminating it like a cave from inside. The ground, like a solid mud pot, twisted and then a snake like tentacle limb rose made of rocks, soil and anything common on the land they were standing on. A true showcase of "TRUE CULTIVATION."
However, there was one who dared to speak.
"What a false fool like you is doing in my domain?" The Saint spoke after completing his undecipherable chants.
"Grr!" Ming Huan growled as his hair rose up with magical energy but soon calmed down. He stretched his body, like a giant bear, but leaner. Through his open robe his eight-pack abs, pumped chest, tall and lean not too much. Some scars on the stomach.
Myale and Zarita's eyes widened a bit. Their morales and feelings could dislike him, not their basic beauty of admiration. They both shook their head in correction of thoughts.
"What do you mean false fool?" Ming Huan asked in order to clear his tag of a false and wrong stupidness.
"You are mere 'False cultivator' who uses his energy to mimic TRUE CULTIVATION. And you wish to ask what you had done to be called by the title 'false fool'?" This was no mere joke. A statement was made. Myale, who just some moments ago had some hopes for this guy, it all vanished.
The man stood tall, with crimson and magenta waves slowly curling around his presence. He spoke using his PRESENCE.
[THIS KID HERE IS CURSED TO BRING DEATH UPON HIS LOVED ONE'S OR HIS HEART SHOULD BE PIERCED BY THE ONE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO HIM!]
With this petrifying revelation Ming yuan had vanished into thin air. Due to his true PRESENCE all of them flew back and could not hear it clearly. Other than Hein.
There was a big beam that rose from beneath the ground where Hein's feet connected to the ground and rose up to heaven's splitting in seven rays of colour and light.
"What the heck did that man say?" Zarita spoke as she removed the branches over her body. The only person who heard that clearly was the SAINT but he kept the revelation to himself as none suspected him either.
He grinned.
Gunbo was hanging from a tree with his two swords dug through the trunk in high-lane. Every one came back as the fairy-fragment flew around them and sat on top of Hein's head while her size was nearly same as of a caniary-bird.
"Now who the heck is this?" Zarita spoke again while slowly sitting on ground.
"So, we were using that man's SYSTEM all the time?" Scyures asked looking at his hands in an existential dread.
"Not anymore." Said Lanmyth as he walked near Hein brushing off the dirt on his shoulders.
"He was basically a fraud!" Myale who hadn't heard Lanmyth until now spoke in a murmuring tone. The tree's were crooked and bent weirdly. The leaves were gathered on ground and the most weird fact was their area-effect was disappeared. The orange hue's, the eye trails, the calm atmosphere. Just after that PRESENCE blast, everything was sent back.
"How so?" Asked Scyures.
"Well you see her?" Lanmyth pointed at the fairy-fragment using his thumb's tip and jerked his chin over there too.
"She's a small piece of a literal GOD!" Lanmyth rose his both fingers while speaking in a dramatic tone as Scyures caught Gunbo who was falling from the tree and his swords too.
"GOD?" Everyone except Saint and Erika spoke in unison. A branch in the background fell as some dramatic wind gently blew, making their hair swirl in one direction.
The fairy-fragment's doing was caught by Lanmyth as she was making a rather cute sound doing it.
'CHIII~~~." She was moving her gentle and soft finger backed by fluffy wrist bands with fur.
She had a long kimono-looking robe which was pure white being cherry-on-top of her looks.
...
After explaining everything from start Myale understood most of it. Gunbo was bamboozled and kind of envious of not receiving any SYSTEM for the basic novice boost, Scyures was excited and Zarita seemed pretty chill.
"So, we four have to go to different four realms. Defeat or break the pillar that had his connection and the Guardian of that pillar to weaken him." By this this time Lanmyth had an idea of how the fairy-fragment seemed to defeat Ming huan. She'd force him to regress which will technically send him to another timeline keeping this world same and sending him to another loop.
His immortality was a problem but if regression activated by his own will, we're saved.
"Sounds cool!" Zarita and Scyures spoke in enticement as they both gave each other a hi-five without moving other masses of their body an inch.
"So, what are these realms?" Myale asked, while Erika was transported by Gunbo to the village's hospital to treat her wounds given by the PRESENCE blast of Ming Huan.
As for Hein no one had clear idea what had happened so they stuck to their plan to going in realms and defeating the pillars while Hein, Gunbo and Erika stayed here.