"Oh? And what are their complaints?" the dwarf asked, his tone calm but dangerous.
The air around him was filled with mystery as it carried different tones in it. Sometimes it sounded like wailing, then the cry of a warrior, then explosions of worlds, or the song of a hero or villain.
"They said the new world isn't satisfying enough, that the lifeforms of that world aren't acting according to their expectations. The majority of the humans are in hiding, only a few are fighting to earn their survival," Aija said.
"Oh, is that the complaint?" the lord asked in a deep, ancient voice.
"Yes, my lord," Aija replied.
"Hmm, well this isn't the first time the gods have had this kind of complaint," the lord said.
"They said the only thing that kept them entertained was the Eastern lands, because they adapted to their situation faster than the other lands," Aija informed the lord.
"The Eastern land? What's happening there?" the lord asked. Due to his seclusion, he wasn't aware of what was happening outside, except during the times they went to add earth to the Cosmic Stream.
"The Eastern land seems to have hidden cultivators with unique abilities that were forced out to protect their people and their land, and the rate at which they cleared the monsters in their land is faster than expected," Aija explained the Eastern land's situation.
"Cultivators, huh? Tell the administrators of the Eastern land to gather causability and prepare for the next quest for the Eastern lands," the lord said.
"That will make the Eastern lands progress faster than other lands, my lord. It can disrupt the balance later on," Aija voiced his concern.
"Aija," the lord called out in a deep voice.
"Yes, my lord?"
"The river does not flow because its streams are equal, but because they all journey together," the lord said profoundly.
Aija was stumped as he didn't understand what the lord was trying to say. He thought about it but nothing came to his mind.
"I don't understand, my lord," Aija finally said when he couldn't find any meaning in it.
"Do you know the essence of the Cosmic Stream?" the lord asked.
"Yes, my lord," Aija answered.
"No, you don't. If you did, you would have proceeded to the next quest."
Aija was surprised. He had lived for a long time, but yet he still didn't understand the essence of the Cosmic Stream.
"Tell the administrators of the Eastern lands to progress to the next quest, and as for the rest, you and the others use causability to invoke a general world quest. Except for the Eastern land, all other lands must participate," the lord said with full authority.
"Yes, my lord," Aija saluted and left the room, the door closing with a bang.
The lord looked at the endless abyss and said,
"Awareness is a burden that seeks escape, but ignorance is a comfort that dies unnoticed."
He sighed and continued to stare at the abyss.
It was daytime. Collins woke up and looked around urgently. After seeing James and Amara nearby with no danger in sight, he finally heaved a sigh and relaxed a little.
«YOU ARE FINALLY AWAKE, HOST.» Orúla said.
"That's a cold greeting, Orúla," Collins said with a slight smile.
«HOW IS THE GREETING COLD?» Orúla asked.
"Shouldn't you be calling me by my name instead of calling me host?" Collins asked.
«DOES HOST WANT ME TO CALL HIM BY HIS NAME?» Orúla asked.
"Of course, calling me host makes it sound like I have a parasite in me."
«ALRIGHT, I WILL CALL HOST BY HIS NAME, ADAM COLLINS.»
"Collins is fine."
«ALRIGHT, COLLINS.»
"Now, that sounds nice."
«THERE'S NO LONGER ENOUGH TIME TO RELAX. THE DJINNS ARE GATHERING ••••• TO ISSUE A WORLD QUEST IN 12 MINUTES FROM NOW.»
Collins abruptly sat up and asked,
"Wait, are they going to release stronger monsters now?" His voice carried urgency.
«NO, NOT YET, BUT THE AMOUNT OF MONSTERS WILL INCREASE BY FIVEFOLD.»
"Why is this happening?"
«TO FORCE EVERY HUMAN TO PARTICIPATE. THOSE THAT FIGHT WILL SURVIVE, WHILE THOSE THAT DO NOT FIGHT WILL DIE.»
Collins winced at the word die.
Just trying to hide and survive is still considered a sin? Collins thought.
"Orúla, what did you censor?" Collins asked.
«I DIDN'T CENSOR ANYTHING. IF IT SEEMS I CENSORED SOMETHING TO YOU, IT MEANS YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. FOR NOW.»
Eligible for what? he asked, but no reply came.
"Okay, when will it start?" Collins asked.
«IN FIVE MINUTES.»
"SHIT! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!" Collins shouted, waking both Amara and James.
A look of understanding flashed across James' face when he saw Collins' expression.
Another hell is coming, he thought.
Amara looked around, searching for the person Collins was talking to.
«YOU WERE SLEEPING.»
Collins realized his mistake and shut up, switching to mental communication with Orúla.
Why didn't you wake me?
«YOU WERE STILL HEALING FROM YOUR LAST FIGHT, AND YOU NEED YOUR FULL STRENGTH TO FIGHT THE MONSTERS.»
So it was because I need my full strength to fight…
Since there wasn't much time, Collins pulled James aside and whispered the situation to him.
Amara stood to one side, not interfering in their discussion, but she watched as James' expression kept changing, from shock to dismay, then to anger. She knew the duo did not trust her, but she had no problem with it. After all, to her, this encounter was a coincidence, and it would eventually dismantle. Each side would go their separate way.
While Collins and James were discussing and Amara was thinking, a notification was released worldwide. Every surviving human, whether fighting or hiding, saw the notification.
"Fuck, it has begun," Collins cursed.
«WORLD QUEST: FIRST BLOOD»
< GOAL: KILL 5 MONSTER WITHIN 48 HOURS
RANK: E
SYSTEM NOTICE: "SURVIVAL MUST BE PROVEN. FAILURE MEANS ERASURE."
REWARDS:
+100 EXP
BASIC WEAPON (E-RANK)
PASSIVE SKILL: ADRENALINE SURGE (REFLEX BOOST WHEN AFRAID)
FAILURE PENALTY:
-50% HEALTH
QUESTS LOCKED FOR 72 HRS
SYSTEM BEACON ATTRACTS MONSTERS>>
Now the world erupted in another panic.