As I headed towards the location mentioned by the Blood Fight Lord, I arrived at a small island where a modest temple stood.
A small temple made of stone and wood that had not felt a human touch for a long time.
At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary place, but as someone possessing the Holy Seal, I felt more special than anyone else.
“It’s hard to believe anyone would find this.”
In Deoen, countless hidden pieces exist, and not all of these hidden pieces are extraordinary.
They can range from small statues that give 1 stat point to ancient weapons that are just old rusted swords found in ruins.
With hundreds or even thousands of sub-quests, world quests, and class change quests, a temple like this would likely be overlooked by anyone who didn’t possess the Holy Seal.
Inside the temple, there were stone tablets, and in the center of one tablet was a small groove.
Just the right size for the Holy Seal.
Click.
Drrrrr…!
[Ohhh]
[Wow]
[Open, says me!]
As I inserted the Holy Seal, the temple shook, and the stone tablets started glowing.
The lights gathered and shot toward the opposite side of the tablet, and with a crackling sound, a blue Dimension Gate opened.
Ding!
[Great Achievement! You’ve discovered the New Continent – Aether as the first User!]
[Title obtained: Mysterious Adventurer (Mythical)!]
[Title obtained: Opener of the Unknown Gate (Mythical)!]
[You’ve gained a massive amount of Experience Points.]
[From now on, all Users will have access to travel to Aether after 14 days.]
“Oh.”
A lot of things just arrived at once.
The titles and the final sentence are particularly noteworthy.
Mythical titles are on par with legendary items or even surpass them, so just obtaining them raises my stats significantly.
Most importantly, the fact that Users will be able to travel here in 14 days means…
“It’s considerate for the first visitors.”
It’s a system consideration to avoid competition with other Users for first titles or rewards.
Those who arrive first should receive appropriate rewards.
[Yeah, yeah, yeah!]
[The advance team definitely needs a reward, haha!]
[Can’t let Lily get there first, though.]
[14 days feels a bit short, doesn’t it?]
[Huh? We need at least a month!]
[Sweet deal!]
[14 days is short, but if it’s Lily, she’ll sweep everything clean, haha!]
[Let’s clear it out, Lily!]
[Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go!]
I spread the Holy Light to investigate the Dimension Gate and this temple.
The temple itself had nothing special, and the Dimension Gate indeed held immense power, but there was no malice in that power.
It was just an ordinary Dimension Gate.
“Then let’s go.”
■
My body crossed through the Dimension Gate.
Not just a simple space transfer between continents, but the process of crossing into a whole ‘world’.
The process of crossing a ‘world’ rather than just moving through space between continents.
In a way, it resembles a dungeon, but unlike the very few dungeons that existed, its size and scope are entirely different.
“But the connectivity itself is profound. It won’t be a completely different dimension.”
Perhaps the New Continent can be seen as a dimension closely connected to Deoen.
“…A mountain?”
The place I arrived at was a village with a high mountain obscured by thick clouds.
People walking around in their own uniforms and the quite vintage-looking Chinese-style buildings.
In the sky, gigantic cranes as white as snow flew around, and sometimes people were seen casually walking in mid-air.
Above all, their levels were quite significant.
‘They seem to have a basic level of around 120.’
Similar to Wenetus and Rutilus from the ancient island.
Even the cheerful little kid wandering around the market had the strength to beat rankers in the top 100.
[What the heck]
[Huh??]
[Is it martial arts?]
[Whoa]
[The Heavenly Horse loves martial arts, hehe]
[Let’s kill them all]
[New Continent, wow]
[Was Sky Island a martial arts island?]
“Martial arts…”
[New Continent – Aether is a place where parts of different dimensions are combined.]
[Aether allows you to meet the characteristics and stories of each dimension, and to go to the main dimension, you need each dimension’s ‘Holy Seal.’]
[Upon first entry, you are moved to a random location, and after that, you will move to the land where you possess the Holy Seal.]
[The current location is Aether – Main Temple.]
“Main Temple.”
Surely, Muscular Uncle mentioned that aside from their Teshiniria, there are a total of four races in the New Continent.
The chosen Raccoon.
The cruel Blood Noble.
The unintelligible Giant.
And the stereotypical Celestial Beings.
Given the name Main Temple, those living here are likely to be those ‘stereotypical Celestial Beings.’
“It seems this is indeed the land of the Celestials. Since this is part of the Main Temple, to reach the true dimension, we will need the ‘Holy Seal’ of the Main Temple.”
[Seems like it?]
[Celestials?]
[What do you get if you kill a Celestial?]
[Is it a place where transformed beings gather?]
[Lily doesn’t have the Holy Seal, right?]
[Don’t we have to go to the Giant’s land?]
[Giant, let’s go!]
[The Heavenly Horse is so happy, hehe]
[The Heavenly Horse would love dogs.]
“First, let’s take a look around. Now we can find it directly.”
Finding Aether had been difficult, but from the moment we arrived, the location of Ertarn was displayed on the ‘map.’
Just a bit west, and we’ll run into Ertarn, so that shouldn’t be too hard, right?
Pitter patter. Pitter patter.
– Hahaha!
– This time I won!
– Ugh… I really wonder how you did that.
– Is that a very white lady over there?
– White? The Snow Fairy is even whiter than that.
“……”
– Have you heard the news? They say a Bloodsucker is rampaging up North again.
– That’s nothing new. More importantly, I’ve heard the God is trying to wake up from his slumber. I wonder if something’s going to happen.
– I really wonder what the elder is thinking…
– Let’s have a match!
– Where did you get that crane? It’s as white as that Woman over there!
– Is it a Celestial Being?
“Hmm…”
– It looks like a new Celestial Being has arrived.
– Wow… She’s pretty.
– Hurry up and come over here. Time’s running out!
– Aww… I wanted to talk to her just once.
– Boooring~
Toot.
I stop walking.
“Something feels off.”
It’s been 20 minutes strolling through the village without a hint of concealment.
I confidently traversed the main street of the village, yet there weren’t many people showing me attention.
As always with Deoen or in reality, my appearance usually drew either friendly or hostile attention.
Some admired my looks.
Others respected my Power.
In every direction, I’d always grab attention, so I’ve actively avoided it before, but this time, I didn’t even need to.
Everyone seems relaxed, casually thinking, “Oh, just a peculiar person.”
[Seriously?]
[Aren’t they ignoring Lily?]
[Let’s kill them.]
[Is it common to have outsiders?]
[Lily is being ignored…]
[HAHAHAHAHAHAHA]
[Something’s up.]
[Maybe because there are many beings from different dimensions?]
“…There are indeed many. That could definitely explain it.”
This place is a blend created by parts of various dimensions.
With four distinctly different races around me, it makes sense for them not to question my presence even if I’m just one more added to the mix.
However, their attitude raises questions.
‘There’s no one here stronger than the Blood Fight Lord.’
Once, even Leo and the Sword Saint couldn’t stand up against the Blood Fight Lord, a powerhouse ranked among the top in the continent.
Even now, he possesses enough strength to handle most rankers easily.
Yet he faced a horrendous defeat, and it’s said that the Monster he fought was on par with or even stronger than the Three Lords.
“I’ve heard there are certainly those stronger than the Three Lords, but they aren’t showing themselves right now. They must know my strength as well.”
Although I’m not openly flaunting my strength, I’m not hiding it either, so a powerhouse of their caliber would have noticed my strength quickly.
In fact, I keep hearing the term ‘Celestial Being’ floating around.
‘Celestial Being.’
I’m not well-versed in martial arts, but I know it refers to someone who has reached a high state and become a Celestial Being in martial arts.
Yet, despite the appearance of this amazing ‘Celestial Being,’ they seem to be living so peacefully.
‘Do they have some kind of faith or assurance?’
“…?”
I feel a strange prickling sensation, as if something is calling me.
As I turn my head in the direction of the feeling, one building comes into view.
As I turn, a building comes into view.
Jeokwagak.
It’s three times larger than other buildings.
Beside it, there was a reddish frog statue, and even the statue seemed to possess its own strength.
Squeak…
As I open the door, the interior of the red wooden building welcomes me.
It was a two-story building; the first floor had several tables set up like a restaurant, and the second floor was hollowed out in the middle.
“You’ve arrived.”
Trot. Trot.
Someone descends from the stairs installed on the wall.
Crimson hair and a face that features enormous black eyes.
There were small scars on his face, and a robe that matched the color of his hair suited him and the surrounding atmosphere well.
“Did you call for me?”
“Indeed. Enlightened One.”
You were the first to open the door.
“Door?”
“You are the first to open it since a part of the Main Temple merged with the Heavenly Realm. About a month ago, someone else was here, but it wasn’t out of their own will.”
“What is an Enlightened One?”
“A being who has transcended. They escape from being mere creatures, reach the supreme realm, and ultimately become celestial beings.”
Thunk.
“That’s me.”
He completely descends and stands before me.
There’s indeed an inherent strength within him, different from the residents outside.
‘Hmm.’
[Small]
[It’s small, huh?]
[Compact]
[LMAO]
[Oh!]
“It’s small.”
His height is short.
This man was only a head taller than me.
Can he even reach 150 cm?
He doesn’t maintain a particularly youthful appearance, so perhaps he’s just naturally small.
“…It’s just a racial characteristic. The Enlightened Ones are those who have ascended to the heavens. They are not bound by the standards and laws set by the world.”
“That’s okay. Being small isn’t a crime.”
“…I am the Enlightened One, Jeokhye.”
Thwack!
Jeokhye, who had been petting his head, soon draws out a long sword.
A sword that is quite long for his body.
It’s about the size of his upper body; I really wonder if he can swing that—
“I can swing it! It’s an easy task!”
“Did you read my thoughts? Enlightened Ones can do that…?”
“Isn’t it obvious from your face?!”
Whoosh!
“Enlightened One. I shall test you. If you do not measure up, the Main Temple will reject you.”
“But can’t being an Enlightened One also make you taller?”
“…I will kill you.”
The swirling red sword grazed me.
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