Chapter 36: 36 Travel.

In the deepest part of the abyss where darkness devours even light, far in the deepest corner of the abyss, two women in chains. A Divine shackles that took their power away, ensuring their presence to be trapped in this godforsaken place.

One of the women sat in silence, her breath shallow as the oppressive air strangled her slowly. Her sharp eyes, clouded with darkened circles, never left her sister’s motionless body even for a second, nor did she have any wink of sleep.

“It’s been so long, big sis? When will you come back…?!”. Her weak voice met with silence before her body jolted, seeing her big sister twitching.

“Big sis”. Her cry shook the air around them as it traveled across the empty void that shrouded the place around them.

“…Artemis”.

The woman called Artemis stiffened, hearing the weak tone from her big sister. Her heart drummed, and her ears shut, refusing to believe the event that transpired before her.

She took her sister’s hand, feeling the coldness of her skin, “Big sis, your power!? It’s almost gone, what happened?”.

“…It’s okay, I just spent too much, that’s all”.

Artemis could faintly hear her sister’s weak breathing, pale complexion, and saddened mood that enveloped her aura.

“Big sis, I…”.

“Good morning, the two of you?”.

Hearing another party interrupt their conversation, Artemis tightened her hug around Athena as she glared at the familiar voice from her brother.

“Hermes, what are you doing here?”. Artemis spat her usual harsh words.

“Oh, Big sis Artemis, why must you be so cold to your cute little brother”.

His joke only further fueled Artemis’s burning hatred, except for Athena, who gratefully accepted Hermes’ presence here for his action, which always brought food for them.

“…Thank you for coming here, Hermes”.

“Hm, Big sister Athena, why is your condition worsened all of a sudden”. Hermes tilted his head to the side while putting some fruits and food for the sisters.

“…Nothing for you to worry about”. Athena brushed off his question, tensed her sluggish body, and planned to take a dip at the food before her.

“Hmmm, is that so? Well, I hope you guys enjoy today’s supper. Then, I will be on my way”.

Hermes disappeared from the place, leaving the two sisters, who sighed in relief. However, a gust of wind blew away the gloomy atmosphere between them, and Hermes appeared once more before them behind the steel bars.

“Oh yeah, almost forgot; a message from Big Brother Ares: Just give up and hurry and be mine, both of you!”.

“Scram!” Artemis’s shout chased the fleeing Hermes, and the two sisters were soon caught in the swirling awkwardness.

“…Artemis, there is your favorite fruit here”. Athena took out the Apple, one of the condiments that Gods and Goddesses in Olympia like.

Seeing her weakened sisters, who kept extending her hand to those she thought cared, touched Artemis’s heart. But she knows too well that her big sister Athena is one hell of a stubborn Goddess. Once she decided on something, she wouldn’t stop until she gained what she wanted.

“Thank you, Big sis”.

Athena also took some fruit and stared at it for some time, reminding her of the memories she shared with the mortal boy, ‘…Jin, I hope you are doing well out there.

Even in the suffocating abyss, Athena clung to a single thought. A flickering amber in the darkness of her heart, Jin’s figure appeared. Clenching the apple in her hands, she prayed for his safety and hoped that he could fulfill his mission for both of them sake.

*******

The first light of dawn peeked through the darkened world, painting it in delicate gold. Delicate moisture clung into the atmosphere, casting a thin veil of mist that was cold to the touch. The air was cool, carrying a bit of dampened soil and grass that rustled with joy every time Jin set foot on it.

In the heart of a tranquil and calm field, Jin controlled his breath and movement, focused on completing his usual routine of keeping his stamina at its peak. At some point, he hastened the pace until his lungs were shrinking before continuing his jog.

When the sun had risen from its sleep, casting a warm glow toward the land, Jin stopped jogging and stood facing the sun for a few minutes. Jin took out his bokuto from his Item Box, the new skill he had just received after completing the Character quest.

#####

[Status Panel]

Name: Jin Midnight (M)

Race: Human

Age: 14

Talent: Magic Swordsman

Parameters:

Vitality: D- > C

Mind: EX

Strength: D- > C

Agility: D > C+

Stamina: D+ > C+

Skill:

String of Fate (Divine), Swordsmanship (EX), Wind Magic (EX), Physical Enhancement/Elemental Enhancement{Derivative Skill}, Jade Eyes (Unique), Mana Manipulation (EX), Mind Sword (Divine), Item Box (Unique)

Title:

Apostle of All-Father, Sky Ruler

######

World Quest: Prevent the Tragedy!

Reward: ???

Penalty: Death

######

Jin’s status had undergone a slight change before he attempted his morning training. When he checked his status, his parameters shot up one rank, and the skill Item Box was practically a must to accompany him on his journey.

He exhaled a white mist from his mouth before Jin prepared his stance and swung his Bokuto. His posture was solid and fluid, which pleased the servants’ eyes as they watched their young lord work hard first thing in the morning.

‘Now the techniques!’. Not only his basic foundation, Jin also began to train the technique he learned from that Trial. Even though it was hazy, somehow, his body remembered it well.

Jin closed his eyes, the sound disappeared, and he entered his subconsciousness. He faced his own image with the same sword style, and they faced each other. Tension rose between them before they clashed intensely.

On the sidelines, Ryan, who plans to train his body, stands still, seeing his son’s movement, which is completely out of the world.

“This is my first time seeing Jin’s new techniques”. Ryan gulped his saliva while clenching the wooden sword in his hands.

He heard Jin’s story about how he got trapped inside a weird dungeon. This gave the boy a tremendous amount of time to train his swordsmanship, but to think the boy had reached mastery beyond him was pickled in his chest.

Each swing of Jin’s bokuto cut through the wind like a sharp whistle, sending ripples through the atmosphere, and grass beneath. Ryan’s heart trembled in awe, he tightened the grip on his wooden sword, his skin tingling all over feeling the sheer force behind the swings. ‘This is beyond what I imagined!’.

“I want to see his capabilities.” Something stirred inside him as he watched his son’s swordplay. Unknown to him, his face beamed; it was the spitting image of a kid who had just received his new present.

Jin pushed his exhaustion aside and made one clean stroke downward. With a faint cry of the atmosphere, he exhaled and straightened his posture.

“Good morning, Jin”.

“Good morning, Father”. Jin turned around and saw his father, wearing the same comfortable outfit for intense mobility and standing with a provoking smile.

“Can we exchange some pointers?”. Ryan’s excited mood brought his wooden sword forward, which was replied to by the same gesture from Jin.

“Alright, it’s been a while since we spar together”. Jin stepped backward to distance himself from his father before bowing his head.

“Let’s do our best, Jin”. Ryan also responded, and both of them hurriedly put their stance.

A gentle wind blew as the two people watched their opponent with tension. The sound of rustling grass acted as a cue, prompting Jin to move first. Jin dashed forward like a gale and approached with an Iai posture before Ryan.

‘Fast!’. Ryan’s body flinched, and he felt a terrible chill run through his spine, seeing the invisible slash that was aimed at his neck from below.

With godly reflexes, Ryan blocked the bokuto leaking ‘tack’ resonating within the field. His hands and heart trembled upon making contact. The weight that Jin carried in his swing already surpassed even him, who had mastered the sword years ago.

“Haha, this is going to be fun!”.

“Father?”.

Given the difference in physique and strength, Ryan nudged the bokuto a bit, and Jin’s stance crumbled in an awkward position, letting the grown man launch his counter.

A diagonal slash from above, cutting the wind along its edge. It missed its target as Jin pivoted using his leg and spun around before swinging his bokuto sideways. Ryan barely sidestepped, as Jin’s attack whistled past his ribs, leaving a faint sting in the air.

Without hesitation, Ryan countered wood meet wood clashed in ferocious ‘tack’. Both were relentless and fearless as the sparring match intensified. Ryan’s power and heavy swordsmanship pushed Jin’s smooth and speedy style aside, along with the rising tension in the field.

Leaves scattered, grass cut, and soil rose to the atmosphere, a testament to how two monstrous talents showed their might.

A definite crack echoed within the field when Ryan, who suddenly got carried away by the tension, coated the wooden sword in their hands with Mana and swung it downward.

Jin, who witnessed the pressure hitting him off, calmly inhaled deeply and drew his bokuto in one swift attack. A loud snap resonated within the two fighters, who saw the shattered wooden swords scattered in the air, signaling the finish of the spar.

“Ha, ha, ha, …Huuf, I lost”. Ryan solemnly looked toward his wooden sword before a hearty smile painted his handsome face.

“It seems you are stronger than me in terms of techniques”.

Jin exhaled, losing the tension in his muscles and letting the cool breeze cool off his hot body. A white mist evaporated from Jin’s skin. He exhaled and turned to his father with a smile.

“In terms of Techniques, yes, but strength, no. I still have a long way to go”.

“Haha, you will reach it soon. I believe you, Jin”. Ryan patted the boy’s head as they exchanged an understanding nod.

“Thank you, Father”.

Ryan’s lips broke into a warm smile, as he watched his son roll his shoulders to loosen up his joints. ‘To think he had surpassed me at that age. His resilience and determination are rare traits. Something you’d struggle to find in the capital, let alone the Kingdom’.

He paused, his brows twitching slightly as a thought flickered in his mind, ‘…That reminds me, the letter from Duke Frost I received the other day’.

“That reminds me, Jin. Are you interested in going to the capital?”.

“Capital? What for?”. Jin tilted his head, oblivious to why the sudden question about the capital. ‘Is there something there?’.

Ryan exhaled before he chose his words and answered his Son’s curiosity.

“Nothing grand. Soon, an annual festival to celebrate our King of God Ares will be held there. It is also a celebration for the new year to come.”

“Ah, I see”. Jin nodded off, his mind deep in thought.

Once every year, the kingdom Jin lives in will celebrate the reign of King Ares. Also a reminder that because of the peace he brought, people all over the world could enjoy a bountiful harvest and life the rest of their lives without worry about the mischief of the elder gods Zeus and Poseidon, who used to descend into the mortal world to search for a fine woman and entertainment.

“Coincidentally, Duke Frost had sent us an invitation. So, what will you do?”. Ryan looked at his son’s side profile, who seemed deep in thought. ‘There is also a matter about that…?!’.

“Sure, why not. When is it?”.

“About a week from now on; we will depart tomorrow because of the distance”.

“Fine, that’s no problem with me. Traveling to another town is also good for my adventuring experience.”

“Alright, it’s decided then”.

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