Outside the crumbled Sanctum, in hushed silence, the two warriors recalibrated.

Seated on a large rock, Darien took the moment to sort through his loot.

The Collector's Aegis floated while he operated, as he transferred valuable items into his Inventory after making room by discarding trivial ones.

Eventually, the warrior had assembled a collection worth a fortune.

Some people would actually retire with this kind of haul.

Believe it or not, the majority had the mindset of enjoying the boon of life rather than fighting for power.

Darien couldn't be more revolted by that mentality.

He wanted to enjoy both, but would choose ascending over life's blessings.

Apparently, wealth helped a great deal in rising through the ranks.

His partner came from a family of wealth, so Darien didn't feel guilty about hoarding all the loot for himself.

A few feet away, Vynsera rested on another rock, looking exhausted.

Her head was buried in her arms, knees raised, revealing her smooth, slender thighs beneath her gladiator skirt.

Darien noticed she had been in that same position since they agreed to rest for a while before heading back to the academy.

Perhaps she was reminiscing about the Darkness affinity, wondering what was coming next.

Or how the news of Vincent's death would be received.

Darien realized he was projecting his own thoughts onto her, but that didn't make his assumption any less plausible for why she looked despondent.

He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if they took on the trial from the invitation together.

Could this be some kind of turning point in the story? Perhaps he and Vynsera were truly meant to be partners after all.

Now, Darien felt more confident dealing with the Duke's daughter than ever before, knowing he was the only one aware of her revelation as a dual-arcanist.

Dual-elementalists were more common, but dual-arcanists were another level entirely.

The New Gods were immensely powerful, so a warrior capable of honing two of their powers was nothing short of dangerous.

Her face was still buried when Darien approached her.

Without saying a word, he extended an item toward her, and Vynsera looked up at him with a chary but ravishing face.

(Item Name: Lying Amulet)

(Type: Accessory / Amulet)

(Rank: Rare)

(LV. 8)

(Description: An illusory item that allows the user to manually alter, conceal, or forge their public Inspect details, including name, rank, talent, and titles. Changes appear genuine to all detection or appraisal skills below the Second Plane. Does not alter physical appearance.)

(Skill: nil)

"You'll need this, right?" Darien said.

Vynsera froze for a moment, stunned by his generosity.

She couldn't possibly go around with her public status revealing her new development. Though she could likely obtain a stronger illusory item through her father's connections, she needed something now.

"Thank you," Vynsera said softly, accepting the amulet.

Darien watched as she neatly wore it around her neck before activating it.

Immediately, her status panel reverted to displaying only her Light Affinity.

Hopefully, within the powerful circles of the Duke's Order, no one was strong or suspicious enough to see through the illusion.

Jumping to her feet, Vynsera felt a new surge of confidence, but she also felt sour, as if she now owed Darien more.

She had said thank you for the first time, after all.

And now, the small brat was standing there grinning, looking far too satisfied with himself.

Frowning, Vynsera decided it was best to bid farewell before he teased her further.

She revealed a Rift Compass, a special, legendary device often carried by nobles and elites of her standing.

It was most perfect for quick teleportation.

Darien watched as the compass unfolded and opened a long-lasting, shimmering portal before Vynsera.

"You're a very good warrior, Darien. I enjoy you," Vynsera said with a formal nod before disappearing into the obsidian swirl.

Darien didn't put much thought into her words, taking them as nothing more than polite closure before departure, as he prepared to leave himself.

Unlike Vynsera, who would be stepping directly into her palace gates, a Return Pebble would only take Darien back to the surroundings of the Novice Depths Dungeon Bridge.

Before departing, however, Darien revealed the Legendary ring he had yet to test.

(Item Name: Ring of a Thousand Faces)

(Type: Accessory / Ring)

(Rank: Legendary)

(LV. 3)

(Description: A mystical illusory item. Grants the wearer the ability to alter their appearance into anyone they can envision and rewrite their public Inspect status at will. Once activated, the ring becomes invisible on the finger.)

(Skills: Faceless Masquerade)

Darien was set to take the boldest action he had ever undertaken in this new world.

He couldn't risk looking like himself anymore.

Apart from his cursed appearance, he had more reasons after the events of the Primordial World.

Vincent's death remained an unresolved issue, and even though Darien wasn't the killer, he feared any trail might lead to him, drawing unwarranted attention and potential attacks.

He also had to consider the slim possibility of even Vynsera betraying him.

In the end, Darien decided that Darien Seaborn had died in his Novice Depths trial.

The young prodigious swordsman with silver hair and ocean eyes had been killed by the Goblin Warlock.

Darien wanted to assume the identity of someone else, but he had to be careful because everyone he knew was either alive or already dead, and that was double-edged.

Any incorrect public status for someone whose life was known would immediately raise suspicion due to the misalignment.

He also couldn't duplicate someone living.

Darien needed to become someone whose life he knew in absolute detail, leaving no room for error.

So he chose to take on the identity of his dead friend.

Jakob.

This was ideal because he knew Jakob had been a Rank 1 Intermediate at the time of his death.

As Jakob, he could still retain access to the academy without raising suspicion.

Assuming Jakob's identity also allowed him to tell the story of Darien's "death" seamlessly.

'Incredible,' Darien thought, and with that in mind, he activated the Ring of a Thousand Faces.

~FWOOOSH!

The changes occurred immediately, yet so subtly that he barely noticed anything different.

His bones and structure had shifted from the Waterlands femboy to a Finelands Chad.

Brown hair like silk framed a sharp, charming jawline, and deep, dark eyes replaced the ocean blue.

It felt strange inhabiting another body, yet his spirit and soul remained entirely his own.

Darien tested a few movements like jumping, crouching, stretching, to adjust to Jakob's body, feeling the new weight and balance with each motion.

When he felt he had mastered it, he smashed open his own portal.

With a final breath, he spiraled into the raven vortex, finally leaving the Primordial World behind.

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