Name: Clueless

Title: [Sailor Of Ruins]

Core Type: Dual Core (Yin/Yang – Adaptive Mutation Variant)

Rank: Tier 2 – Tempered

Primary Element: Adaptive Void

Secondary Element: Evolves with Beast Trait Fusion

Skills: [Black Thread (Adaptive Void)]

Vitality: 123%

Stamina: 65%

Spirit Energy: 405/1000%

Beast Traits: [Empty]

Bond Links: [1]

Items: [Starred Lantern], [StarGod Twin Daggers]

Cultivation Stage: Elemental Vein Realm – Stage 2

Mutation Sync Rate: 20%

***

Kyle smiled faintly, pleased that only about ninety-five points remained before he could finally advance. With this, he was now on the same Layer Five path as Orion. His skin had altered subtly, and his wounds had healed slightly more. This was the first notable change to his body that he had truly observed.

However, his smile waned as he recalled the Cursed-rank essence core. At least he had received some compensation in the form of the twin daggers. He felt a strong temptation to examine them, but he resisted for the present.

A cocky part of him ached to flaunt his new weapon while they faced a group of creatures. He could not resist the impulse.

'Of course. This is the perfect moment. Heh-Heh-Heh.'

Suddenly, Na-Ri rose to her feet with her customary expression. She glanced at the others, and without being prompted, Adela followed, a smile on her face. Orion sighed in frustration before joining them. Without a word, it was clear the beautiful stranger was urging them to press on despite their current predicament.

She turned her gaze to Kyle, who was dragging himself forward with a scowl. He was evidently disinclined to continue, as if the ground itself held him in place.

"Kyle, please stand. We must keep moving. Spending a week on this journey will serve us no purpose; we are already depleted and may perish before the creatures of the ruin reach us," the beautiful stranger stated flatly.

In truth, the tone was more commanding than encouraging or inspiring. It was not entirely her fault; she suffered from what could only be described as mood swings. At times, she exhibited a streak of levity, almost clownish, yet more often she remained detached and distant.

'Ugh. Whatever.'

Kyle rose to join them, and soon they were retracing their steps along the northern path, with Na-Ri leading as usual. Adela engaged Orion in conversation about a particular matter, which seemed to capture his full attention.

From time to time, he would frown, then pause as if recalling some contradictory thought, before bursting into laughter. Adela would quickly join him, laughing in kind. She was the type of person who was emotionally delicate yet unrestrained, sometimes hollow. Everyone has their fluctuations: moments when they seek solitude, and moments when they crave companionship.

Kyle recalled the outburst from the grey-haired beauty when the secret of the Trial Zone Breakout first reached her. Orion had offered a suggestion that sent her into a childish frenzy. At that time, he had loathed the idea of being part of a team. Yet now, observing them, he found it unexpectedly enjoyable.

Perhaps it was not such a bad idea after all. Yet, as he recalled the fate his first Title had imposed upon him, the flicker of happiness quickly dimmed. Soon, he would have to distance himself from them, allowing each their peace, but not before he had grown strong enough to stand unshakable.

A troubling question struck him, accompanied by many others. With that, he hastened to keep pace with Na-Ri, whose attention remained fixed upon the path ahead. Scouty, as the handsome youth had nicknamed it, led the way, moving with the precision of a scout or some covert agent, reflecting much of its master's personality.

Once he fell into step beside her, the beautiful stranger cast him a brief glance before returning her focus to the road.

Kyle exhaled audibly.

"Umm… Lee, I have a lot of questions."

Her eyes remained impassive.

"...What are the questions?"

Encouraged to speak, Kyle wasted no time.

"If your floating orb's last slot was used in the induced lucid dream, should that not mean you still have the last slot in reality, or does it count as a use as well?"

Na-Ri's expression shifted as she considered his query. After a moment, she shook her head.

"It counts as a use as well. I do not know why, but that is simply how it functions."

Kyle's eyes widened as another question formed, linking her predicament to his own recent experience.

"And if you attempt to use it despite that?"

The beautiful stranger's gaze shifted to Kyle. She had contemplated the same action two days prior, before their slumber, but an inner warning had stayed her hand.

With a faint trace of displeasure, she replied:

"If I were to use it despite the last slot having expired, my Vitality would be drained for it to function…"

Kyle's face drained of colour immediately. That was far more extreme than even his Abyssal Orb, which already carried a pact with Death. It seemed the floating orb might indeed be an instrument of death itself.

This revelation prompted further considerations. His next line of questioning turned to her armour and blade: did they bear any negative consequences, or were they free of such burdens?

Nonetheless, it appeared she had employed both without any evident negative repercussions. Or perhaps items such as armour and weapons were simply exempt from such flaws. Kyle reminded himself that Orion and Adela each possessed their own implements, yet he had never witnessed any adverse effects.

Could there exist a specific category of items burdened with flaws, then? Perhaps even Adela's terror teddy carried one.

Before he could voice any of the numerous questions crowding his mind, one regarding the path of a Tier Three, a dark, monstrous-looking arrow hurtled towards them.

"Duck!" Kyle shouted urgently as his eyes tracked its trajectory.

* * * * *

Author here. We are approaching the true beginning of the story and everything is about to escalate. Only a few chapters remain until the end of Volume One. Your support would be greatly appreciated at this stage. Power stones and golden tickets for extra spotlights are especially helpful, though there are many other ways to show support. Please leave a review if you are enjoying the story. I apologise for posting this on the chapter, but I really needed your urgent attention.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.