Kane was safe and sound. He didn't appear to have a single wound on him. On top of that, he brought six giant chests with him and came all this way from the [Floor: Disaster].
Did he beat the boss and come here? But first things first...
"Where did Xiao go?"
"Oh, him? Well, this guy named 'Nobody' came and beat him up."
Isn't that the guy who told me to get strong to be able to stand by brother's side? He helped him...?
"That guy?" Selene asked. "Didn't we meet him on our way here?"
"Yeah, but to think he was down there..." Maarij held his chin as he got into deep thinking, as if to say, "I was right to think of him as a danger."
"So, what's the plan, Maarij? We eliminate him the next time we see him?"
"Seems like it."
Aariz and Maarij both decided to eliminate him when they see him. It appeared that both of them deemed him as a danger. Maarij was already ready to throw hands on him when he met him first.
He also said he had a feeling they would clash soon. But to think that it came out to be true... Something definitely perilous was going to happen soon.
But for now, let's just get out of this dark, gloomy, dangerous place and get some shut-eye. If that Nobody really is our enemy, then there may come a time I would've to fight him. There's so much to figure out.
"Oh right," Kane said, looking at Selene, "Who's this lady here?"
"I apologize for my late introduction," Selene said, politely. "I'm Selene Caelia Vexis, a member of Aariz and Maarij's family."
"No need to be formal. I would prefer that." Kane glanced at Aariz and Maarij. "So, how did you meet her and get close enough to be called family?"
"Huh...? What do you mean?"
"You think we kidnapped and brainwashed her, don't you...?"
"Can't deny that."
"You, listen here, try to trust us a little, okay?"
Kane shrugged. "People change over time, so I thought you guys had some strange hobbies now."
Aariz and Maarij looked genuinely confused. I knew it. Kane was messing with them in his own way, and was enjoying it. They exchanged glances with each other before speaking.
"You remember us...?"
"Mhmm." Kane nodded as he turned to the chests he dragged behind him.
Aariz sighed. "I'm glad to hear that, but since when?"
"From the very beginning," Kane replied as he unbounded the leashes of the chest he dragged behind him.
"You...!" Maarij clenched his fist in annoyance. Both his tone and expression were clearly telling that he was now very annoyed. "Don't tell me you were messing with us until now?"
Kane turned his head over his shoulder with a smug. "It was pretty entertaining, y'know."
Maarij dashed towards Kane to kick him on his back, but Kane just hit Maarij's leg with his leg as he raised another to kick him. Maarij tripped over and fell to the ground.
"You should already know that this kind of attack doesn't work on me," said Kane, chuckling.
"Well..." Aariz looked at me. "From what I've seen, Leo doesn't remember us at all. He doesn't seem to be lying either."
"Well, duh. I definitely don't remember you guys."
I definitely don't remember them. But how come brother remember them? Is something wrong with my memory? It feels like someone is tampering with them. That's the only answer to that. I should take them as allies now, no...?
I put my hand on the back of my head as it was getting stiff, but as soon as I began to dig into my past memories to get even a glimpse of them... But I couldn't so I got irritated and began scratching the back of my head aggressively. UGHH!!! Too much hassle to think and all. I can't remember them at all...
"Aries, no need to think deeper into that. You'll eventually remember it."
I put my hands down. "Brother, I feel something's suspicious, as in someone is keeping an eye on us."
"Because someone is," Kane replied to me as he opened one of the chests he brought.
Kane pulled out an item which was like a dark green pearl which illuminated with radiant light green light as he held it in his hands.
"Here, catch it," Kane threw it to me without looking at my direction.
I was barely able to catch it, even with both of my hands. I caught it just in time, though I wasn't sure if it would break if I failed.
"Whoa. That was close." I looked at the illuminating pearl in my hands.
"Aariz, you tell him how to use it." Kane opened another chest as he asked Aariz to teach me. "And you, Maarij, get your ass up here."
"Are you guys friends...?"
"Best friends, to be precise."
"Ah, yes, of course..."
"You may be wondering who we are and all that. But don't worry, we trust you all completely. To us, you guys are a family."
"I'm flattered to hear that..." Selene nervously put one of her hands on the back of her head and laughed nervously.
"There you go again being formal. Like I said, no need to be."
"It'll take time..." Selene said, nervous. "I guess."
"Hopefully, it'll not take that much time."
She wasn't that formal with me... I glanced at them, puzzled. Selene was unusually formal with Kane unlike how she was with me. I guess she didn't feel like being casual around someone who she just met.
But then again, we had just met too, but Selene wasn't acting like that with me, rather she was being casual. I feel like she's more comfortable talking to me casually.
"Let's see what's this." Aariz walked up to me while I was looking at Selene and Kane.
I showed the pearl to Aariz. Aariz looked amazed. "Now, that's something useful."
"What's it Aariz?"
"Pour your Magic into the pearl, enough for it to glow brightly. You know how," Aariz instructed me like a teacher. "You'll then see how useful it is."
Without saying a word, I poured my Magic into it, just enough to make it glow brightly. Just like Aariz said, it glowed brightly. The bright light coming out of the pearl dimmed as the pearl in my hand began to turn to dust.
Within seconds, the pearl had turned to dust. Then, I got a notification.
[Leo Aries Voidwalker has acquired a new skill: "The Sage".]
[Opening Descendant's Information.]
+
[Name: Leo Aries Voidwalker.
Age: 24 years old.
Compatible Attribute: Light.
Compatible Attribute Affinity: Dark.
Exclusive Skills: Martial Arts Lv. 5, Weapon Mastery Lv. 7, Patience Lv. 2, Sword Fighting Lv. 8, Mage Lv. 9.
Hidden Skills: Infinite Steps Lv. 30, The Sage Lv. 25.
Divine Skills: Divine Sword Rain, Divine Barrier, Divine Blast, Divine Extinction Beam, Divine Void, Divine Dash.
Overall Stats: Physique Lv. 7, Strength Lv. 8, Agility Lv. 9, Magic Lv. 9.
Overall explanation: Leo Aries Voidwalker, who has awakened his 2nd form, is now strong enough to face off most of the dangerous enemies with ease. Leo Aries Voidwalker will continue to get stronger due to the possession of Light Attribute.]
+
Looking at the translucent window before me, I said, "Looks like I got a new skill named [The Sage]."
"Try using that skill now. It's pretty useful."
"Got it." I nodded and activated the skill.
[Leo Aries Voidwalker has activated the skill, "The Sage Lv. 25".]
I didn't feel much different or anything unnatural. I felt the same as I was feeling before activating it. Nothing had changed. How come this skill is "pretty useful"? I don't see any changes.
"Aariz, how come—" Just as I turned to Aariz, I saw a translucent window opening before me, showing Aariz's name and personal information. "What the...?"
[Name: Aariz Bloodworth Lucifero.
Age: 26 years old.
Complexion: White.
Height: 5'10 feet (177.80cm).
Appearance: Black silky hair with silver shades, and eyes of same aspects.]
"It's your personal information..."
I was astonished at the sight of the translucent window which opened before me. It was showing me Aariz's name, appearance, height, and appearance. I figured that once it leveled up enough, I'd be able to see even more detailed information.
"See? I told you it's pretty useful," Aariz was grinning ear to ear as he once again proved to be correct.
My awe quickly turned to disbelief, as soon as I saw his age. Looking at the translucent window before me, I spoke in a disbelieving expression, "Wait a second... You lied about your age, didn't you?"
Aariz froze, beads of sweat began forming on his face. "I... Uh... I, didn't mean—"
I slapped my hand on Aariz's shoulder with a smug grin. "Relax. I understand. Happens to the best of us." I made a thumbs-up gesture. "You're still young—technically."
"It's not that! I didn't lie on purpose!"
"I understand." I nodded with a smug. "You don't need to feel ashamed."
"As I said that's not the case!"
I turned to Selene and saw a glimpse of her personal information.
[Name: Selene Caelia Vexis.
Age: 24 years old.
Complexion: White.
Height: 5'9 feet (175.26cm).
Appearance: Crimson silky long hair with tips having golden-flame hues, and eyes of same aspects.]
"Hmm?" Selene looked at me. "What's it?"
"I just somewhat saw your personal details using [The Sage] skill."
"And?"
"You and I are of the same age."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Selene smiled. "No wonder I was able to easily talk to you."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Maarij walked up to Kane and said, "Why's it taking so long to open this one?"
"Because there's something precious inside."
I then saw Maarij's personal information.
[Name: Maarij Ashford Ghost.
Age: 25 years old.
Complexion: White.
Height: 6'1 feet (185.42cm).
Appearance: Brown wavy hair with golden brown shades, and eyes of same aspects.]
Maarij looked at me. "I advise you not use it carelessly as it may overload your brain and you might faint."
"Thanks for the advice."
[Skill, "The Sage Lv. 25," has been deactivated.]
Just as I deactivated my skill, the translucent window showing Maarij's personal information disappeared. I then walked toward Kane and others. Aariz followed me.
I saw four of the chests opened, and they were all full of gold coins. Wow. We're so rich.
Kane then opened another one. "That's the key to have enough coins for our travel, isn't that right?"
It had a dragon head in it. I was now curious how did he get one. Did he defeat the boss to get all of these as rewards?
Before anyone could ask him questions, he spoke, "That 'Nobody' defeated the boss and said I could've all of the rewards. Apparently, he wasn't interested in it."
"That explains why you've so much chests." Selene leaned in, inspecting the dragon's head. "It's definitely worth a lot of gold coins."
"What about the last one?" I asked, curious.
"Let's see."
Just as Kane stretched his hand towards the open button of the chest, Maarij shouted, "No! Don't push that!"
But it was too late. Kane had already pushed it. The chest sprang open, releasing a light so bright that we couldn't see anything around us.
The next thing we knew was that we were outside the Dungeon Complex. But it wasn't the same place. It was entirely different.
We were suddenly whisked away to a completely different place. All of us were together along with the chests Kane brought with him.
"Can't we just catch a break...?" I muttered.