Level Up: Voidwalker

[Aftós pou deíchnei ton drómo – the one who points the way]

***

Atlas and the four girls climbed up the vines, using magic to keep the monsters off them until they reached a certain height, at which point they stopped chasing them. Grishna called out, ''They hate the sunlight, look.''

She pointed up, and the sunlight illuminated the vines and surrounding walls. Atlas breathed a breath of relief as his heart pounded due to the situation. He continued to climb until a hand reached over and grabbed him.

Estelle smiled and pulled him up before dropping to the ground to catch her breath. Atlas looked at the blonde. ''Thanks,'' he said.

The knight nodded while resting as she leaned against a tree. He did the same thing as Lilith, who stopped clinging to him. Atlas looked around and realized they were in a small clearing that bordered the chasm.

Trees enveloped them, adorned with hundreds of colorful flowers. Bushes sprouted up between the trunks. It was then that Atlas caught something darting from tree to tree not far away from them.

The creature was tall, really tall, and had grey skin and hair, and Atlas didn't know how it moved because it would vanish only to reappear behind another tree. He noticed it peeking out with creepy red eyes that gleamed with intelligence.

This caused him to sit up and scan the area with Void Sight quickly, but he saw nothing that spooked him out, as no creatures were lurking around. Grishna noticed his expression and asked, ''What's wrong Grak'Thar Gromog'ar?''

Atlas pointed toward a distant tree, ''A tall creature was out there watching us, but it's gone now.''

The orc girl looked into the distance, but Artemis spoke to no one in particular, ''Wood Devils. Scholars believe they're creatures protect the forest and are usually friendly.''

When the other four heard this, Amethyst retorted, ''What do you mean friendly? Are they going to share a picnic with us, Fish? You talk nonsense.''

This made Atlas laugh as her British accent flared up when she was annoyed, but that's when Artemis answered, ''Don't blame me, Little Bird, it was the Achaemenidian scholar from the famous city of learning called Samarkand that's west of their capital Babylon. They believed one of the Gods of Light created them to watch over the land.''

Atlas nodded understanding before speaking to the group, ''Let's get going. We still have a week or two until we reach Volantis City.''

Following that, everyone prepared to continue their journey as Atlas checked his status.

[Level Up: 41→46]

[Experience: 240/1000]

[Experience Gained: 5050]

[Health: 324→334]

[Mana: 1384→1430]

[Strength: 300→312]

[Stamina: 314→334]

[Charisma: 330→334]

[Intelligence: 298→310]

[Core Points: 100→4350]

[Core Points Gained: 4250]

[Void Guard: 1→2]

'Five more levels then I'll rank up and unlock the Void Realm,' Atlas mused.

A snapping twig caught Atlas's attention, making him spin around and cast Void Bullet. The dark projectiles hurtled through the air, striking a tree and causing it to explode into splinters that shot out in all directions.

The girls swiftly ducked down, activating their defense spells to shield themselves from the flying debris. Once everything calmed down, Artemis turned on him, ''Aetos! What are you doing? Stupid malákas!''

Atlas chuckled nervously, "A twig snapped behind me, and I assumed it was those Wood Devils sneaking up on me."

"Don't go casting spells at close range," the brunette complained, her Greek accent on full display, adding a melodic edge to her words. "It's dangerous for all of us, including yourself, Aetos."

"Sorry, Artemis. It caught me off guard," Atlas apologized, his voice tinged with regret.

Her expression softened, and she approached him, enveloping him in a comforting hug. "You don't need to apologize," she whispered gently. "You startled me, especially after everything we've been through in that creepy chasm."

After that, the group continued until sunset, when they found a cave to camp inside. Once inside, everyone got to work. Artemis started setting a fire while Estelle and Amethyst went for some wood.

While the girls did this, Lilith jumped off him and started prowling outside the cave, ensuring their safety. Atlas kept an eye on everything but soon started watching Grishna chanted a word that lit up the entrance, causing him to ask, ''Could you teach me that one day, please?''

The orc girl stopped what she was doing and turned back, ''I will come here.''

Atlas approached as Grishna explained, ''This is the Trapping skill; it allows me to set traps for small monsters and Runes that keep the Dark Ones away from the cave. Now watch as I send mana into my fingertip to draw it.''

He nodded as a green glow appeared, and Grishna started drawing a picture of a star with several scribbles. Then she waved her hand, and the Rune sunk into the ground, hidden from sight.

Once doing that, Grishna turned back, ''It's all about concentration, Grak'Thar Gromog'ar,'' she said while motioning to a new spoke. ''You try; just copy what I did while focusing on the mana flowing to your finger.''

Atlas stepped forward while trying to send his mana to his hand; at first, he couldn't do it, but when shaking his head, a blue glow appeared on his fingertip, causing him to beam as Grishna praised him, ''Well done Little One. Now copy the Rune I created, and you should unlock the Trapping skill.''

Then, Atlas crouched down and started drawing the Dark One trap as the sun created a beautiful purple hue over the forest. It took him ten minutes to make the Rune, which pleased Grishna, who hugged him.

He was trapped between her soft mountains, which sent his mind reeling, but she declared, ''Grak'Thar Gromog'ar! You learn quickly; I have many things to teach you.''

While saying this, Artemis shouted, ''Grishna! You've trapped the boy between your boobs, girl; he cannot breathe.''

''Oh my bad,'' the orc girl said while letting him go as she changed the subject. ''Now, once the sun completely goes, the Dark Ones come out, so get some rest, and I'll wake you up.''

Atlas smiled, ''Okay Grish.''

Afterward, he retrieved a blanket from his storage and curled up. Lilith rushed over and settled beside him, finding a comfortable spot. As he relaxed, Atlas observed Estelle and Amethyst gathering wood for Artemis to start a fire.

The Phoenix girl approached him quietly. "Can I join you, my Amore?" she asked.

Atlas lifted the blanket, eliciting a smile from Amethyst as she climbed in beside him. She became the little spoon as he hugged her close. Soon, the couple fell asleep as Lilith was lying on them both.

This scene caused the older girls to smile; Artemis watched the two while keeping the fire alive, ''Everything those two have been through, they seem rather happy to be exploring. Aetos didn't panic when we were in the chasm,'' she said with a shiver.

Grishna laughed, ''I was scared; those Chasm Worms are dangerous monsters.''

The other two agreed with a nod, but Estelle soon spoke, ''Where does he come from?''

Artemis told the two girls about Atlas, including that a noble family had adopted her in the Thalassia Empire. When Grishna heard this, she spoke, ''Do you think he has something to do with the Pendragon Family? I mean, they did say the males of that family were extremely handsome and had beautiful white hair just like he does.''

''Not possible; all records claim the youngest Pendragon was twenty-one when the family was wiped out,'' Estelle revealed.

''A shame; if that was true, he could have united the Aurelians in Aridonia and fought the Achaemenidians who will be here in a year or so, depending on how the other kingdoms fight in the upcoming war,'' Artemis said while watching the sky go dark.

''Do you think another continent-wide war will happen again? I was five when the last one broke out, and that's when the Achaemenidians wiped out the old empire of Astoria and made landfall on Aridonia by decimating Aurelia,'' Grishna remarks.

The three girls grew quiet for a couple of hours as Atlas and Amethyst slept, but Estelle spoke as the outside world went pitch black: ''Le Messie Élu is someone that the goddess Sol sent to us in our time of need; he is more important than a fantasized lost prince of a dead empire.''

''You never know, who knew we would find Aetos? My people believe he will be the light of Valoria when the darkness comes,'' Artemis said before praying. ''Aftós pou deíchnei ton drómo.''

Grishna stared at the brunette and smiled, ''I didn't know you were a devout follower of Grak'Thar Gromog'ar and the Path. Thought you were more straight-laced Artemis Olympaea.''

Artemis giggled, ''I see how the boy looks at us three; if I start showing him that I follow the Path, it will give him the wrong impression. I'd rather get to know him before making a decision.''

''And what if he doesn't choose you? Being a bit vain thinking Le Messie Élu will choose you for a wife?'' Estelle commented while putting her shield down. ''Once the boy grows powerful enough, he can have any woman he wants.''

Grishna stood up and started speaking, which shocked the other two as she recited a well-known poem that the Path teaches children.

''In the depths of Azhar'Zul's boundless night,

Where darkness weaves with threads of light,

Thirteen stars, in constellation bold,

Their stories ancient, yet untold.

Each a beacon in the endless sky,

From realms unseen, they draw the eye,

Azurite sparks, with silver hue,

Their constellations, secrets imbue.

Starlight whispers in the cosmic dance,

Of empires lost and dreams askance,

Legends woven 'cross celestial dome,

In Azhar'Zul, they find their home.

So gaze upon those stars on high,

Where myth and truth entwine and lie,

In Azhar'Zul's celestial sea,

The thirteen stars, forever free.''

"The boy is Azhar'Zul or Grak'Thar Gromog'ar as I know him as. The thirteen stars symbolize the wives of the messiah, and I believe the four of us are just the beginning. But I never expected him to be so young," the orc girl concluded.

Estelle was taken aback before blurting out, "The savage pays attention in class! Well done!"

"Shut it, bitch," Grishna shot back sharply. "Go wake up Grak'Thar Gromog'ar. The Dark Ones are outside."

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