[The User has attuned a Tier One Wind Body. The User can apply a Wind effect to activated abilities.]

A strange phenomenon occurred after the System announcement. A layer of wind formed a passive elemental layer over the surface of Noah's skin. It caused the surrounding air to become unnaturally calm as his hair and clothes became still, unaffected by the mild salty sea breeze passing through the forest. An observer would become slightly unnerved while finding it difficult to pinpoint exactly what the cause was.

Noah felt a subtle connection form to the air in the environment, which now had a cloaking influence on his movements. Noah swung his arm aggressively to examine the result. It was as if he was disconnected from the world and moved through a void. Similar to how his spirit arms didn't affect the wind in their incorporeal state. He would explore his body's new effects another time.

Noah activated his [Earth Manipulation+2] ability to create an earthen cup. Dipping it into the shimmering water of the creek to fill it to the brim. He tipped his head back to down the cool water in one gulp. A refreshing wave of lifeforce spread through his body as he drank. He repeated the process until he quenched his thirst.

He refilled the cup a final time before pressing it carefully to Lyn's parched lips. The unconscious boy swallowed the offered water as Noah cradled his head upright to drink.

Lyn closed his mouth while slightly turning his face away, spilling water down his chin. Noah deactivated his ability, causing the earthen cup to crumble into dust. He placed his hands under Lyn's back to once again pick him up in the cradle position. Activating his [Six Spirit Arms] to navigate the woods.

I don't need to be so reckless anymore. Lyn's condition has stabilized. I have the time to travel more cautiously now. I can see the beam of light through the trees. I'm not far away.

Noah waded upstream through the creek. Using the water as a path out of reach of the dangerous, sentient vegetation. The prismatic beam of light was directly ahead of him. Lyn's condition had improved, but he was still comatose, and it didn't look like he would wake up anytime soon. Noah increased his pace when he saw the edge of the woods ahead.

He stood in place in the knee-deep water to examine the change in scenery as he entered the village. Ruined houses lined the creek on a slope upward. Vegetation had overgrown the sturdy walls that had survived the Arrival and remained standing. The plants shimmered in various colours as the breeze travelled through the wreckage. The prismatic entrance to the Store was on the opposite side of the village. Noah would need to navigate the ruins to get there. He began to walk while cradling Lyn's small unconscious body.

***

"Baaa!"

Noah jolted from his daydreaming after hearing the nearby cry of a sheep. He stopped walking to investigate. Looking either side of him, he couldn't find the source of the call, so he resumed walking. Another baa sounded behind him. Noah turned to see an extremely woolly sheep standing right behind him, close enough to touch. Its fluffy wool was matted with mud. It was looking up at him docilely as it let out another cry.

"Baaaa!"

"What do you want, sheep?" Noah asked the animal.

The sheep seemed to understand him as it began to trot off in another direction from the prismatic beam from the sky. It turned to expectantly wait for Noah to follow. It looked upstream past him. Yellow-lifeforce began to illuminate the sheep's overgrown wool. Electricity started to arc outward and through the thick fleece, giving the sheep an appearance similar to a storm cloud. He became alert while activating his [Six Spirit Arms] as he tried to detect any hostility from the creature.

The sheep ignored Noah as it fled the way it had been attempting to lead him. He turned to look behind himself. What he saw caused him to begin chasing after the fleeing sheep urgently. Behind him, there was a swarm of creatures that Noah assumed to be the 'hell-hounds' Lyn spoke of, mixed with a handful of humanoid soulless. The hell-hounds varied in size with their grades but were uniformly pale and utterly hairless. Their facial features were fierce and aggressive, nothing even remotely similar to the meek sheep he had just met.

Noah suspected that the sheep had been trying to warn him of the horde ahead while he chased after it. He could hear crashing walls as the swarm of hell-hounds slammed recklessly into the ruined buildings in pursuit. Noah lost sight of the stormy-sheep as it rounded a bend in front of him. He paused as he arrived at a gravel crossroad. The sheep couldn't be seen in any direction. There was a shrill whistle from the top of a ruined rooftop nearby. Followed by the barking of a large dog getting closer.

He looked at the person standing above the crossroads. It was a girl of similar age to Lyn dressed in patched trousers and a thick woollen sweater. Another person joined the child, climbing onto the rickety rooftop. The figure was familiar to Noah. Their form was shrouded in layers of clothing while wearing a knitted cap and scarf to hide their appearance. They dropped a hand down from the rooftop, offering it for Noah to grab hold of to pull himself up. Noah was stunned into inaction while almost forgetting about Lyn in his arms as he looked at the unlikely appearance of his former companion, Josh.

"Noah, quickly take my hand! The horde is almost here. Grace will have to herd them past us!" Josh yelled.

Noah recognized the familiar deep and melodious voice as Josh, confirming his first impression. He wasted no time as he ignored Josh's offered hand while deactivating his [Six Spirit Arms] as he prepared to initiate another ability in its place. Noah quickly ran toward the wall at full speed while activating his [Earth Manipulation+2] ability.

An earthen ramp formed in front of him when it seemed like he would collide with the wall, leaving Josh stunned. Noah collapsed the ramp behind him as he reached the top. The group hid in time inside the broken roof as the horde arrived at the crossroads. Being led by an enormous sheepdog.