I wake up on a familiarly comfortable bed and habitually look towards the bedside table for the clock, but I don’t find one, nor do I find my phone. I get up and look around, right, this isn’t my home.

The bed being that way must have been Gaia’s work. It also seems my clothes have changed, to something I’m more used to wearing, which aren’t loose robes flowing in the wind like I had been wearing the whole day yesterday.

Ignoring that, I look towards the time displayed in the system. 9:30 am. Somehow, I woke up even later than last time.

Quest added.

Personal Quest.

While it’s acceptable to sleep in a little late if you were tired the previous night, it shouldn’t become a habit. Wake up earlier than 8 am next time.

Thanks for rubbing it in.

I realize I still don’t have a perfect idea of what constitutes a quest.

Very descriptive.

I’m alone on the bed of course.

I look around the room, and underneath the bed too just in case. Yup, alone definitely.

I try to remember about my current situation. A clear goal and a clear path to that goal is key. I need to get back to my world and Gaia says the only way to do that is to complete what she called me here for.

For that I’ll have to go to the ‘Forest of Twilight’ as they called it, to the north. Okay. Now to recall yesterday. I met with the priestess who told me about cultivation and I need to be of certain realm of strength for them to allow me to go there.

I then sparred a bit in the training field, chose a weapon, competed with a person using said weapon, went to the sect gardens and met with an alchemist, then came back and played Go with the priestess for practically the whole day, it was quite the battle, like a tournament level match. Ate dinner with the priestess which also happens to be the only meal I ate that day, and spent the night with Lena.

Though it’s odd that I don’t remember what I ate for dinner.

I suppose you’re right… But it’s still a bit odd that I forgot my first meal in this place.

So, in retrospect, quite a lot of unnecessary actions that I didn’t exactly have to do. But they did help in my current aim to gain strength so not all wasted time I suppose.

I slowly get up and walk towards the dresser in the room. The mirror is quite big, enough for me to see my whole reflection even while standing up.

Pale skin and long, platinum hair and a purple nightgown. It’s still like a traditional dress, but slightly more form fitting and comfortable to move in. Rather than a nightgown it looks quite good for any purpose.

Fine.

I open the system and check my own stats, to record my progress in a way.

Gray Valentine

Level 25

Movement speed. 110%

Health Points. 500

Equip points. (10/25)

Equipped weapons. None

Equipped clothes. Nightgown (cost 10)

Gaia’s personally created nightgown, just for Gray. In a purple color that gives off a royal aura.

HP +250.

Ranged resistance +5%

Movement speed +10%

Equipped skills. None

Innate abilities.

Otherworldly Charm

Ruler of Plants

Gaia’s Chosen One

…Show Details…

What is this…? It seems quite different from what it was before.

Yeah, I felt no different yesterday even after my level increased and my apparent strength should have increased, I thought that was how it was supposed to be.

Okay, so explain this new system then.

Too lazy to help I see.

Self/Equip

Storage

Quests

Items Store

The Hints option is also gone now.

By my understanding of it, strength now seems dependent on the equipment itself rather than on physical stats. It makes a bit more sense I suppose since my physical strength didn’t change at all previously either.

I open up the storage, it works similar to before, and take out the crossbow.

Weapon equipped.

Equip points. (15/25)

Equipped weapons (1 of 2). Black Iron Crossbow (cost 5)

A rare, fully made of black iron, crossbow.

Dmg 300

5% chance to penetrate target and hit another target at the back.

Equipped clothes (1 of 1). Nightgown (cost 10)

Gaia’s personally created nightgown, just for Gray. In a purple color that gives off a royal aura.

HP +250.

Ranged resistance +5%

Movement speed +10%

Equipped skills (0 of 3). None

…Show Details…

Huh, I thought the crossbow itself was quite good, but the cost of the clothes is higher, could it be special?

Got it.

It could also be that generally clothes have a higher equip cost, since I could only wear one. Or maybe since it’s telling me that right now in the future I could equip more.

Well, I don’t have many items to equip right now so I don’t need to think too much into it.

I put away the crossbow.

Weapon unequipped.

Enough for now. I head outside the room and towards the meeting hall, to find the priestess. She told me yesterday to meet her this morning so that she can tell me about cultivation. Even if it isn’t of much use to me, I should still honor the promise.

I knock on the door as I reach that room. Wait, do they even knock here?

The priestess herself opens the door and invites me inside. As we sit on the mats, she starts,

“Good to see that you’re doing well, Gray. I was a bit worried.”

“Worried about what?”

“Oh, it’s fine now. It must have just been me imagining things.”

“Okay…”

Hey, Gaia, something about her behavior just then felt off.

I suppose so.

“Right, I was going to teach you about cultivation-”

She continues on with a detailed explanation which I don’t really listen to.

“Animals can cultivate too, they’re called demonic beasts if they do.”

Huh, they can? Also, isn’t it quite judging to think all of them as demonic and having evil tendencies?

She continues about how I should cultivate, and takes out a book of sorts, and points to it.

“The best cultivation method for our sect is written down in this book. Be careful that you don’t lose it since it’s one of the only remaining copies and only the upper echelons of the sect are allowed to learn it. Also, don’t cultivate for more than 3 hours a day, otherwise you might be mentally fatigued and unable to do anything for the rest of the day.”

That explains why people won’t just stay at their home and cultivate every second of their time.

I suppose that would be a reason too.

She hands that book over to me.

Item acquired.

Type: Weapon (Throwing) / Skill

Exploding Cultivation Book (cost 5)

The best cultivation book in all of Exploding Heavens Sect.

Can be thrown once per battle, hitting the enemy in the face, causing him to be confused for 5 seconds.

Dmg 10

If used as a skill: Heavens Book (cost 12)

Once per day allows you to fly for 20 seconds.

Really? Hit the enemy in the face with a book? Couldn’t you have come up with something better?

I let out a sigh.

Weapon equipped.

The ability to fly is nice and useful but I can’t equip it that way since I lack the equip points for that.

“Head towards the forest, Gray. Lena should be waiting around there for you. You should assist her in her task.”

“Sure.”

I get up and walk outside the room. Might as well go towards the forest since I don’t have anything else to do.

Great idea.

I head towards the front exit of the temple. While skimming through the cultivation book that she gave. No reason for me to not read it.

It explains how this form of energy called qi is omnipresent in this world and how you can feel it if you concentrate. This qi is used to temper the mortal bodies and make them stronger. They can also use some spells by conducting the qi through their bodies, but those spells aren’t detailed here. But I can’t at all feel this qi that is written with so much detail here.

I’m a selfish person I know. Also, what does that have to do with qi at all?

Then why bring it up?!

As we were talking, I reach the sect gardens. This is the only entrance to the forest that I know of so it’ll have to do. I walk inside without the guards obstructing me, they probably remembered me from earlier.

About that, why does no one seem bothered with it? Shouldn’t it be some kind of anomality as perceived by them?

I suppose so.

As I head towards the west, judging from the direction of the sun, I spot a slight clearing ahead.

Taking a closer look, there seems to be something present in the middle of that clearing, so I head towards it out of curiosity. The clearing also seems to be something done deliberately rather than a natural clearing in a forest.

As I reach closer and am able to take a closer look.

“It’s a stone sculpture of a-

-chicken?”

“Show some respect young man, I’m a phoenix not a mere chicken.”

A stone stature is talking to me?!

“Ah, you seem surprised. No wonder since it’s the first time us meeting.”

“So… Nice to meet you.” I say, calming down by somehow accepting the situation.

Yes, stones can talk. Nothing is wrong with me, it’s the world’s fault.

“I’m the sect’s guardian of the west. Since this part is in the middle of a forest, they cannot deploy guards here to just keep watch. That’s why I’m here. Anything passing through here must face me first.”

What would be a normal thing to ask a stone statue?

“Did a girl pass by here today?”

“Ah yes. Lena, I think she was. A very talented priestess from what I could tell. She even carried you inside the sect a while ago.”

“What? You know about that?” Of course he does, he just said that. But I still ask anyways since that is what he’s hinting me to say.

“Yes. I see everything that goes in and out of the sect.

That includes you, Gray. The savior of the sect.”

Well, okay then. My cue to leave. That statue can’t show expressions but I’m sure if it was able to, it’d have an expression I’d rather not see.

“I better get going else I lose her in the forest.”

“Okay, be sure to return before nightfall. It gets cold out there during the night. Wouldn’t want to be there without proper clothing.”

Before it could say something else, I already rush off towards the west. The forest on this side is visibly dense and there’s more wildlife here. Almost dense enough to make it hard to tell if it’s day or night.

Hmm, this feels familiar.

I walk around a bit, trying to get a clue on where the exact spot was.

I sense an odd feeling as if something’s watching me.

I know that once someone sees me it’s hard to take their eyes away. Still, I did feel like that.

Suddenly, something jumps out from a tree and lands in front of me.

“We meet again.” I hear a voice come through its mouth, somehow distinctly feminine.

This feels more natural to me than a talking statue but okay.

It’s not just a cat, rather, it’s a big cat. And now that I look closely I could say it’s more like a leopard than a jaguar. Leopards can climb trees after all. Since it said we met before then it might be that creature I saw that time, which I mistook for a jaguar.

“Nice to see you again. I’m Gray.” I introduce myself.

“You seem unperturbed… Regardless, I felt it earlier and now too that you are somehow related to us.”

“Related? How?”

“There’s a scent about you that feels very familiar.”

“Might just be a coincidence.”

“Maybe… Anyways, that’s not why I approached you.”

“Hmm?”

“I wanted to ask you for help.”

Help? Shouldn’t she be stronger than me?

I tried using inspect but it didn’t return much, the difference in strength was too high.

Selina ????

Level 50+ (Sky realm)

Race: Demonic leopard

Age: 30 years

No items equipped.

Can use skin to make items like clothes. Will increase movement and attack speed.

“How could I help?”

“The people from some sects are starting to hunt the animals, leading them to start their migration earlier. But now this sect too is starting to notice the movement of the animals and is starting to attack them.”

“So, you want me to explain to them that the animals mean no harm and would go away soon?”

“Yes.”

“But how am I supposed to do that?”

It’s not like they’ll believe me if I say I heard it from a cat.

“That… I do not know. You would have to think of something yourself.”

Well, I’ll have to plan something but alright.

“Of course, you don’t have to do it for no reason.” She(?) walks(?) slowly saunters towards me and opens her mouth wide, prompting me to look closer.

That’s not it.

There’s a… Necklace there?

She nods and then I extend my hand and reach inside her mouth to take out the silver necklace. While pulling my hand out I felt as if she licked me with her tongue.

Come on, am I actually made of chocolate or something but am just not aware of it?

Item acquired.

Type: Skill

Leopard’s Favor (cost 5)

Belongs to Selina, a sky realm demonic leopard.

This silver necklace is plain, but is full of Selina’s essence and care.

Usable 3 times per day.

When used, for 2 seconds, Movement and attack speed are increased by 500%

Why are you in a hurry?

Fine. I unlatch the necklace and then put it around my neck. I could still feel the warmth from it.

Maybe an illusion but I see a twinkle in that leopard’s eye. Something about the way she’s looking at me feels very odd.

Skill equipped.

“I’ll have to go now.”

“Ah. I’ll take good care of the necklace. Before you go, did you see a priestess girl somewhere nearby?”

“Yeah, I sensed some fighting earlier towards the north.” She points her paw towards the north direction. Somehow it seems very cute.

“Okay, Nice meeting you.” I start walking towards the way she pointed.

She jumps up a tree and then leaps from tree to tree and disappears off into the forest.

Come on. Inter-species too now? No way.

But how is this necklace special, when it seems plain?

I suppose so.

As I walk through the forest, I notice way more insects and critters wandering around. At least as compared to the part inside the sect. Seems like it was actually regulated a bit.

I hear some metallic sounds up ahead. So, I proceed a bit more cautiously.

There’s a pack of 3 wolves facing against a girl, rather, against Lena, who is wielding a saber and fighting against them. She seems to be in control of the situation, just that it’s taking some time to deal with them all. One wolf is already lying dead by the side.

First, those wolves have shiny metallic fur, so that seems to be the origin of the metal clashing against metal sound I’m hearing.

Second, just 4 wolves are slightly low for a pack.

Maybe… It is more likely me just overthinking it.

I stand behind a tree, a bit further away from the fight, not close enough for them to notice me, and pay attention to the fight.

Lena is using that saber quite proficiently. Though I’m not able to recognize the particular style, it seems to be working, at least against the wolves. They keep trying to circle her but she keeps moving constantly, preventing them from encircling her. They also pounce towards her from time to time but she evades or blocks it and counter attacks with another sword slash or a kick.

I’m not at all worried that she might lose. Though I would like to know why is she fighting them.

Wolves don’t generally attack for no reason. Nor are humans a particularly delicious or meaty prey, as far as I know, not much fat. And humans also fight back, so it’s definitely not an appetizing food.

I inspect Lena

Lena ????

Level 31 (Earth stage 2nd realm)

Race: Human (Female)

3 items equipped.

Plain iron saber. (cost 3)

Not a particularly good or remarkable saber, but it does the job.

Dmg 150

Priestess garb. (cost 8)

Clothing meant only for a priestess.

Element: Holy.

HP +200.

Priestess panties. (cost 15)

No explanation needed.

HP +400.

Attacks have a 5% chance to be imbued with holy element, and increase damage by 200.

…Show Details…

No.