“Redcoomshi.”

Sprawling out before the small group's eyes was a massive mountain. A.K. estimated the size to be easily twice the size of Mount Everest from the earth. A red glow basked the entire carven with its source as the volcano. A.K. observed the cavern and the volcano. Massive stalagmites were hanging from the ceiling and holes dotted the top alongside them. Most likely to let fresh air in and smoke out. A.K. gazed in amazement at the entirety of it. The volcano was surrounded by what looked like a stone forest and to the right of the magma flow lay a city.

A.K. only recognized it as such because of the massive walls that surrounded it and he also noticed no stalagmites were above it. In the far distance, he could recognize several roads leading to the city. Shouldering his backpack he grabbed Ryna’s hand before she could wander off and set his destination as the city.

…(2 years ago)

Vasu Kan sat down at his desk with a heavy thump. The finest gifts his land had to offer were presented to appease his wife’s anger and boy was she angry. Vasu had evacuated the castle before he told her. That was the last day for the thousand-year-old castle to exist. His son Aegeus Kan was currently lost and his wife wiped out his family home in a fit of anger. Fortunately, the most important murals had been removed beforehand. Vasu had planned well but not well enjoy as the reverberations of power hit the citizens of Ashburn causing massive panic. It had taken everything he had to suppress his wife from wiping the city off the face of Gaia. Everything and more as his most trusted guards had risen to help him. Rank 14 and 17 beings trying to hold a rank 18 crazy but it happened. Crazy but it happened.

Vasu didn’t know what he’d tell his father once he saw him.

“Once Aegeus hits the rank 10 as a Low God the mantle should be passed on.”

Maybe he’d give him a few more years. The only reason Ashburn was still on the map is that Aegeus Guiding Orb had not gone out. Connected to his very soul once one passed on the orb would dim out. It didn’t change the fact that he lost his location. When Vasu learned a rogue necromancer managed to hit a low-level city and complete a blood sacrifice. Vasu was furious and when he learned the necromancer was asking about his son even more so. Power reverberated off of him that day. Causing earthquakes throughout the area. The Wall Guards thought an attack was imminent. Luckily Vasu managed to control himself before they acted.

Vasu sighed again.

His wife and children decided to go live with her family as their castle was being rebuilt even grander. They would now incorporate the Empire's latest advancements within. Magic technology had come a long way.

“If only they could crack how trains work,” Vasu grumbled.

The trains the gnomes developed could put you halfway across the Dukedom within a day.

Vasu sighed once again.

He put his head in his hands the tiredness showing on his face.

“I miss my wife,” he grumbled.

… (2 years ago)

“Concentrate,” Keala snapped.

Tara gave her a hurt look before returning to her circulation exercise. The 3 Kan siblings were all taught their mothers meditation and mana circulation exercises.

Keala noticing her hurt expression took a deep breath to regain her composure.

“I’m sorry,” she said to Tara and gave Akash a warning glare who was peeking his eyes open.

Since the news of her first son missing Keala had been agitated over the smallest of things. This was not healthy for her other children or her advancement. It would only be a matter of a few years before she advanced to rank 20. One fortuitous event or encounter and she would be there to move on where the real players of the game were.

It was just that the missing news of her firstborn upset her so much. There was just a special connection between them and she didn’t want anything too sever that connection. Her little shield had also held a special place in her heart and she fought her husband over every turn and avenue because of it. The boy was special the stars told her. It was one of the biggest reasons she married into the Kan family. The stars predicted that Aegeus Kan would alter the fate of the humans on their continent and she was inclined to believe. She returned her attention to her two other children. She would train them well. They needed the strength to protect themselves as well as their older brother. The times are changing.

The stars said so.

…

“Identification an reason for visitin.”

A.K. stared flabbergasted as the guard held out his hand for the item he requested. He quickly shuffled through the numerous items in his bag until he found his ID. Handing it over he told the guard that Ryna didn’t have one as the only thing that came with her through the teleportation gate was the items on her body.

“Reason of visitin? It’d be 10 gold pieces Empire currency for ye entry.”

“I'm here to take the trial of Redcoomshi and I don’t have gold but I do have a few items worth as much.”

The surroundings quieted down as A.K. spoke and people behind him heard that he wanted to take the trial. They had run into several caravans outside on the way to Redcoomshi as it was cheaper to teleport to surrounding cities and haul the goods here manually. The high fire mana density made it extremely expensive to teleport in and you needed an adept mage manning the teleportation formation or you could get a fiery death. A.K. took out a few pieces of black gold iron ore before bartering with the guard. The guard in question was a stout dwarf of around 172cm and was on the average size for dwarfs in this world. He took the rock and bit into it slowly munching the ore to pieces before swallowing.

“Move along an take ye friend to city hall for new identification.”

The first thing that hit A.K. as they enter the massive city was the heat. It was even hotter inside than outside the 20-meter walls. What hit A.K. next was the diversity. Dwarfs and elves were common on the surface so you wouldn’t be too surprise in seeing them while gnomes were rare outside of their cities. This place had all 4 races present and lively.

“Mister, mister, do ya need a guide?”

A small human kid grabbed onto A.K.s sleeve surprising him.

“Mister huh,” A.K. said quietly to himself

A.K. was now 12 years old so he did resemble a teenager. He hadn’t taken a good look at himself in a long time. Most days he spent just traveling forward or hunting by a water spot to gather food until his next stop. He had forgotten he was still growing. He was around 182cm now or 6ft. Almost surpassing his previous life height. The kid pulled on his sleeve again and A.K. returned his attention to the boy.

“What's your name kid?”

“Devon,” he said rubbing his nose shyly.

A.K. bent down and patted the kid's head. Devon was around the height of a 7-year-old kid and looked the part as well. He was a dark skin boy with greenish-black hair and eyes. His head and most of his face were covered by long curls. A.K. had mostly gotten used to all the anime-looking characters in this world and wasn’t too surprised by the kid's exotic look.

“Well, Devon I don’t have any money.” The kid's face darkens at this point.

“But I do have plenty of materials to sell. I’ll tell you what. You point me in the right directions to sell my materials and I give you a gold piece.”

At those words, Devon's eyes lit up and he nodded his head excitedly.

“Ok mister! Where do ya want to go first?”

“Big Brother Aegeus can we get food pleeeeeaaase.”

Ryna spoke up giving him puppy dog eyes and A.K. found it had to resist.

Turning to Devon the kid gave him a sly grin before beaconing him forward.

After a few twists and turns, they ended up in front of a store named ‘Gwen's Gwentravagant Shop of Supplies’.

“Wow,” was the first and only thing A.K. could say and Ryna eyes went as round as saucers.

A.K. felt like he was back on earth as the shop had hot pink neon lights for the store name and would flash occasionally. They were in front of a 3 story building that was completely hot pink.

“Anything ya need to sell Gwen's got ya, mister. She a thinkera or something.”

They proceeded to walk up to the doors which slid open on their own revealing an all pink inside as well. The small group walked up to the desk where a gnome with pink hair was napping and snoring quite loudly.

“Pssst, Gwen I brought ya customers. Pay up!”

The boy who thought he was whispering quiet enough to not catch A.K.'s attention was quite wrong. As a nearly rank 4 being A.K.s senses get enhanced each small realm and hearing/seeing things from a distance was no trouble.

He silently chuckled to himself before rapping the counter with his knuckles. This woke up the sleeping gnome abruptly and she sleepily glared at the small group but mainly A.K.

“CUSTOMERS!” Her eyes fully opened and she sat up with a jump.

“I’m Gwen of Gwen's Gwentravagant Shop of Supplies. We have anything you can think of and if we don’t have it you sure as hell bet we can get it.”

Gwen had a British accent and A.K. almost fainted from its cuteness. Finished with her spew she looked at the party expectantly. As she fully sat up A.K. studied her in detail. She was a shorty but A.K. wouldn’t be able to tell how short unless she stood up. Matching most of the items in the store Gwen had hot pink hair which came down to her waist. Her hot pink hair included her eyebrows and eyes. Her skin had a pink hue and seemed to slightly glow.

“We’re actually here to sell somethings we’ve collected from the Catacombs.”

A.K. spoke for both himself and Ryna as she found her fair share of things along the way.

The 15-year-old girl suddenly glared at him and a hand squeezed his.

“Aegeus Kan,” she said through gritted teeth.

Alarmed A.K. turned to her only to see the sparkling eyes again.

“I’m holding big sis back but I'm hungry and won’t be able to much longer,” Child Ryna said with a pout.

Still alarmed A.K. turned his attention back towards Gwen, who was staring at them with interest.

“Fascinating.” The gnome who was sitting moments ago was now standing on her chair and intently staring at Ryna.

“Her mind has gone through some sort of shift and created a new personality from suppressed memories.”

Gwen was now climbing over the counter moving closer to Ryna.

A.K. moved her behind him and glared suspiciously at the gnome.

“How?” That was all he asked.

“Nothing walks through Gwen Goofs entrance without being scanned.”

“Gwen Goof is the greatest thinkera alive,” Devon piped up.

“Tinkerer you little rascal, tinkerer.”

By now she was moving around A.K. who kept her in front of him as they moved around in a circle. A.K. refused to let anything happen to Ryna. She lost enough already.

“Look we just came to sell out product and go. We’re not looking for trouble.”

A.K. decided to changed tactics and slowly moved towards the entrance. The pink-haired gnome’s eyes also started to glow an ominous pink and she let out a giggle.

Devon was inching towards the entrance as well.

“When she gets like this. There's no stopping her until she thinkeras with whatever caused it. That's why everything is pink.”

A.K. bolted for the door grabbing Devon on the way as well.

A gnome let out a chant and the doors closed and what could only be described as blast doors came down sealing the store. A pink mist drifted out of various holes that had been uncovered in the pink ceiling.

“Did you think you could escape from a rank 8 tinkers laboratory?”

Was the last thing A.K. heard before his consciousness faded.