I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer

Descending the spiral hallway, Kurumi's bright red eyes gleamed as she gripped her twin pistols.

The underground marvel was even more dazzling than the flower-filled garden above the desolate world. The vast hall beneath was pristine and mirror-like, with the floor glowing faintly with a soft blue hue.

Underfoot, the ground shone translucent and crystal clear, spreading out like a serene sky.

As with the flower-strewn surface, this underground chamber blessed by the Forest God radiated an air of elegant tranquility. The central hall featured multiple entwined pillars etched with petal-like, crimson divine patterns.

These patterns weren't limited to the central area. The entire space was adorned with them, glowing and dimming rhythmically like breathing. Even though Kurumi lacked the capacity to sense the "Spirit Corridors," she could instinctively feel the immense power confined within this underground chamber.

"...A total of 186 pillars."

Schwi analyzed the hall, her scanners running incessantly. "All of them bear the protective engravings of a Godling—the God of Forest Kainath."

Yet, Schwi frowned, showing visible confusion.

"~Nya... these are not protective engravings."

"There is no record of such engravings in the database."

"Probably some experimental technique," Kurumi speculated, walking toward the central twisted pillars. Her deep red eyes glimmered like wine, momentarily catching her reflection in the floor. She paused, grateful that she hadn't worn a skirt.

"Schwi, come check this out," Kurumi gestured to the floral script-like text near the base of the central, twisted pillars.

"'Spirit-Breaking Rites: Void Zero Protection'... an unknown technique..." Schwi read aloud before pointing to the final line.

"~Nya... there's a name—Nina Clive."

"She was a peerless genius among the Elves, achieving the status of a Sixth-Tier Magic User at the age of a hundred." Schwi relayed the information from her database.

Kurumi nodded thoughtfully, pretending to understand. It sounded impressive, at least.

Meanwhile, a buxom figure reclined gracefully on the Throne of Runes, her mind pondering the recent disturbance.

The ruins of the Elven capital were a place of bloody humiliation for their kind. A petty dispute—"causing the great Jibril to crash and bump her head"—had led to the horror of a Heavenly Smite being unleashed by the fearsome Flügel.

Despite the sacrifice of three thousand Fourth-Tier Elves linking their spirits through the "Spirit Corridors," they had failed to withstand the catastrophic strike. The capital was obliterated in an instant, their arcane knowledge plundered wholesale, leaving their magical advancements set back by over a thousand years.

Yet now, someone dared to trespass.

The ruins were believed barren of anything worth investigating, except... for the First Prototype Reactor.

Closing her eyes, the voluptuous woman wove intricate, multilayered spells into existence. These spells surpassed the capabilities of any Sixth-Tier Magic User, yet for her, Think Nirvalen, they were effortless.

The strongest—an Eighth-Tier Magic User.

Back in the underground chamber—

The scarlet divine patterns flared abruptly, filling Kurumi with sharp vigilance. Her gaze darted upward.

Atop the twisted central columns rested an orb, both gnarled like woven roots and lush like a ripened fruit. It emitted a deep crimson glow.

A bright green magical circle unfurled across the ceiling, illuminating the space. Golden, lance-like projectiles began descending in a steady stream.

Kurumi's sharp eyes locked onto the orb at the column's center, her instincts prickling with awareness. Schwi stepped protectively in front of her.

"Careful, Onee-sama!"

Schwi raised her hands toward the expanding green magic circle above.

[Deploy!]

—"Passage Regulation"—

Blue concentric magic arrays spiraled from Schwi's hands, each layer intricately carved. The defensive weaponry of the Ex-Machina was adept at countering all forms of energy.

A torrent of golden lances rained down like a solid wall, embedding themselves into the mirrored floor. Schwi's circular array absorbed the attack, her palms trembling from the impact. Without hesitation, she redirected the attack.

The golden deluge of energy shot back toward the twisted column, striking with precision.

However, the foe directing the assault—Think Nirvalen—was already fully immersed in the battle.

The divine patterns on the columns pulsed brighter, transforming as if alive. Spirits responded to her will, weaving and unfurling like banners caught in an invisible wind.

Kurumi could not perceive these spirits due to her lack of "Spirit Corridors." To her, only radiant, chaotic bursts of light were visible as the mirrored floor beneath fractured further.

Ignoring the spectacle, Kurumi walked unhurriedly toward the central columns, her pace steady. The defiant aura of the central twisted pillar loomed ominously.

She calmly reloaded her golden hand cannon, the chamber falling eerily silent as all divine patterns dimmed.

With the ominous silence, a terrifying power was unleashed.

A radiant arc, crescent-shaped like a sliver of the moon, materialized. It spanned the room, so potent it seemed to cleave reality itself.

Even though Kurumi couldn't see the blade, she felt the sharp winds stirred by its edge.

"Onee-sama!" Schwi's urgent cry echoed as she launched toward Kurumi. Blue flames erupted around her as she activated her full combat gear.

But Kurumi remained composed, running her fingers over the radiant hand cannon in her grasp.

Together, they entered a state of incorporeal invulnerability.

—The Golden Invincibility Hand Cannon—

The blade swept past Kurumi and Schwi but failed to cause even the slightest harm.

Even an invincibility that lasts for just two seconds is already an overwhelmingly broken existence.

In the midst of her charge, Schwi extended her hand in surprise, her translucent fingers revealing the scenery behind her.

For the mechanical Schwi, even this unprecedented, unexplainable magic was a first. Indeed, following this enigmatic visitor from another world had been the right decision.

All the power granted by Kainath's divine blessings, along with the magic, seemed to have been completely drained by that strike.

The entire hall was neatly split in two. The crimson divine rune pillars lost their radiance, plunging the room into darkness.

Far away at the Elven stronghold, a weary genius spellcaster opened her eyes. Activating the remnants of the protective wards over such a great distance was already her limit. Exhausted, she dozed off on her spellbook throne. In the last moments before sleep claimed her, her gaze lingered on a certain audacious smile and the lifeless golden clock-like iris.

Tap, tap.

Schwi landed on the ground, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

Before she could recover, she saw a pair of hands reach out. Kurumi lifted Schwi by her underarms, raising her high in the air. Schwi did not resist. Her ruby-red eyes stared blankly at Kurumi. The porcelain-delicate skin, flawless and divine, seemed sculpted by the gods themselves.

A peculiar feeling rose within Schwi—a sensation she would later come to know as "admiration."

But then she paused, questioning herself. Since when had she begun to feel emotions? After all, wasn't emotion the very thing she was still attempting to comprehend?

And yet, what exactly was this "admiration"?

A flurry of unknown error messages filled Schwi's vision, but by now, she had grown used to them.

Darkness or light made no difference to her mechanical senses. Staring at Kurumi's smiling face, Schwi quietly saved this moment into a personal storage space—a file she had no intention of uploading to the network, even if she ever reconnected to the Collective (Cluster).

This memory was Schwi's alone, she decided. Dismissing the error alerts, she lay docilely in Kurumi's arms.

Kurumi gently cradled Schwi, placing her hand over Schwi's power core. Schwi shivered slightly, her gem-like eyes shimmering.

There was undoubtedly more to Kainath's divine blessings than met the eye. However, with all the magic drained and the central system—the divine rune pillars—now stored away in Kurumi's inventory, it would take considerable time to analyze their purpose.

Kurumi's interest was piqued by the spell "Spirit-Breaking Rites: Void Zero Protection." After all, who wouldn't find such a long, extravagant name appealing?

As her gaze fell upon the hall's remaining divine rune pillars, Kurumi acted decisively. She stored all 186 rune pillars into her inventory, leaving the hall utterly bare.

Was it a space transfer ability, similar to the Flügel's [Spatial Shift]? Schwi speculated silently, choosing not to voice her thoughts. She remained as obedient as ever.

The path back to the surface had been sealed shut by a heavy stone door. With the magic depleted and the central pillars removed, there was no way for the door to open automatically.

Thus, Schwi embraced her role as a mechanical being. With no effort at all, she hoisted the half-meter-thick stone slab and set it aside.

Before they could exit the underground library, the "Death Storm" outside came into view.

A terrifying vortex of blue-black wind engulfed the land. Even a corner of the storm was enough to obscure the entire ruins of the Elven capital.

Low-lying vegetation, trapped beasts...

Anything susceptible to the "Black Ash" was obliterated in an instant.

Death Storm—a massive cyclone resulting from the sudden influx of Black Ash interacting with abnormal atmospheric flows.

According to Couronne and Rick, this phenomenon was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the wastelands.

Moreover, this particular storm was unusually massive, its scale far beyond the ordinary.

Caught in such a storm, even the smallest spiritual fragment could pierce protective barriers, causing fatal contamination.

While they could attempt to rush through, it seemed wiser to wait it out.

After all, these storms were quick to come and go—sometimes lasting only minutes, rarely exceeding a day.

Kurumi leaned against the corridor leading to the surface, gazing at the swirling blue-black world outside. In her arms lay something soft and cool—definitely not warm, yet tender nonetheless.

Divine Armament materials are truly extraordinary.

Schwi's long-range sensors were rendered useless by the thick layers of "Black Ash."

She nestled quietly in Kurumi's embrace, listening as Kurumi recounted stories of another world. Each tale was recorded meticulously in Schwi's memory.

Stories like the one about a little girl selling nukes in a faraway Heaven realm... (Dungeon & Fighter)

That timid, almost animal-like expression paired with her bright, sparkling eyes always made Kurumi wonder: Was this really a machine? Could she truly lack a heart?

In the howling winds of the storm, the two enjoyed a rare moment of tranquility.

Perhaps hours passed, and the storm finally subsided.

Kurumi took Schwi's hand as they stepped out of the ruins. She couldn't help but remark, "It's almost like we just survived winter."

"~Nya...?"

Schwi tilted her head. "It has been exactly 18,751 seconds since we entered."

"Furthermore, this is not winter," Schwi added seriously.

"According to previous seasonal calculations, it should currently be summer."

Kurumi burst into laughter, stroking Schwi's little head.

"Schwi, there's still so much for you to learn—like how to joke around."

Thanks to Kainath's divine blessings, the ruins had once again burst into vibrant bloom, as though untouched by the devastating storm.

Gods are truly bizarre creatures, Kurumi mused. They ravage the world into a hellscape but strive to turn their own domains into paradise.

Colorful petals swirled through the air, their beauty striking against the blood-red moon that hung heavy in the sky.

"Beautiful," Kurumi praised.

"Yet, far too quiet."

Quiet enough to feel unsettling.

Kurumi raised her hand high, reaching toward the faintly red moonlight streaming through the clouds.

The wide sleeve of her cloak slid down, revealing a slender arm. She gazed at the frigid sky, watching as a piece of "Black Ash" drifted toward her.

Then... orange flames of cold death ignited.

—Death Revolver.

The black ash formed from spiritual remnants melted away as if snowflakes had fallen onto a roaring fire.

"~Nya... Onee-sama..." Schwi clutched at Kurumi's sleeve nervously. "Detecting high-energy spiritual activity... detecting numerous biological signatures."

Among the Fifteen Intellectual Races, only individuals from the top six tiers were referred to as "lifeforms," while those from the lower nine tiers were merely labeled as "creatures."

And those appearing in the ruins of this former capital... were undoubtedly the Tier 7 Forest Elves.

"Ah, ah, I know." Kurumi lowered her arm, her black sleeve cascading down. Along with it fell the two deadly revolver-blades she had been holding.

Her slightly disheveled bangs playfully concealed her inorganic golden left eye. Kurumi scanned the surroundings—they were surrounded.

One by one, silhouettes emerged from the crisscrossing ruins. Each possessed strikingly flawless and radiant beauty, their forms graceful and alluring, dressed in the distinct magical attire of the Elves.

Upon detecting a surge of spiritual activity in the ruins, Nina had hurriedly assembled a contingent of magic users to investigate.

Kurumi couldn't help but admit that the elves of this world had the best figures among all the long-eared races she had encountered. Every single one of them flaunted a perfectly prominent southern hemisphere, their dazzlingly delicate skin almost blinding to look at.

"Threefold magicians: forty-two... Fourfold magicians: sixteen... Fivefold magicians: five..." Schwi scanned the scene swiftly, reporting to Kurumi.

"And... one sixfold magician."

Even without Schwi's report, Kurumi had already noticed her—the youthful "girl" standing atop the highest remnant of a columned structure.

Hmm... a rare flat-chested Elf.

"That's Nina Clive, an unparalleled genius who graduated from the Elves' most prestigious academy, The Garden."

Schwi quickly cross-referenced the girl's information. Regarding the Elves, one of the three dominant forces in this war, the Machine Species' database contained an extensive amount of data.

"Well, well, so who dares trespass on the ruins of our capital?" Nina sneered mockingly. "Turns out, it's just a piece of junk metal... and... a monkey lady?"

"...Huh???" Kurumi froze, her smirk stiffening instantly.

"Ara, Ara. Miss Flat-Chested Elf," Kurumi clasped her hands behind her back, adopting a demure posture. Her smile radiated an unsettling warmth.

"Pardon me, but I might not have heard you clearly just now. Could you repeat that?"

"Hah?" Nina remained oblivious to the gravity of the situation and continued her mockery. "What else would one expect from a monkey? Dull-witted and hard of hearing."

"Heh... Aren't you something special?" Kurumi's dazzling smile spread across her face.

Had someone like Lilianna or an unnamed witness been present, they would've understood immediately: someone was about to have a very bad day.

The pitch-black barrel of Kurumi's gun aimed squarely at the soul stone embedded in Nina's forehead.

The Elves recognized this weapon. Such items were often toys crafted by the Dwarves for their amusement.

"So, those dirt-eating potatoes have fallen so far that they're sending monkeys as their cannon fodder now?"

Nina spread her arms wide, and a brilliant green magic array unfolded around her. At the same time, the other sixty-three Elves activated their own arrays. Their interconnected patterns formed a dazzling, radiant spectacle.

Of all beings, the Elves loathed none more than those dirt-munching dwarves. There was no close second.

Bang—

Kurumi pulled the trigger.

—Deadly Shot.

The golden bullet tore through the air, spinning fiercely as it shot toward Nina. Its speed was astonishing. Even with the blessings of Forest Seals, the physically fragile Elves would struggle to evade it.

Petal-shaped green magic arrays layered themselves before Nina, stacking six deep. A sixfold magician could simultaneously deploy six magic arrays.

Crack-crack-crack-crack—

A series of shattering noises, like breaking glass, rang out. The green barriers were obliterated one after another by the bullet's force, fragments scattering like shards of glass. Only the final layer managed to withstand the assault.

The bullet embedded itself halfway into the final barrier, sending cold sweat streaming down Nina's face.

It was important to note that this sixfold defense wasn't conjured by Nina alone. The magic squadron employed a group-based system to coordinate and enhance large-scale magic. These six layers combined the collective power of thirty percent of the sixty-four magicians present.

Yet, the defenses were nearly annihilated.

The most perplexing part? Nina couldn't detect even a trace of magic.

The Elves were the most adept magic users among the Intellectual Races. There was no magic they couldn't perceive.

The only explanation left was that this hairless monkey had indeed used no magic at all.

"Who... What are you?!" Nina demanded in shocked alarm.

"Hah?" Kurumi casually wiped her revolver-blade clean.

"A wandering gunslinger passing through. Remember that."

Before the words had fully left her lips, Kurumi became a blur of black wind, slashing toward Nina with gleeful abandon. Her crimson eye brimmed with unrestrained intensity.

Kurumi gripped the short blade at the end of her gun's chain, swinging the weapon like a meteor hammer straight at Nina, arcing in a perfect crescent.

Her aim was precise. The blade was poised to strike Nina's soul stone.

The Elves' soul stones were precious treasures forged through their innate power, objects the Dwarves had long coveted as rare minerals. This unresolvable conflict was one of the primary reasons for their bitter enmity.

She's going to kill me...

Nina stared at the approaching "meteor hammer" of death, its fiery glow searing into her vision. In a last-ditch effort, she slammed her spell array into the ground, an action mirrored by the other magicians.

—Polarity Reversal—

Gravity... inverted.

Kurumi felt a momentary disorientation as her body shot upward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.

Realizing the dire situation, Schwi unfolded her blade-like wings and soared into the air after Kurumi.

Nina trembled, placing her shaky right hand over her face. Warmth greeted her fingertips.

...Blood. It was blood.

If she had been a second slower, she would have died.

Nina recognized this harsh truth. This wasn't a combat simulation back at The Garden.

Her expression turned grim as she stared at the rapidly shrinking black dots in the sky. She shouted at the top of her lungs:

"Everyone... Prepare for a full spiritual assault!"

—Spiritual Disruption Formation: Initial Deployment—

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven