NOVEL NEXT B1 | Chapter 76 - The Crossing
Alexia
It only takes a few more hours before a loud rumbling reverberates throughout the island as the approaching island locks onto our island right next to our base through some sort of short bridge that extends out from both islands. A process I can’t help but wonder about. Specifically about if it’s entirely magic, a natural process somehow, or if there is some sort of technological mechanism guiding the bridges’ extension.
Regardless of how it works, it worked. And the island that connects to ours is very different. To the point that the connecting island, instead of being covered by jungle, is covered by hills and rather large lakes. It even has some visible mountains closer to the center of the island.
I can’t see the level 100 monster on it or where it might be located from here though, so I just say one last farewell to Astrid and begin crossing the bridge.
It’s unfortunate that the System is build purely to block any attempts at a higher leveled individual assisting a lower leveled individual in leveling. No one really knows how it works, just that if anyone tries to help a lower leveled individual, the amount of EXP that lower leveled individual gets is significantly cut short. To the point that if someone an entire Tier above helps you, then you won’t be getting any EXP at all.
If it weren’t for that then I would’ve tried power leveling Astrid, even if she would’ve been rather upset about it. Considering how independent we both are.
And if I tried staying behind to protect her from anyone who might mistake her at first glance for me, or recognize her as my sister, then all that would be doing is hurting us in the end. Because not only would it make her level a lot slower, but it would also pretty much stop my leveling, letting the other Legendary Feat holders grow a lot stronger than me over time.
So the best choice here is for us to hunt separately and meet back up periodically at the base.
It helps that Astrid also has a teleportation skill. And that she can move through shadows now that she is a shadowborne.
I glance over the side of the bridge as I reach the halfway point, looking down at the clouds below. Then I blink and stop mid-step at the sight of a massive serpentine dragon just barely leaving the line of clouds and then going back down into it while passing by a very far ways away from here. Just barely still in sight.
When I look back at the others, I find that they’ve all noticed it too. Or rather, Shelly saw it and pointed it out to the others before it went back beneath the clouds again.
That creature… I don’t know if it was a monster or not, but I think it might be safe to assume it was the Cataclysm Class monster for our Block. Because generally a dragon’s size is determined by its level, and I’ve never seen a serpentine dragon that large before. Meaning it’s most likely not of a species that’s public knowledge.
The only thing that really makes sense is if that’s the Cataclysm Class monster for our Block. Which also means we got lucky in that it’s going the opposite direction from us.
It also looks like no one identified it, so that’s good. Because if it’s really a monster at the level of a Class S species, then it might be able to sense an identify.
I can’t help but shiver at the thought of that thing getting closer. Although since I didn’t identify it I also don’t know its level. And for all I know, the thing could just be level one or something.
Best not to test fate.
That thing really doesn’t look like a Tier 1 creature at all.
I shake my head to remove thoughts of the giant dragon before I continue walking across the bridge, eventually making it to the island. Then I turn around and look back, finding Astrid looking at me and waving. So I wave in return, only to notice a dot moving in the air on the other side of their island. And when I narrow my eyes to look at the dot, I realize what it is.
That must be the hellfrost dragon. But why is he just flying through the air to a different island now, after another island has just docked?
The only detail about him that I can make out is his draconic wings, making it plain as day what he is. But I can’t make out his face from here, partially due to the distance and partially because he is facing the other way.
His wing and hair color make it obvious what he is though.
At least it means he really plans on leaving us alone, unless he’s just going to find other people to tell where me and Astrid are. But I doubt a dragon would do something like that. They’re too disassociated with non-dragons. So if he were to do something, he’d straight up kill Astrid and myself before moving on. He wouldn’t go blabbing to other people about where I am.
Not on purpose at least. There’s always the chance he might accidentally mention it.
Although there is one major problem with something like that.
How exactly would he tell someone where we are?
I glance around at the various islands I can see floating all around, there being about five in sight right now including the one I’m on. And each seems to be moving rather randomly and with no end to their movements.
So how exactly would someone keep track of each island and where they are?
A problem society is going to have to solve in the future, that’s for sure.
I purse my lips for a second before turning around and beginning to walk into the hills of the new island.
Time to look for that level 100 monster. And take its Shard of Authority.