Return of the Mythic Bloodline

"You said something, runt?" Diego demanded, moving closer.

My head barely reached his chest. He, along with his whole group, was nearly as tall as Jambavan. Not to mention, their huge bodies were even bigger than his.

"Diego, this is his first day. I'll explain the rules to him, so don't get furious," the middle-aged man from before blurted out.

"William, who told you to butt in?" Diego shouted. "I was only gonna take fifty percent of his stones, but now I'm gonna take—"

"Move back, fatso, your body stinks," I sneered, covering my nose. "Didn't anyone tell you not to invade someone's personal space when you smell like shit?"

"Brat, are you tired of living—"

Bam...

Before he could finish his sentence, a whacking punch slammed into his belly button. His massive body was instantly hurled several feet into the air and crashed against the opposite wall.

In the next three seconds, four more booming sounds echoed, followed by another four bodies flying past and crashing beside Diego before falling on top of each other.

"Glug-hkk," Diego coughed blood, clutching his stomach as he lay on the ground.

I walked toward the group as all the slaves gathered and began murmuring in disbelief.

"H-he sent Diego and his gang flying with just one punch!" one of them gasped.

"Where did this young man come from?" another exclaimed.

"Hmph! They were idiots daring to mess with Sir Morning Star," Silvia scoffed.

"Exactly!" Aris added.

Climbing on top of his lackeys' bodies, I grabbed Diego by the throat with one hand and lifted him into the air.

"How much of my stones do you want?" I asked.

"Fff... fforg..." he stammered, gasping for breath.

"I can't understand what you're saying."

"Ffff-forgive... me... pl-please..."

I gazed at him for a few seconds, then loosened my grip and let his body hit the ground. "Follow me."

I turned back to the place I was mining as if nothing had happened.

"Edrick, how many soul stones have you mined?" I asked loudly.

"I have mined two hundred kilograms, Sir Morning Star," Edrick immediately responded in a firm voice, as if he were speaking to an army general.

"You have to collect thirteen hundred kilograms, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Mine eight hundred. Diego's group will gather the remaining five hundred."

"B-but sir..." Edrick flinched at my sudden command.

"It's an order. Besides, Diego's group is dying to help you. Isn't that right, Diego?" I asked with a warm smile, tapping Diego's shoulder.

"Y-yes, Sir Morning Star," he blurted, trembling in fear. "W-we are willing to help."

"Well then, why are you still standing? Get moving."

Diego and his group immediately ran back to their positions and began mining even more intensely, as if their lives depended on it. Well, they actually did.

"Di-did Diego just follow that young man's order!?" A collective gasp rippled through the slaves.

"How did they manage to catch someone so strong?"

"Hey, don't look into his crimson eyes. He seems like a drunkard. What if he targets us next?"

I didn't care one bit about what they murmured about me, but hearing their words, I realized one thing: I still appear as a drunkard to these people, which means Ume's spell is still active.

"Now that I think about it, I wonder what she's doing right now." I murmured inwardly.

"Sir, why are you helping me so much?" Edrick asked in a low tone, pulling me back to reality.

"I'm not helping you. I just wanted to teach those piggies a lesson."

Edrick was already seriously wounded by the kidnappers. Forget about working — it was a miracle he hadn't lost consciousness yet. The care for his wife and unborn child was the only thing driving him this far. However, the human body still has its limits. It wasn't possible for him to mine that many stones with a half-dead body. So, it was just a small gesture from my side for this young man.

As I turned forward, Edrick announced with a ninety-degree bow, "One day, I will definitely return this favor, Sir Morning Star."

I chuckled and shifted my focus back to the stones.

"Whoa, I've already mined over a thousand kilograms," I gasped before announcing, "Let's do some more."

I grabbed the hammer and began smashing the crystals again.

---

"Hehe~ since the work is done, let's read the paper Vyaghra gave me."

I took out the paper from my inventory and spent the next five minutes reading it.

"What the actual fuck is written here!?" I muttered. "Even if I ignore this poor excuse of handwriting, the dialect is all over the place. This was definitely written by Jambavan."

I sighed and folded the paper.

"Vivi, summarize the content written on the paper."

"Analysing the paper..."

"Summarizing the information that the host currently does not possess..."

"Content summarized."

"The mines of Forlorn City contain three levels of Low-Tier Soul Stones:

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Normal slaves are sent to settlements where mines only contain Grade 3 Soul Stones, while Awakeners, depending on their realm, are sent to places containing Grade 1 or 2.

Jambavan is currently in the settlement of Grade 1 Soul Stones, where he is gathering allies.

Raj must stay in the Grade 3 mining area and try to find out the location of the leader who has control over all the mines. He might find some clues in Mine Number 10, which is currently shut down.

Vyaghra should move to the Grade 2 area and investigate the surge of Death Energy.

At the end of the first week, everyone will meet in Raj's settlement for further discussion."

"My place? When did I agree to that? And they planned this far ahead, assuming I'd come here? At this point, aren't they just taking advantage of my innocence?" I sighed sarcastically.

I put the mined stones into my space ring, slept for a few hours, and came outside after spending fifteen hours in the mine.

"Hmm, you also returned," the watchman said, sitting outside the entrance on a chair. "Have you completed your assigned task?"

Without bothering to reply, I took out the mountain of soul stones I had mined from my space ring before him—exactly eight hundred kilograms.

"Where can I get the food?" I asked plainly.

"Haha, since you've completed the task, it's only fair that I give you the food." He drew a medium-sized wrapped pouch from his space ring and extended it toward me.

Just as I was about to grab it, he suddenly pulled his hand back and asked, "Are you aware that the punishment for stealing soul stones is instant death?"

"Is that so?" I replied calmly. "But what does that have to do with me?"

Suddenly, his expression turned serious, his voice cold and low as he ordered,

"Hand me your space ring."