Return of the Mythic Bloodline

"Ahm afraid we can't tell ya that," Jambavan said. "We've taken an oath."

"It's alright if you can't," I muttered, putting my sword in the belt. "I will find it myself."

"Judging by your words, I assume you are ready to move out," Vyaghra said, rising to his feet.

I smirked as I replied, "Never been more ready."

Meanwhile, Nymeria waved her hand, and the bonfire froze into cold ice. She then raised her other hand and murmured,

"Come, Frostbite."

A low metallic hum filled the air as her sword shot out from the treehouse, slicing through the air at blinding speed.

Nymeria grabbed it by the hilt and waved it downward, cutting the grass from the ground.

"Let's move," she spoke, taking graceful steps out of the Neutral Zone.

Did—did I just skip a heartbeat? That was totally awesome. I wondered if that sword of hers had another hidden shape… one that could turn into a hammer.

"Close yer mouth. Yer lookin' like a bumpkin," Jambavan chuckled, hitting my back lightly.

I immediately closed my mouth and sprinted outside, following Nymeria.

She and I moved in the middle, with Jambavan and Vyaghra flanking us on either side.

As we were about to speed up, Ruru blocked our way, standing in front of us.

"You can't come with us, Ruru. It's not safe," I spoke, softly touching her cheeks.

Ruru licked my face and gazed into my eyes.

"Oh! You want to drop us off at the entrance of the First Zone. We can do that. You guys don't mind that, right?"

"Oy, are ya makin' that up to get a free ride?" Jambavan said, his voice edged with annoyance.

"Why would I do that? Don't tell me even you can't understand what she wanted to say," I replied, slightly unsettled.

"How could anyone possibly make out that many words from a damn lick?"

"I already told you previously that you are the strange one to understand her that deeply," Nymeria said, joining in.

This was strange. Nymeria's failure to grasp it was logical because she didn't know Ruru as long as I did. But how could Jambavan and Vyaghra not understand her, even though they were the ones who had spent the most time with her?

"But what I'm saying is true," I said, then looked towards Ruru. "If you don't believe me, then ask her yourself."

Ruru responded with a nod, agreeing to my claims.

"That—that means he has the same power as—"

"Don't waste time on useless chatter," Vyaghra snapped, cutting off Jambavan mid-sentence.

Nymeria and I climbed onto Ruru, who immediately soared into the sky, closely followed by Jambavan and Vyaghra.

As we flew, I shouted over the wind, "How are you guys staying alive without food or water?"

"This forest is a blessing to all beasts, so as long as we stay here, we are supplied with infinite energy by nature," Vyaghra replied. "We only need a little rest to replenish ourselves."

"That explains your extreme tenacity," I responded, then, shifting my focus to Nymeria, I murmured into her ear,

"Don't use your Soulforce carelessly. Unlike them, we need Amrita water to restore our energy."

"Do not worry, I already know that," she replied. "And don't talk to me for the rest of the ride, I am preparing myself for battle."

"Got it, my lady."

Now that everyone's focus was ahead, it was time to check out the new ability I had received.

"Vivi, claim the reward from the previous quest."

"Initializing Host's request...

Congratulations!! You have obtained a new skill: Phantom Simulator

Phantom Simulator: After witnessing a skill, you can conjure a holographic replica to study its mechanics.

Would you like to learn it?

[Yes] [NO]"

Just by the description, this looked like a really OP skill. I could study any skill I had seen once. But there was a catch.

Studying didn't mean I could actually learn it. Each person in this world had a different kind of Soulforce, and they could use skills only by manipulating that particular nature. So, a person with a water attribute could not use flame skills even if they studied them.

However, there were other uses to studying it. I could find weaknesses in a skill and use them to my advantage.

"Vivi, I would like to learn it."

"Initialising host's request...

Sending all the information about the skill directly to the Host's brain..."

As my brain was suffering the torture of Vivi, we passed the Fourth Zone in an hour. It took another two hours to travel through the Third Zone before we entered the Second Zone.

The environment had become a lot better than before—no suffocating air, no purple hues, and the trees were returning to life.

"Wait a minute," Vyaghra said, climbing a nearby tree.

After reaching halfway up, he put his hand inside a hole in its bark and took out a box wrapped in old, tattered cloth.

He opened it and drew out two black, claw-shaped daggers—the same pair I had seen in the memories.

With a faint smirk on his face, he ordered,

"Let's go."

As we moved further, the surroundings once again began to change. A dense purple fog appeared, reducing our visibility. The trees were dead, and some of them were even half-broken. There was not a hint of grass on the ground. The fog started to twist into ominous, disfigured human figures shrieking at us.

"Ruru, that's enough—go back," I ordered, jumping off her, Nymeria following me.

Ruru slowed down, turned around, and moved back.

"What is this sinister fog?" I grumbled, swinging my hand through the figures.

"They're just illusions mixed in with the damned curse o' the forest," Jambavan replied.

"But didn't you say the Queen cannot use her illusion spells?"

"That should've been the case. But Ah'm not sure no more."

"You know that's not very convincing."

"Nothing's going to change by complaining about it," Vyaghra said, moving ahead.

As we advanced, the figures began screaming:

"Turn... back."

"Do... not... come... further."

"Turn... or... die."

And then an ear-piercing howl echoed through the purple shroud. The pressure from the scream was so intense that I felt as if someone were clutching my heart. I buckled and dropped to one knee, holding my chest and breathing heavily.

"Warning!!!

Gumiho has used the skill: Monarch's Authority.

Your fighting spirit will be reduced by 90%.

Your stats will be reduced by 60%.

Your Soulforce consumption is increased by 300%."

"Brace yourself—she is here," Vyaghra shouted, staring at a human-sized figure advancing through the haze.