The Glass Warrior [Weak to Strong LitRPG]

As Lucas walked across the plains, he kept thinking about what the ship captain had said.
Besides the whole thing about terrifying creatures lurking in the ocean, ready to drag ships to the depths, there were the islands, the ones that supposedly made entire fleets vanish as soon as they stepped on land. Or at least, that's what Lucas had gathered.

Maybe the captain was just talking out of his ass, trying to sound impressive. But still… what could those islands be hiding? Where there was danger, there was usually something worth the risk. And if there really was something out there, he'd like to see it at some point, even if it was somewhere far in the future.

That thought brought him back to the map-seller in Zoria. If the guy had a map just for tombs, then he probably had one for the ocean too, right? Something that could have information on these islands? Intercontinental travel had been banned for a while, yeah, but those maps he sold weren't exactly new. He could have something from back when people still crossed the seas. Definitely worth looking into.

Naturally, Lucas started thinking about the other continents on Ponos. If he remembered right from the first time he checked Zoria's library, there were three of them.
Did anyone "spawn" in one of those? If so, what did they find? A wasteland? A land overflowing with beasts? Were people over there struggling just as much as here, or was their situation completely different?

Lucas sighed. The more he learned, the less he knew. This world kept throwing more questions at him than answers.

Before he could get lost in all that, his eyes caught something: a weird-looking pale blue flower sticking out amidst the shrubbery. Something about it tugged at his memory. He crouched down, brushing his fingers against the stem.

That seems oddly familiar… Lucas quickly grabbed his book of alchemic materials Hilda had given him and flipped through the pages until he found it.

"Drowsybloom."

A rare herb, difficult to find in the wild, known for its potent sleep-inducing properties. Alchemists used it to craft a potion that could knock someone out cold with just a few drops—great for people with sleeping problems, not as effective in battle.

Still, if he could find more of these, Hilda could start producing the potion, and Lucas was sure people would find uses for it beyond what he'd initially imagined. And after all, with their world turned upside down, there were probably plenty of people struggling to sleep at night.

After carefully collecting the flower, Lucas scanned the area. It didn't take long for him to spot another Drowsybloom just a short distance away.

It took him about twenty minutes to collect every flower he could find in the vicinity, and he ended up with an impressive haul of twenty-five. He could probably find more if he really looked for it, but those twenty-five could be used for hundreds of potions once turned into powder, so there was really no need for much more.

Actually, it would be nice if they found a way to cultivate these flowers, and not just them, but other ingredients they often used as well. Quests were a proven method for gathering supplies, but he kind of wished they had their own setup, maybe a greenhouse?

The main problem was that he didn't know the first thing about gardening, let alone building a greenhouse. Even if Hilda knew more than he did, it would still be a major undertaking, one he wasn't ready to deal with just yet. So, for now, Lucas let the thought go.

Now, with a renewed focus, Lucas kept his eyes peeled for more alchemic ingredients as he walked. However, aside from a few common herbs, he didn't find much of note, at least not until he reached a rocky formation. The terrain began to change, the flat plains giving way to small, jagged hills.

These weren't towering mountains but rather a series of rugged slopes and outcroppings that broke up the landscape. Lucas navigated them without much difficulty.

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The air felt cooler there, and the silence was almost eerie, broken only by the occasional rustle of wind through the sparse vegetation. He wasn't used to that sort of environment, and the unfamiliar stillness sent a faint chill down his spine.

It was the kind of silence that made his instincts itch, like something should be happening but wasn't. He found himself glancing over his shoulder more than once, just in case.

The unsettling quiet did freak him quite a bit, and he was glad when he finally reached the other side of the rocky hills. When he stepped past the last slope, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

As he descended, his eyes caught sight of something unusual in the distance... was that a camp?

Lucas approached cautiously, scanning the area for any sign of movement. At first glance, it did seem like a camp, but he took a few more steps just to be sure.

A firepit sat at the center, its ashes darkened but no longer warm. Nearby, flattened grass and a few scattered footprints.

How recent are those? Damn, I wish I had some sort of tracking skill.

It was definitely a camp, but how long had it been since anyone had been there, he couldn't tell. However, there were multiple impressions in the dirt, not just one.

I suppose rain would've washed these away, and there were some traces of water on those shrubberies back there, so it couldn't have been more than a few days, I suppose, Lucas wondered.

He glanced at his map. There wasn't much in this direction aside from the tomb he was heading toward.

That was interesting. He had assumed this place wouldn't draw much attention, but maybe he wasn't the only one who had the idea to check it out.

Lucas wasn't particularly worried, just curious. He took another look around, but there wasn't much left behind, and since there wasn't much reason to stay, he carried on. He was getting close.

…

Another two hours went by before he started nearing his destination. He couldn't deny the lingering fear that he had gone the wrong way. Navigating physical maps was a little bit different from what he was used to, but as he pressed forward, the landscape started shifting again, the open plains giving way to scattered trees.

As he neared the top of a small hill, he slowed down, slipping behind the trunk of a sturdy tree. From there, he had a clear vantage point over the area ahead. The plains stretched out before him, but at the center of a large depression in the terrain stood what he could only assume was the tomb he had been searching for.

The structure was worn by time, its dark stone cracked and weathered. It wasn't massive, but it carried an undeniable weight, like it had been here long before anything else. Lucas had been expecting the tomb, but the people gathered around it? Not so much.

A small group stood at a distance, their attention fixed on the ancient structure. Four humans, two elves, and five goblins—an unusual mix, to say the least. Lucas raised an eyebrow. That's quite the party, he mused.

He had assumed he might have to deal with a few rival treasure hunters, but this kind of variety made things more interesting. The tomb had to hold something more than just death-related items if a group like this was interested.

He stayed hidden a moment longer, observing. The humans were geared up, three of them wearing light armor, while the third carried a staff.

The elves looked more refined, their clothes cleaner, their movements measured. And the goblins were the complete opposite. They were restless, shifting from foot to foot, their sharp eyes darting around like they expected something to jump out at them at any second.

Lucas might've kept watching a little longer, but then his gaze landed on one particular figure, and he nearly laughed. One of the humans, standing a little off to the side, was familiar. Too familiar.

Wait a minute. Isn't that the Hive guy from the ship? The one who didn't get thrown into the water?

Lucas smirked. On the ship, and in his usual day-to-day, he chose to act low-key, not attract too much attention. The only time he broke that motto was when provoking Nicholas, and that couldn't be helped because the guy was a prick.

But since he had decided he wouldn't hold himself back anymore, there was no point in being shy, right? Instead of lurking in the shadows, hiding his power, it would be better to make an entrance.

He stood up from behind the tree and started walking down toward the group at a leisurely pace. It didn't take long for them to notice him.

The goblins reacted first, snapping their heads in his direction. One of them muttered something to the others, and all five of them shifted their stances slightly, ready to move if necessary.

The elves were more composed, simply watching, but Lucas detected a hint of unease among them as their gazes shifted between him and the other humans, likely trying to determine if they were together.

The humans, though, were a mix: One of them reached for his weapon, the others just stared, and then there was the guy from the ship.

Lucas could practically hear the gears turning in the man's head as recognition dawned. His eyes widened, and for a split second, his whole body tensed like he'd seen a ghost.

Lucas grinned, raising a hand in greeting as if welcoming an old friend.

"Hey, it's been a while!"