Chapter 209 To The Next Trial
Erend was silent and stared blankly at the gray sand surface that stretched out in front of him.
His eyes looked ahead but he did not exactly look at anything.
The previous meeting with Harill had left an impression that was difficult for Erend to explain.
Is that sympathy? Anxiety? Or was it a feeling of relief that he finally gained the new power to overcome that deadly Undead cursed Skill?
If those Dark Elves had used it once and seen its unbelievably terrifying results, then they would obviously use it again if the opportunity presented itself.
Erend stood up with a heavy sigh. He stared ahead determinedly.
Now it was time for him to return because he had leveled up six times in Dungeon World.
That is quite an impressive development.
"Open the Portal."
Erend didn't even want to talk to Tut about his meeting with Harill anymore.
He had a feeling Tut would not answer because it sounded like a big secret.
Harill was a previous Systema user. If Erend got knowledge from him, then he could become strong much faster.
But other than that, Erend will also know secrets he shouldn't know about Systema and the events that occur in other parallel worlds. There will be consequences.
The Portal opens in front of Erend. A vortex of white energy that always carried him across the distance between dimensions with one step.
If technology like this existed in his world, then everything would definitely be faster.
Erend shook off the random thoughts that suddenly appeared. Then he took a step into the portal.
A moment later he reappeared in his room and the Portal disappeared behind him.
Erend lay down again on the bed. The feelings in his heart are now mixed.
He was naturally happy after getting six Level ups and a useful new Skill.
However, what the mysterious man Harill - a senior Systema user - had said made Erend feel more worried.
Even with Systema's extraordinary power, Harill still failed to save his world.
Erend heard that he said it was because of his mistake, so maybe he didn't fail because Systema's power was not strong enough. But because of that mistake, so he was unable to fight against that Calamity with all his might.
Of course, there is still such a possibility. That said, Systema's power was actually capable.
However, it was Harill who couldn't fight properly.
However, Harill didn't want to tell him about that. That means the mistake was so terrible.
Something that made him so guilty that he decided to shut himself up to become a Dungeon Boss. As something that seemed to atone for his sins.
"Hahhh..." Erend took a deep breath.
In order to find out all that, he had to meet Harill at Dungeon Level 2.
Besides that, he also had to face him as a Dungeon Boss.
Then the difficulty must have doubled from before.
Erend even had to get the Lightning Dragon Skill Set to be able to defeat Harill's first phase form as the Dungeon Boss.
It is still a long journey. Now Erend should only focus on what is in front of his eyes.
In this world, everything seems to be peaceful.
Nothing strange had happened since the war with the Elves ended.
In that case, Erend could feel more at ease and could focus on helping Aurdis's problems.
Erend comes out of his room to have dinner.
It seemed like it had been quite a while since he entered Dungeon World that his stomach was feeling so hungry from missing dinner.
As he had expected, his family had finished their dinner first.
Erend was a little sorry because he missed dinner with his family. But it can't be helped.
So Erend eats his already cold dinner alone.
~~~
Steve opened his eyes after he had had enough meditation.
When he opened his eyes, the red aura that had surrounded his body like flames had already disappeared.
Steve still didn't realize everything that had happened to his body since earlier.
'Hmm, I feel lighter already.'
Steve felt he was feeling better than before. His restlessness and desire that had been smoldering earlier had now disappeared a bit.
There was still some residue of it in his heart, but not as big as before.
The advice Conrad gave him was very useful. Steve was grateful that the man came to him and told him everything.
If not, maybe he would have gone berserk like subject number 2 at that time.
The door to his room was suddenly opened. Thomas' tired face appeared.
"You must have dinner, subject number 1," Thomas said.
Steve stared at him. 'Did he just gonna keep calling me by subject number 1?'
Maybe for a scientist like him, Steve is nothing more than a mere experimental subject whose name or another identity is not important.
Well, Steve wasn't all that hurt about that because he had expected it.
As a former special forces member tasked with carrying out dirty jobs for the government, Steve has seen scientists perform all kinds of strange and horrific experiments on humans.
These scientists rarely regard humans as equal living beings. He already knew that his fate would not be much different.
But what had happened to him was far better than what he had expected.
Steve thought of running away. With the power, he has now Steve is sure that he can get through the security of this building easily.
However, he knew that there was still a risk of other side effects that might occur to his body.
Steve still needs knowledge and care from the scientists and Conrad.
After all, he wasn't treated so badly that he had to be forced to flee.
Steve stood up from the bed and put on his shirt. Then follow Thomas.
"Eat your dinner first. When you're done we'll carry out the next experiment," Thomas said accompanied by a smile.
Steve just stared at him flatly. Thomas smiled at him as if the second attempt was something exciting.
But for Steve, Thomas only looks like a scientist waiting for his lab rats to act.
~~~