'I know this damned feeling!' Cain cried out in his mind as he felt his body moving through all the different layers and folds of space and time.
Keeping his eyes closed and his fingers crossed, he could only hope he didn't encounter bad luck. After all, this was the same feeling he had back when he was transported to the underwater graveyard palace of Ashur's ice princess lover...
Cain shook his head to chase the bad thoughts away as he hraced himself.
Suddenly, the suction stopped. Opening his eyes, he was greeted with a scene that was no more majestic than gazing at a regular building on a busy day, yet as strange as mysterious as a blue moon...
He stood within a wilderness type world that had a light brown sky. In the distance, many volcanoes and mountains lay, their residual heat washing over him. The air was slightly dark due to soot shooting out of a particular very active chain of volcanoes.
'What is this place? This is very different from what happened the last time...' Cain said as he turned around to scout the area.
Stopping down, he touched the sand beneath his feet and found that it was actual physical sand. This meant this wasn't a mind realm created with mana or something. This was a real place!
However, he had to be sure...
'System, what is going on?'
{Replying to Host: It appears the host accidentally activated a long distance spatial portal and has been deposited in this strange location}.
'Do you know where this is?'
{Replying to Host: I do not... However, it is important for the host to know that as this is a physical plane, dying here means dying forever. The host ought to be careful with who he offends...}
Quickly picking a direction, Cain began walking. Just as he took a step, Cain found himself barreling toward the ground. With a loud bang, his knees smashed into the hard dirt, creating a crater. Before, he wasn't able to notice, but with his first step, he realized something...
The gravity on this planet wasn't normal...
In fact, it was far from normal. It was many times greater than the gravity on Urbus. If was so great, that even with {Gravity Defying}, his high strength stats, and so many other things, he couldn't take a single step.
'S-system... What's going on?!' Cain said as he fought the feeling pushing him to lie on his face.
{Replying to Host: It appears the host is now being adjusted to the physical laws of this world. The area you stood in previously was still part of the temporal stream. Now that you are standing within this world, you have become subject to its rules as well}.
'Shit! I can barely move!' Cain's pupils dilated as he fought the urge to throw up. Even the clothes on his body that were nearly rags at this point were like tons of steel attached to his body.
{It will do the host well to note that while this world might be a host world that is without life, that is very unlikely. The presence of the nature element makes that a huge improbability. What this meansz is that creatures birthed in this world, under these conditions, will be able to walk, jump and fly in these same conditions...}
'So what you mean is, if I don't get my ass up, I'm dead?'
{Replying to Host: In simpler terms, yes...}
Cain applied some force in his arms to push himself up. Quickly scanning around, he chose a pile of rocks that could serve as some protection in case of any unexpected circumstances as his destination.
Calling out his chant internally, Cain was prepared to be enveloped in power.
However, reality was comdic with how bitter it was...
Cain realized that the mana flowing all around him refused to even pay attention to him. In his surprise, he looked inside, and found that the mana in his body was completely still. His mana heart that was usually active and vigorous was barely beating, radiating with a soft blue glow instead...
"What's going on?! I can't even activate my skills?!"
Cain let out an angry yell when he noticed this. Even the small devil essense he used to activate his skills was dead still.
The only energy in his body that still showed a bit of activity, was the Dragon's Gate Ki. Circulating it, he felt a bit of strength return to him. He was finally able to move his body, albeit with great difficulty.
Gritting his teeth, Cain struggled through the hot weather and waddled his way over to shelter. On the way, he realized that the more he circulated his Ki Plundering Technique, the lesser the volume of Ki within his got. However, its density and viscosity increased greatly, gradually taking up a more refined look with every revolution.
This was due to the terrible codlnditions he was currently facing. The {Dragon Gate Ki Plundering Technique} works best in the worst of living conditions...
Upon getting there, he collapsed on a pile of rocks. Expecting them to disintegrate under his weight he was shocked and hot with a large amount of pain when he realized the rocks didn't even crack in the slightest.
Even though the star powering the planet couldn't be seen through the thick brown clouds, it was still possible to feel their terrifying radiance. However, he was able to avoid it under the nice shade of the strange rocky structure that was serving as his base of operations temporarily.
'Alright... Order of action.' Cain thought to himself once he had settled down.
'Most of the this from my planet will be crushed under their own weight if I use them here. So I'll have to do with how I am.'
Pulling a few objects out of his inventory, he was pleased to find out that his potions, as well as his weapons could survive. Drinking an MP and HP potion to observe the changes, he let out a disappointed sigh as both were completely useless.
'In a foreign world with no way to recover from injuries. Can't use mana, which means combat ability has dropped by half. No food or water sources found so far...' Cain kept keeping the details of all his observations at the back of his mind. Every single detail would be important if he wanted to even have a chance at survival.
'While this situation is bad, it isn't without it's benefits m..' Cain thought to himself with a grin.
'Since I don't have anything better to do, I might as well start now and see the results.'
{Champion of Ashur}(locked): Inheritor of the legacy of the golden dragon, Ashur. Partially enabled. The power of a mysterious and powerful ancient celestial beast with incredible control over its immense fleshy power and extraordinary intelligence.
To activate the initial level of the legacy of the Golden Dragon, a total of one hundred scales of antiquity must be condensed. These scales can only be created through brutal mental and physical training by the host. Only when the host's body is at its peak potential would he be able to absorb even more power...
(Total Number of Antiquity scales generated): 3/100.
Cain realized this was a good opportunity to train another source of power. He didn't know what he would get from this, but he had a feeling it would be something good.
Staring at the ground, he took his shirt off slowly. His slightly toned body was glistening with a layer of sweat.
Before the apocalypse, he had usually engaged in light exercise, nothing brutal at all. He would go on runs sometimes, lift a few in the school gym and such.
Now, he was planning to take all the exercises he knew of to the extremes. Getting onto his arms, he began...
Cain stared at the jaggered stones around him with dead eyes...
The sand beneath his was drenched in sweat. His body was covered in a muddy mixture of sand and sweat, increasing his levels of discomfort exponentially.
Cain opened his status screen...
(Total Number of Antiquity scales generated): 3/100.
Cain couldn't help but frown at this...
'Is this not enough? Could it be that I am exercising wrong?'
Despite his {Antiquity Scales} not increasing, he could tell his Ki had become more refined.
{Replying to Host: Affirmative... The host lacks is lacking in form during his training}.
'What do you mean form?' Cain asked curiously.
{Replying to Host: All forms of training are a process that must follow a specific order. For the host, training of stamina in the form of running, jumping and other such exercises would be the best. In the host's current state, this will be enough for now. Knowing too much will do only harm...}
Cain stared at the world beyond the shade with a grim expression...
'Damn! I'd have to leave my base of operations?'
{Replying to Host: Affirmative... Well, the host doesn't have much of a choice either ways}.
'Hm? What do you mean?' Cain asked.
{Replying to Host: The system has just detected a group of fast approaching aboriginals...}
'What?!' Cain exclaimed.
With a bounce, he circulated his Ki and ran out of the shade. Since there wasn't much over to begin with, he was easily able to spot the aboriginals the system wad referring to.
Although they were approaching fast, they were still a bit far away, so he would need his {Eye of Clairvoyance} to see their description. However, he was still able to see their basic outline.
Bipedal, humanoid Lizard monstrosities...
That was Cain's only interpretation...
While they did look more intelligent than the mutant beasts in his world, they weren't pretty to look at. Still, he couldn't discern whether they would display hostility or not.
'Well, its best if I wait and see if they-'
His brain froze up for a second...
'Hold up... If they aren't friendly, I will definitely be killed. Is that really a risk I want to take?'
Once that thought was birthed, he no longer wasted any time foolishly...
Turning on his heels, he revolved the Ki in his body. With all his might and power, he began to run...