Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!

With his current strength he could somehow believe that unless he encountered someone that could fight against someone like him that could beat someone with a higher Tier than him, his journey in Lost Grove would be smooth.

At this moment, they were heading to a place called 'Stonebridge Town'.

According to Dio, they might stay for a week in this realm.

Escape scrolls were prohibited, even the time-limit of Origin World didn't work here. However, it doesn't mean one could stay here forever.

The secret realm would close after a week and would only open again after 6 months. Even if one had a key, he would not be able to enter.

After a few moments, Vincent finally caught sight of Stonebridge Town in the distance.

The town stood as a quiet yet bustling hub nestled between rolling hills and dense forests. Its name was derived from the ancient stone bridge that arched gracefully over a crystal-clear river, serving as the town's centerpiece and main entrance.

The bridge, weathered by time but still sturdy, connected the town to the surrounding wilderness, its surface worn smooth by countless footsteps over the years.

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The town stood as a quiet yet bustling hub nestled between rolling hills and dense forests.

The bridge, weathered by time yet sturdy, connected the town to the wilderness, its surface smoothed by countless footsteps over the years.

Stonebridge Town itself was a picturesque sight, its cobblestone streets winding through clusters of quaint, timber-framed buildings.

Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the soft hum of chatter and clinking tools filled the air.

Vincent couldn't help but wonder why the town was so lively.

As if reading his thoughts, Dio's voice rang out. "You must be wondering why the town is so full of life. That's natural. They are the inhabitants of this realm."

Inhabitants? Isn't this supposed to be an ancient realm?

Vincent hadn't expected the Lost Grove to be like this. He had assumed that since it was an ancient and forgotten realm, it would be nothing more than a desolate wasteland.

However, it seemed he had been gravely mistaken.

The Lost Grove was anything but abandoned. It pulsed with life, filled with activity and vibrant energy.

When they arrived at the front gate of Stonebridge Town, Vincent immediately noticed two gatekeepers standing in rigid formation. They bore the distinct features of the Lyard race—turquoise reptilian skin and an imposing presence.

Yet, while Lyards resembled the lizardmen he knew from fantasy novels and movies, they were far more formidable. Their bodies were well-built, standing as tall as the average human.

However, the gatekeepers of Stonebridge Town were different. They towered over them, standing at an imposing seven feet tall—matching the stature of the Thrygians. Clad in heavy armor and gripping long spears, they exuded an air of solemn duty.

But that wasn't what caught Vincent's attention the most.

The gatekeepers were in a semi-ethereal state.

They weren't quite ghosts, yet not entirely corporeal either. It was as if they existed somewhere between reality and illusion.

Curious, Vincent activated his Heaven Eyes to analyze them.

Stonebridge Town's Gatekeeper — Peak Tier 2

Race: Chronolisk

Chronolisk?

Dio, sensing his curiosity, smirked slightly before offering an explanation. "They are Phantolisks, and what you're seeing right now are merely remnants of the past. Even so, they can still communicate with visitors like us. However, bear in mind—they are phantoms of a bygone era. They have no knowledge of the present."

Vincent frowned, absorbing the information. The concept unsettled him.

At that moment, Bern's interest was piqued. He asked, "What happens if we tell them they're just remnants of the past?"

Dio's smirk deepened. "Why don't you try?"

Bern hesitated, exchanging glances with Vincent and the others before stepping forward. The gatekeeper remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

Bern turned back toward the group. Seeing their expectant expressions, he sighed and decided to proceed.

"Hey!" he called out.

The gatekeeper remained unresponsive, standing as if frozen in time.

Slightly annoyed, Bern stepped closer, his voice firm. "Excuse me, sir!"

Finally, the gatekeeper moved, lowering his gaze to meet Bern's. His voice was gruff yet oddly weary. "I'm not deaf, young man. And please, don't loiter around. If you have questions, go inside. Walk straight ahead, and before you reach the town square, you'll find a building on the right called the 'Mission Corps.' There, you can ask for whatever information you seek. Now, please—let this old man have a quiet day."

With that, the gatekeeper returned his gaze to the horizon, as if Bern had already ceased to exist.

Bern was momentarily stunned.

Behind him, Dio kept his usual smirk, while Diriko and Urek chuckled in amusement. The two women in the group remained indifferent, their expressions bored.

Vincent and Anur, however, remained silent, observing with keen interest. They wanted to see how the gatekeepers would react if Bern confronted them about their existence.

Still mildly surprised, Bern pressed on. "Just one quick question, sir." His tone was lower this time, more controlled.

The gatekeeper let out a resigned sigh, as if sensing Bern's persistence. "Fine. One question. But after that, leave me be."

Bern didn't hesitate. "Do you know that you're already dead?"

His gaze sharpened, watching the gatekeeper closely.

However, the gatekeeper showed no reaction. It was as if Bern's words simply didn't register.

The older figure frowned slightly. "What are you waiting for, young man? I thought you had a question. Go ahead and ask."

Bern's frown deepened, but he repeated himself. "I asked—do you know that you're already dead?"

Still, the gatekeeper showed no sign of recognition. It was as if the words themselves were erased from reality before reaching his consciousness.

"Enough of this nonsense, young man," the gatekeeper said, his tone now laced with irritation. "If you're just here to waste my time, then leave. I have no patience for foolish games."

Bern exhaled sharply, stepping back. He turned to rejoin the group, his expression contemplative.

Dio clapped him on the shoulder. "Do you understand now?"

Bern simply nodded, lost in thought.

At the back of the group, Vincent pondered the situation. The Chronolisks—or rather, the remnants of the past—seemed to be 'programmed' to reject any information about their existence.

But that led to a bigger question—who or what possessed the power to do this to them?

For now, he set the thought aside. Even if he learned the truth, he lacked the strength to challenge such an unfathomable power.

"Alright," Dio said, turning forward. "Let's move. We need to prepare before that place opens."

Vincent and the others followed without question.

Novice Continent

"Now! Shoot them down!"

"Fire! Fire!"

"Burn them all!"

From a vantage point above, Caelius watched the battle unfold.

No—this wasn't a battle. This was a one-sided massacre.

His clansmen, armed with Uncommon-Grade Fireballs, rained destruction upon their enemies. Alongside them, the Umbra Guildsmen unleashed their own Uncommon-Grade skills, their coordinated attacks overwhelming the hundreds of Thrygians below.

Standing beside him were his trusted companions—Uncle Gold, Karl, and Fiona.

They had spent days planning this assault, carefully tracking the movements of the Blackthorn Clan.

Now, their patience had paid off.

The Blackthorn Clan had the advantage in numbers, making direct confrontation unwise. Instead, they had devised a strategy to weaken their enemy—eliminating their commanders one by one.

And today, they had found their first target.

Gorvak.

Initially, he thought that it would still be a hard battle since Gorvark always led a team of 1000 thrygians to a labyrinth to train and level up.

However, he was still surprised by the performance of Vincent's men.

Although he had already witnessed the strength of Umbra Guild, when they trained in a labyrinth, he was still caught off guard by how fast this group of 100 Origin Warriors grew.

Especially those 4 individuals that were leading their own kind of group.

They were like a massacre machine, sweeping through enemies like they were weeds.

Karl could not help muttering as he watched the massacre below, "They are insane…"

"They were already strong when we first met them. Now, in just a few days, they even become stronger. Just how can they grow so fast?" Fiona added.

Uncle Gold simply nodded in silent agreement.

Soon, only dozens of Thrygians and Gorvark were left.

On Caelius' side, not even one of them was killed in the battle. It was thanks to the uncommon-grade fireball skills they had learned. They could just launch fireballs from a distance and kill those blackthorn dogs.