Chapter 1244 Awakening [2]

Aldric remained still for a moment after confirming they had truly returned.

The nearby soldiers, however, were far less composed. All of them were staring openly at the nine who had just appeared from the enormous formation.

Aldric finally recovered. His expression became stern as he turned toward the gathered Silver Guards.

"Enough staring."

The soldiers immediately straightened.

Aldric pointed toward the surrounding area.

"Establish a temporary camp around this location. I want a wall posted immediately, and no one approaches the structure without permission."

The soldiers responded at once. The earlier curiosity disappeared beneath military discipline.

Groups quickly separated and got to work. To create a wall quickly, it was better to have a mage, so a group headed off to call some from the capital. Mages were rare in the military, so they could only ask for external help.

A few remained close to the platform itself, though none dared step onto it.

All of this was Michael's instruction to Aldric before sending him and the others back. Further instructions would come after Michael returned.

Aldric took the order to heart, though most of his seriousness was still rooted in the thought that the place he had gone to was some extraordinarily powerful secret realm, and the strange structure acted as an entrance that his emperor's mysterious abilities allowed him to open and close wherever he wanted.

Far away from him, inside the Eternal Crown, Arianne had finally stopped holding back.

"Is this a secret realm?"

Her eyes continued moving across the surrounding territory.

"If someone cultivated here, wouldn't it be like getting twice the result for half the work?"

Michael's expression became slightly strange. He looked at her for a moment before activating Detect.

A familiar panel appeared.

[Beast Tamer Level 19]

Only a few months had passed since Arianne's death and resurrection, yet she had already climbed back to around the level she possessed before.

Choosing to continue her previous profession wasn't particularly surprising, as it was familiar and easier to get back into.

Michael didn't stop her, as there was no reason to.

Before the Origin Battlefield, Michael's intention for Arianne was relatively simple. He wanted her to become stronger eventually. Not because he expected her to fight beside him, but because a higher strength meant a longer lifespan.

It was the same plan Michael had for Aunt Mia as well. Lily would have been included if she failed to awaken after eighteen.

Before the revelation of the Origin Battlefield, there hadn't been a better plan. But now, whenever he thought back to it after claiming the Universal Cornerstone, a feeling of conflict came to him.

Michael's expression softened slightly before he answered Arianne.

"You can call it a secret realm, but it's far more mysterious than one."

He gestured toward the surrounding territory.

"This is the Origin Battlefield. Normally, only Awakeners can enter."

The term Awakeners made Arianne pause.

She was already familiar with the word. When Michael had first confessed everything to her, Awakeners had been among the many truths he revealed.

They were people who, after reaching a certain age, possessed a small chance of awakening something called a class and other abilities that did not exist naturally within the Land of Origin.

At the time, finding out that her place of birth was somewhat seen as a sort of false, game-like world had been one of the hardest things for Arianne to accept. But after enough repeated proof of being able to leave her world, disbelief had eventually become pointless.

Arianne understood what Awakeners were. What confused her now was this: if the Origin Battlefield was supposedly a place only Awakeners could enter, why was she standing here?

Arianne's gaze slowly shifted toward the enormous statue of Michael behind them.

Michael noticed immediately.

"Yes. With this structure, I can indeed bring ordinary people to this place. But to be honest, I still don't know exactly what I'm supposed to do with it."

Michael looked at Arianne for a moment before suddenly asking,

"What do you think about Awakeners?"

Arianne was startled, clearly not expecting the question. She then thought about it seriously.

"You're the only one I've actually met, so I can't say I understand them very well."

Michael waited.

Arianne looked toward the distant walls.

"But from everything you've told me, they're amazing. They can become stronger faster. They have those things called Classes, Skills, and access to places like this and beyond."

"I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a little bitterness in me when I think of them. It's enviable."

Arianne smiled faintly.

"They really are chosen ones, aren't they? Favored by the world."

Michael didn't immediately respond.

From the perspective of someone born in the Land of Origin, or in the universe in general, that description was not entirely wrong. Awakeners received opportunities most ordinary supernaturals could only dream of. Even though the gap lessened drastically at Rank Three, Awakeners still possessed a great advantage, especially in terms of advancement.

After a few seconds of silence, Arianne turned back toward Michael. Her smile grew.

"But even among them I somehow feel none of them can really compare to you."

Michael laughed softly.

"That's not true."

Arianne only smiled back. She didn't argue and continued admiring the scenery around them.

After a while, Michael suddenly asked,

"What if you could become an Awakener?"

Michael continued before she could answer.

"If there was actually a way for you to awaken, would you take it?"

Arianne stared at him with an odd expression.

"Of course. Who would say no to such a thing?"

Michael had expected that answer so he wasn't surprised.

Arianne studied him for another moment before looking away.

"I'm already older than eighteen, and I wasn't even born in your world, so I never got the chance naturally. Having a chance to be like you sounds really nice."

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A/N: Sorry for the late update dear readers and happy next month to everyone! Plesss vote to support this poor starving author!!!?