Chapter 441 - 418: The Aftermath

Chapter 441: Chapter 418: The Aftermath

"Haaah..."

Roland slowly exhaled, gradually waking from a deep sleep. His consciousness felt like it was slowly surfacing from the bottom of a dark ocean.

He opened his eyes to the familiar sight of a rough stone ceiling. A few clusters of moss, embedded in the stone, cast a faint, blue glow, providing the room’s only light.

The air was filled with a mixture of scents: subterranean herbs, damp rock, and the faintest hint of a chilly fragrance.

It was the characteristic scent of a Zor Elf habitat.

Three full months had passed since the world-shaking battle against Corellon’s avatar.

The outcome of that battle had profoundly changed the balance of power in the region.

The Surface Elves could once again feel the call of Magic Power, regaining their long-lost ability to cast magic.

Although it would take time for them to reacquaint themselves with and master these powers, the fate of their entire Race had already reached a turning point.

Meanwhile, the Zor Elves had suffered heavy losses after their brief clash with Corellon, temporarily losing their momentum and the ability to press the attack.

Thus, for the past three months, the two sides had maintained a delicate and fragile truce.

And because of Avril’s special status as a Spider Queen Rose Divine Favored, their group had chosen to temporarily remain in the Zor Elf camp to rest and recuperate.

Recalling the fierce battle of that day, Roland shook his head and turned his focus inward, assessing his own condition.

Although he had woken up not long after falling unconscious, the injuries left within his body were far more stubborn than he had anticipated.

The Rule-based damage from Corellon’s Divine Power, combined with the backlash from pushing himself far beyond his limits, clung to him like a deep-seated rot, impossible to completely purge.

Even now, he could still clearly feel a weakness that hadn’t fully subsided.

The slightest attempt to circulate the Energy within him sent a dull, stinging pain and a feeling of stagnation through his body, as if his once-free-flowing inner rivers were now choked with hidden reefs and silt.

His [Primordial Core] was still running, slowly emitting a warm Energy that nourished his injuries, but the rate of repair was agonizingly slow.

Right now, his body was like an exquisite piece of porcelain, riddled with fine cracks and precariously glued back together.

It looked whole, but was in fact fragile, far from ready to withstand high-intensity combat again.

Still...

Roland gently clenched his fist, feeling the Power that was a pale shadow of what it once was, and let out another long breath.

’At least my life isn’t in danger, and there’s no permanent damage.’

’All I need to return to my peak condition is time and patience. That’s already... ’

Recalling the terrifying power Corellon had displayed, Roland gently shook his head.

’...a blessing in this misfortune.’

Leaning against the rough stone bed, he closed his eyes, the heart-pounding battle from three months prior replaying vividly in his mind.

It wasn’t Corellon’s Magic that had been impossible to handle.

Limited by an incomplete avatar, the Spell Ring Tiers He could wield were restricted to low and Middle Ring Tier Magic.

Magic of that level, even with perfected Casting Techniques and exquisite coordination between spells, couldn’t have posed a truly fatal threat to him.

Roland knew full well that if he could just get in close and engage in the melee combat he excelled at, the defeat of Corellon’s avatar would have been only a matter of time.

What had truly been difficult, what had driven him to the brink of desperation, was the fragmented divine Authority mixed in with the conventional attacks—the power that contained Rule Fragments.

This power transcended the mere planes of Elements and Energy, directly touching upon the fundamental laws of the world.

It left him with all his Power and speed, yet trapped as if in an invisible spiderweb, unable to bring his strength to bear.

If it weren’t for...

Roland’s thoughts paused, and his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the Moonlight Longsword resting quietly by the bed.

In the blue glow of the moss, the silver-white blade shimmered with a cold, bright luster, as if it were a faint light source in its own right.

Recalling the vast power that had surged from the Bright Moon that day, Roland’s heart still filled with indescribable astonishment, even after three months.

That Power carried with it a sublimity and an absoluteness on an almost "conceptual" level that he could not fully comprehend.

Moreover, his keen Perception gave him the distinct impression that what the Longsword had displayed that day was far from its true limit.

It was as if a deeper, more immense Power slumbered within it, like a dormant sea of stars.

At this thought, a long-held curiosity resurfaced.

According to Duraga, when the Bright Moon was forged, the Gray Dwarf leader was mainly responsible for casting the blade and sealing the soul of that "friend" within it, while the other, more crucial steps were completed entirely by "Rudolph" alone.

’Then... "Rudolph," or should I say... the "me" from back then?’

Roland gazed at the Bright Moon, muttering to himself with a slight frown.

’When this sword was forged, what exactly was added to it? What kind of ritual was performed to give it such unnatural Power? This goes far beyond what can be explained by a simple Magic Enchantment or Energy infusion...’

Ordinary Enchanted Weapons might be incredibly sharp, or they might be able to channel the Elements, but they could never evoke the kind of tremendous power that seems to directly interfere with the Rules and define "reality" itself.

’This sword... what are its origins?’

After some fruitless contemplation, Roland temporarily set aside the question of the Bright Moon’s origin.

With a flicker of his will, the translucent Professional Panel appeared in his vision.

His gaze swept past the familiar basic information and quickly focused on the newly appeared [Reputation] tab.

Gilded text was listed clearly.

[River Domain: Unfriendly]

[Eternal Song Forest: Unfriendly]

[Locals are suspicious of you. Merchants may refuse to trade. Guards will warn you to keep your distance.]

[Golden Valley Kingdom: Revered]

[Dark Nether Realm (Zor): Revered]

[Dark Nether Realm (Gray Dwarf): Revered]

[You are a living Legend, a hero to the Race/region. NPCs will bow to you, offering exclusive quests and the best rewards.]

As his gaze swept over the text, Roland fell into deep thought.

Ever since this Reputation tab had appeared, he had been studying its meaning and function.

However, compared to the tempting effects in the descriptions, the reality was disappointingly sparse.

Although his Reputation with the Golden Valley Kingdom and the Zor Elves had impressively reached the "Revered" level, and the description mentioned "offering exclusive quests and the best rewards"...from his observations and experiences over the past three months, he hadn’t seen any of the "substantive benefits" you’d expect in a game, like receiving special items or Skills out of thin air, or having a quest list simply appear before his eyes.

Duraga and Duadeng were certainly extremely respectful, and they never hesitated to provide supplies, but this stemmed more from their past camaraderie and his deeds in battle than from some compulsory boon granted by an invisible Rule.

’Perhaps...’

Recalling that most of the information on the Professional Panel was closely related to "Awakening" and qualifying for certain Professions, a theory began to take shape in his mind.

’This Reputation System... its real purpose isn’t to grant rewards directly. Instead... it’s related to some hidden Profession or special status for which I haven’t met the conditions, or haven’t ’triggered’ yet?’

He muttered to himself.

’Only when my Reputation reaches a specific requirement, or hits a certain level in multiple key regions simultaneously, will I meet the prerequisites for that unknown Profession?’

’And the so-called "exclusive quests" and "best rewards" aren’t handed out by the system directly. Instead, they refer to... the *qualification* to encounter and complete Legendary quests that actually exist in this world—quests that only someone with a specific Reputation can undertake, thereby earning the appropriate rewards?’

Just as Roland was lost in thought about the Reputation System, a set of light yet familiar footsteps approached the door, followed by a clear, bright voice.

"Roland! Are you awake? It’s time to eat!"

Before the words had faded, the wooden door was pushed open with a CREAK.

Avril walked in carrying a wooden tray. She wore a smile that was clearly fishing for a compliment as she held the tray up for him to see.

"Look! I made breakfast myself today! Come on, try it and tell me how it is!"

Seeing this, Roland could only shake his head in resignation.

Ever since the battle with Corellon, Avril seemed to have let down all her guard. She had not only been open with him about her past experiences and her reasons for coming to the Eternal Song Forest, but had even shared her secret of being a Spider Queen Rose Divine Favored without any reservation.

And perhaps because there were no longer any shadows weighing on her heart, the Elf Maiden’s disposition had grown more and more cheerful.

"I know, Avril."

Seeing her carry the tray straight to his bedside, looking as if she intended to feed him by hand, Roland quickly spoke up.

"Just put it on the table. I can manage on my own."

As he spoke, he got up, walked over to the rough stone table, and sat down. He picked up his utensils and put a piece of what looked like a mix of roasted root vegetables and some kind of underground fungus into his mouth.

However, the moment the food touched his taste buds, Roland’s brow instinctively furrowed.

It had an indescribable texture, a bizarre mix of burnt and undercooked. This was followed by the unseasoned, bitter taste of soil and the rank odor of some unique fungus, which spread through his mouth and almost made him gag.

"So? Is it good?"

Avril asked expectantly, completely oblivious to his momentary stiffness. She even leaned in closer.

Her bright eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were still smudged with a few flecks of soot from her time in the kitchen.

Looking at her, Roland’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He forced himself to swallow the indescribable mouthful of food, struggled to keep his expression neutral, and squeezed out a smile as he nodded.

"Yeah, it’s delicious."

To prevent the Elf Maiden from seeing through his facade, he immediately grabbed his water cup, took a large gulp, and quickly changed the subject.

"By the way, Avril, that thing I asked you to look into for me... have you heard anything?"