Novel Full Chapter 1674: The Same as Rex (1)
Chapter 1674: The Same as Rex (1)
It looked like any other capital city.
Expansive.
Bustling.
Developed.
But there was one stark difference that immediately caught Rex’s eye.
All of the people crowding the square were bigger than normal.
Rex, who was well over six feet and hulking three-digits in weight, usually dwarfed others around him when he was still in the academy—or within Ratmawati City in general. His human form wasn’t nearly as big as his Werewolf form, but it wasn’t puny either.
In fact, he felt bigger now compared to a few months or a month ago.
Perhaps the increase in strength also equated to an increase in his size, but right now, he felt… normal.
Some people around him were at his height, while most towered over him.
In this kingdom, the ones who towered over others were people who were above seven feet.
For once in his entire life, he was the one who felt small.
Then again, the Fifthborn towered over me, well above seven feet. Even King John is taller than me.
Recalling back when he first met with the Fifthborn, he shouldn’t be surprised to find these Ancient Humans to be a lot taller than him. King John, who only has a pure trace of the Ancient Human bloodline, was also taller than him.
No wonder the Supernaturals are terrified of the Ancient Humans.
Other than their towering stature, Rex also noticed another thing.
“You’re no match for my fire!”
“Hmph! Just that big and you’re already arrogant? Mine’s bigger!”
Rex’s eyes widened when two boys no older than nine summoned a massive fireball above their heads, flaming with heat that turned the air around them suffocatingly burning. And from his senses, these two fireballs contained the power of an early fourth-rank realm Awakened.
Nine years old, and they are already that strong? Is it because the world’s energy at this time is better?
“No need to be that surprised.”
Hearing the voice, Rex turned and looked at Kei Xun, who found his reaction amusing.
It was watching a kid being brought to see the world for the first time.
But then again, considering Rex’s standing in the race to the Highseat of Invincibility, along with his unnaturally young age, he wasn’t surprised to see Kei Xun finding this amusing. For her, he’s nothing more than a baby.
And she… she’s the guardian who brought Rex out to see the world for the first time.
“The Spirit Realm has always been above the Mortal Realm, but the gap had never been as wide as it was right now. Back then, during the time you people called—the Radical Era, the gap between the two realms was close,” Kei Xun explained, “really close…”
Rex’s eyes narrowed.
It sounded like Kei Xun was giving him a hint or a hidden message.
Hmm… If the gap between the two realms weren’t as big, then going between both realms should have been a lot more common back then. Going to the Spirit Realm directly is possible, but like Qonvale explained, this realm strains the soul.
But back then, the suppression might not have been that strong since the two realms were closer in strength.
No, that can’t be right. Qonvale said the Dark Elf Origin is still under heavy strain, meaning there’s no real difference between the current suppression and what it was back then. Unless… perhaps opening the path to the Spirit Realm was simply easier than when the two realms stood nearly equal in power.
Just as he thought of that, his brows dipped further.
A chill of unease coursed through his body.
I’m becoming more certain that the Supernaturals here, in this realm, are tied to our Supernaturals.
Firstly, Rex met with the Shade Crawlers—that has an uncanny resemblance to Werewolves, and from how one of them sniffed him, it could be assumed—that even the Shade Crawlers almost recognized him as one of their own.
Secondly, there was the Silent Consort—an Angel.
Supernaturals are born in the Mortal Realm, that’s certain—but there might be some who migrated to the Spirit Realm due to various reasons. Hmm, but wait, didn’t Qonvale say that the Dark Elf Origin has to go to the Spirit Realm to give tribute for the Mother of Dark Nature?
Doesn’t that mean the Dark Elves came from the Spirit Realm? No, that can’t be possible. If that were the case, the Dark Elves would mainly be situated in the Spirit Realm. Maybe the Dark Elf Origin came to the Spirit Realm only to make a contract?
Rex knew that a Supernatural race existed even before the Gods came into the fray.
He knew it from the fact that the Lunirich Gods helped the Werewolves to regulate their anger, limiting it to only during the night, and even gave them magical prowess. It implies that before the collaboration happened, the races already existed.
Even Flunra had said so to him.
So, it should be undeniable that the Supernatural races came from the Mortal Realm.
Additionally, there are no spirits he had encountered that knew his kind—another clear confirmation.
It can be a mass migration that happened in the Radical Era.
Some Supernatural races must’ve migrated for whatever reason and adapted to the realm. Since even the Dark Elf Origin could, then the other races should be able to go to the Spirit Realm as well. In that case, my assumption should be correct.
That some Supernaturals managed to get here and settle here.
Recalling the description from the System regarding the Shade Crawlers, that are Werewolves who had adapted to the Spirit Realm, it was logical to think that there might’ve been a mass migration in the past era that led to some population of Supernaturals in this realm.
Rex looked at Kei Xun again with a dubious gaze.
But what is she trying to say? She seemed to be warning me about something.
Just as he thought of that, a grunt escaped Rex’s mouth.
He clutched his head in pain, eyes wide in confusion.
<Notice: the user’s Sanity Stat has been increased by 30%!>
<Sanity Stat: 65%!>
<Warning: Sanity stat is approaching critical threshold. It’s advised to do an immediate reduction!>
What…? Rex looked at the notification in surprise as it came out of nowhere. Even though I almost lost it earlier, it fortunately didn’t increase my Sanity Stat by a lot. It’s still around the 30% level, and now, it has suddenly risen to 65%?!
Rex had been monitoring his Berserk Stat and Sanity Stat regularly.
Knowing that the Blood Moon was approaching, he needed to monitor those stats.
Since everything had gone smoothly, other than a few hiccups that had come to pass, both stats were doing incredibly well, staying within the safe range. In fact, those stats had been in the best shape ever since he stepped into the Spirit Realm.
But now, the Sanity Stat had suddenly reached a dangerous level.
System, what’s happening? Where does this pain come from?!
Rex clutched his head hard; his mind suddenly throbbed painfully, and coupled with his sensitive body from being in constant pain from the Gradual Pain, he could not keep a strong front anymore. He was forced to bend forward and grunt while clutching his head, which felt like it was about to explode.
<Notice: the user has reached the first threshold of being in the Spirit Realm.>
Reading this, he clicked his tongue in displeasure.
I remember Qonvale saying that staying here for too long would make me go insane.
“Seems like you’re reaching the threshold, I see…” Kei Xun muttered, casting a side glance at him.
Instead of reacting, Rex forced himself to stand upright, “It’s nothing. Proceed.”
“Acting tough, are we…?” Her lips curved into a playful, knowing smile. She didn’t need to look closely to see that Rex was struggling with the pain. “Humor me this—After everything you’ve endured, I would’ve thought you’d stumble only at the final threshold… not the very first.”
“None of your business,” Rex answered sharply, with no intention of humoring her question.
Kei Xun chuckled faintly and waved her hand, changing the surroundings once more.
Of course, Rex couldn’t tell her why he was having a hard time.
Just his military training alone had honed his pain tolerance to an unbelievable degree—and since then, he had endured agonies of body, mind, and even soul that pushed him far beyond that limit. Yet here he was, struggling against what should’ve been nothing.
He couldn’t endure the first threshold well because of the Gradual Penalty.
All pain inflicted on him was multiplied.
Even Kei Xun, no matter how powerful she was, would instantly lose her mind if she felt this pain.
Rex was able to hold on thanks to his pain tolerance and the relentless vitality of his Werewolf blood, which granted him endurance far beyond any ordinary man. Had it not been for those gifts, he would’ve been bedridden, or worse, in a coma long ago.
Soon enough, Rex and Kei Xun appeared in front of a massive abode.
It was the home of a noble, that’s for certain, judging from the size of it, and its courtyard.
Coming out of a carriage boasting a noble banner were three people—all seemed to be in their teenage years, around eleven to fifteen. But Rex’s gaze was fixated on the last person, a young man with fiery dark red hair.
Rex fixated on this young man because of his appearance.
Bruises and scars marred his skin; his body was toned but seemed more frail, vastly different compared to the two young men before him. Judging from their similarities, Rex could already tell that they were siblings, brothers, and only Draven was treated differently.
Not to mention, he was bleeding on his right shoulder.
Rex could tell that his shoulder had been bitten by something; the bite mark was evident.
But even so, Draven didn’t whimper despite his trembling lips holding back pain.
On top of that, Rex’s eyes narrowed as he could smell the evident emotion from Draven.
Fear.
He raised to look at his home, and then hesitantly stepped inside.
Again, the surroundings blurred, and what greeted Rex next was the crisp sound of a punch.
“Karghhk!”
Rex and Kei Xun were not inside what seemed to be a cold, merciless dungeon that reeked of filth and blood. Cradling his stomach on the ground was Draven. He was behind bars, and a fierce middle-aged man wearing noble clothes was standing in front of him.
Judging from this middle-aged man’s look, he should be Draven’s father, the lord of this mansion.
And to top it off, he’s a Fire Elementalist.
One could clearly tell from how his eyes were burning with crimson fire.
An ultimate-grade element, and his power was around the ninth-rank realm like me. Very strong.
“I told you to bring the head of a Vampire and a Werewolf,” the father said, looking down at Draven, and then to the empty sack that should’ve been filled with two heads. “That’s the only condition I gave to you, and you failed? You didn’t even bring one.”
“F-Father, the weakest Knight Vampire is at the sixth-rank realm, how can I ho—”
“Silence!!”
Hearing his father’s baritone voice, Draven whimpered in fear.
His entire body was shaking.
Slowly and with deliberate malice, the father pressed his heel onto Draven’s hand—leaning his weight into the crush. Draven was hurting, but he didn’t dare to let out even a moan lest he drew more wrath from his father.
“Didn’t I already make it clear…?” the father uttered menacingly in a whisper. “One last chance. This is your last chance to prove to me that you have a future. A future where you will become a disciple of the Savior. Now… It’s clear to me that you don’t have the capacity to achieve that future.”
“Father, I’m going to keep trying! I’m going to be the Savior’s disciple! Believe me!”
“It’s too late for that now.”
Upon saying this, the father grabbed a sword from the side leisurely and walked towards a woman who was pinned to the ground by two guards. “Since you can’t reach the future, I decided, then you… And your mother will have no future at all.”