Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Moving into the Mist

That night, a significant change happened in the village of Rim Elm.

Dyne had already been released from the Genesis Tree but continued to fall into a meditative stance.

The Hunters were planning the changes in their schedule. Now they had to shift the rotation of their time from guarding with the need for meditation in the Genesis Tree. Even at night, many children could be seen huddling up around the Genesis Tree and would play or pray.

Most of the elderly in the village spent their time there as they realized that the aura around the tree could put them at ease.

Now that it was clearly explained, everyone noticed the significant changes in their emotions, and so that night, various elderly and children began to pray in town.

One of the more striking developments was the negotiation for Bertugo to fight and train with the hunters. With Bertugo's monstrous fighting abilities, the Hunters wanted to see how they would compare against a strong monster like Bertugo. Bertugo was happy to help when Dyne explained it. Dyne also asked the hunters to teach Bertugo how to talk before leaving various basics words for the Hunters to communicate with the Gomboo.

As for the Slime, it kept moving around the village. It was only then that Dyne realized that the Slimes had merged back into one again. 

After taking care of all the necessary things, Dyne was finally prepared to move out and journey outside. After much thought, he decided to ask Strafe.

“Hey. Strafe. Can I ask you a question?”

“Depends. I will only ask questions that can give you limited benefits. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be cultivating.” Strafe’s stern voice echoed back.

“I know! I know! You’re such a cheapskate! I just wanted to know if Bertugo and Slimey here will be affected by the Mist. You said that they received Soul Kindling. Logically, they should be twice as more susceptible to the Mist since they just got their souls. Why is it that there aren’t any reactions to their behavior?”

“While Soul Kindling is the process of receiving a Soul, I didn’t say that they’re Soul would be weak. The Souls they received were from powerful beings in Elpida. So the Mist outside should make them irritable at most. Their soul is far stronger than yours! And because the souls in them are from the untouched souls from Elpida, they are cultivators!”

“Erm... isn’t that too much of a cheat for me?”

“Not really. All they have is a strong soul. This means that they can soon develop intellect as their minds will improve and allow those two to evolve into stronger beings. But you will still have to train them and teach them if you want them to grow.”

“I get it! Thanks!” Dyne smiled and told the village that he would be taking Bertugo and the Slime to the Mist.

Many of the villagers protested at this, but Dyne reminded them that the monsters protected him before.

Tetsu and Juno volunteered to help, but after much contemplating, Dyne decided to let only Tetsu move as Tetsu’s advancement in his soul was more advanced. In Dyne’s memories, most of the hunters were unable to fight when the Mist broke through and enveloped Rim Elm in the game. Only Tetsu managed to fight even after receiving a powerful attack.

And so, Dyne, Tetsu, Bertugo, and the Slime set out to move out of the village at night. 

The moment the gates were opened, surprisingly, no Mist entered! Dyne frowned but shook it off and decided to call out the group to move out immediately.

As the group exited, Vahn looked at the scene and clenched his fist.

“Vahn. You heard what Master Dyne said. You stand among the strongest within the village.” Val encouraged.

“The terrible things that are coming should keep us on our toes. Who knows? Dyne told me that the risk he will be taking would be crazy and insane. And if he dies, it will be you who will take over.”

“M-me?” Vahn was stunned.

“Yes. Remember what he said before? He knew that I could travel back and forth from the Mist because I knew how to avoid it. But you... I couldn’t understand how you did it at that time. You ventured into the Mist, and although you weren’t able to get the Drake Water, those few weeks when you were away proved your might and strength in the Soul. Dyne said that you could be far stronger than he is.” Val continued to relay what Dyne told him in secret.

Vahn took a deep breath and nodded. He walked towards the Genesis Tree.

“Father... I won’t be sleeping at home tonight.” A serious gaze appeared on Vahn’s face.

Dyne and his group first started with moving around the walls of Rim Elm. When they left, they noticed that the strange Mist was not as strong as it was in their area, so they decided to explore the regions around Rim Elm's wall.

“It’s strange. The night usually is the time when the Mist approaches us. But for some reason, it's very thin now...” Tetsu pondered.

“It must be the Genesis Tree. When it connected to Noaru Valley and allowed me to meet Biron and Rem, it must have granted the tree some powers.” Dyne concluded. And then a frightful expression emerged on his face.

“Were there any bright lights that occurred when I was enlightened?” Dyne immediately asked.

“No. Why? We could see that the Genesis Tree was giving off a faint glow. It wasn’t obvious, and I only noticed it because I could feel a strange presence surrounding me.”

Dyne sighed in relief. If the Genesis Tree did create a bright light, it would have made the game thousands of times harder.

"So it looks like that our village has become some sort of safe zone. But of course, we are not sure how long this will continue.” Dyne gave his conclusion.

“Then, if the Genesis Tree can push away the Mist, how can we use it? Can the jars still be used to contain the Mist?”

“You’re right...” Dyne frowned as he realized this possibility.

Dyne then looked at the Slime. 

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“I’m not sure. But we should try anyway. Since we plan to keep it inside the Slime, it should protect it... Right?” Dyne was unsure.

Tetsu also shrugged his shoulder.

“Oh well. Let’s just do it and get out of here!” Dyne sighed as the group marched off to the Mist.

The Mist soon came to view. Dyne turned over to the Slime and Bertugo.

He gave them a closer look.

The expressions of Bertugo and the wandering of the Slime didn’t seem to have changed.

Dyne sighed in relief.

“Alright. As I said... pull me out if I get crazy. Master Tetsu, knock me out as well.” Dyne sighed.

Dyne and the group immediately rushed towards the Mist. A visibly thick white fog could be seen, and Dyne knew this was the Mist knowing the game.

As the Mist enveloped them, Dyne could clearly sense a strange form of emotion rising in his heart. But it was nothing compared to the sensation that he felt when he took in a part of the corrupted soul.

The Green Slime immediately spitted out the jars that they brought. He had invaded every one of those jars to empty it of any air. And here, they immediately took in the Mist around them and closed the lid before giving it for the Slime to eat up.

“Let’s hope that that works.” Dyne sighed.

The Mist continued to give off an eerie sensation, which made Dyne somehow feel its negativity.

“This is it. The battle of the Soul...” Dyne slowly said.

“What?” Tetsu wondered.

Dyne recalled that the monks of Biron Monastery were strong enough to move within the Mist in the game. Songi volunteered to go to West Voz Forest along with several other Monks. And what was interesting was that there was no indication that the Monks died inside the forest because of the Seru. Dyne believed they died because Songi killed them when Songi betrayed the monks.

“Master Tetsu... Ever since the Mist arrived, have you ever ventured out in the Mist?” Dyne asked.

Tetsu nodded.

“At the start, I did. I accompanied the hunters and helped them hunt. But one day, a group of Gobu Gobus attacked the village. The villagers held off the gate from the rampaging Gobu Gobu until we returned. It was then that we were able to eliminate the team. But that attack made us changed tactics.”

“I see. You are strong enough to handle a group of Gobu Gobus. The Hunters need numbers when they’re out here to look for food. So they all go, and you stay to defend the village alone.”

“Exactly. That was the best arrangement.” Tetsu nodded.

“Well... Now that Bertugo is here, we can make you go all out then.” Dyne laughed.

“I suppose so.” Tetsu also laughed.

“Master Tetsu, why not spend time meditating here? You’ve been meditating all your life. It's about time we introduce some harmful Mist in your meditation.” Dyne laughed.

“Out here?”

“We’ll retreat a bit closer to the village so that the effects of the Genesis Tree can lessen the potency of the Mist. Initially, the reason why I wanted to get some jars and fill them with Mist so that the Hunters can inhale it near the Genesis Tree. But those only apply to the Hunters. I think people like you must train here.” Dyne smiled.

The Monks could easily meditate inside Biron Monastery. They were nearer to the Mist Generator but using their fan system. They could easily meditate on the fan room. As such, Dyne believed this was why the Monks of Biron Monastery were stronger. They could efficiently train and, with a flip of the switch, escape the Mist. Because of this, it was possible that most of them could probably venture into the Mist without falling to insanity.

“Training in the middle of this place?”

“Well... The problem before was that you had no one next to you who could guard you and resist the Mist's madness. But right now, we have it.” Dyne smiled.

Tetsu frowned.

Dyne then turned to Bertugo and the Slime.

“Paggak maygak kagak lagak bangak, sigak gawgak.” Dyne ordered and immediately sat down in a lotus position and began to close his eyes.

Tetsu was stunned but noticed that Bertugo and the Slime immediately began to stand guard.

“Don’t worry, Master. I told Bertugo to shout if there are enemies nearby.” Dyne explained and then shut his eyes.