Chapter 18: First Harvest

By dawn the storm had gradually passed.

Zax and Fengar, after entering Demirva Ridge, kept running in the open till first rays of light.

Any person, whether a cultivator or a regular human being, could feel the foreboding atmosphere of the ridge. Most disturbing was the absence of any type of life, not even the tiniest insect or even plants could be seen.

“Luckily we haven’t met slumbering wraiths or other cultivators. If possible, I rather let someone be the first to validate the folktale. At that point, stealing the dark attribute’s essence would be much safer than harvesting it ourselves”.

Fengar sat in front of Zax, at the other side of the tunnel they rested in, figuring that under clear sky and sunlight many others will begin to move, mostly the impatient.

According to Fengar, the tunnel led inside the mountain they were staying at. As it so happened, the pitiable former inhabitants of Demirva Ridge were living all over the place. Back then, settlements could be found on any part inside and outside a mountain. Today, after the catastrophe of the ridge, other than the wraiths, only the excavated living areas left to indicate that once beasts and humans used to live here. Not even ashes remained.

After getting the short explanation, Zax closed his eyes to concentrate on recuperating his last bit of missing strength that he currently can muster.

The plan was to stay in the tunnel until after sunset or someone troublesome finding them, so when Zax decided that he cannot do more for his body except from letting it to continue recover on its own, particularly his right arm, he reminisced the insights to the Advanced phase of the bodily maneuvers he acquired in the fight against Cattelin.

‘It’s indistinct, but I can tell it is right there’. Zax calmly examined his experiences in the harsh fight, specifically his control of the fifth step of Kinetic Force and the effect on his body in alignment with the repetitive usage of it. ‘There are seven steps to the Kinetic Force. The sixth and seventh, Grandmaster said that only at the Advanced phase of the bodily maneuvers I will be able to utilize them. That unlike the initial steps, the last two don’t demand a strong body to withstand them, but a profound understanding, especially the seventh step ... at the moment, even Grandmaster can only strive to perceive a mere notion of its concept’.

Zax contemplated over and over. Sometimes thinking that focusing on the steps of Kinetic Force maybe does not have anything to do with the bodily maneuvers’ Advanced phase, and sometimes believing that they are actually the catalyst to the next breakthrough.

Each new realization brought about a minuscule, yet better understanding or helped deduce flaws on this path he treading.

‘It ... won’t be long!’

Yarnus was a renowned mercenary and a cultivator at the Beginner phase of the third Core Master level. In his party of five that chose to participate in the assignment of the High Rankers’ trials, he was the second weakest but had the sharpest mind. As such, it was agreed upon that he will be the acting leader of the party.

“We have been lurking around these parts of the ridge for nearly two days, Yarnus, when are we going to reap those dark attribute’s essences?” A plump, middle aged woman with a bowl haircut asked anxiously.

“Relax, Tulip, even Martial Mortals won’t move hastily in the ridge. Besides, no one has reason to look for us”. Yarnus tapped his companion’s shoulder.

“I don’t care about other experts, but this group of wraith irritates the hell out of me”. Another person said, a tall, lean man with a metallic stick in his hand. “Why can’t we get their dark attribute’s essences and leave the ridge?” He asked as his eyes, as well as the eyes of everyone else in the party, but Yarnus, stared covetously and fervently at the anomalous dark spheres in the heads of each of the mildly transparent, demonic looking skeleton black wraiths.

There were overall three wraiths out in the open. Not exactly congregating, but in a triangular formation, no more far apart from one another than eight meters. Their appearances were mostly the same. All looked like floating monstrous dark gray, almost black, human’s size skeletons. Each of the three was shrouded by a mantle that seemingly were parts of their bodies.

The wraiths exuded a corrosive, sickening atmosphere that spread far and wide and was the reason why nothing could grow in the ridge.

The thing which captured the desire of Yarnus’s party of five, and basically all other cultivators who made their way to the ridge, were spherical dark bulbs that shone through the wraiths’ resting skulls. Those bulbs were believed to be, by Yarnus and the rest, the legendary dark attribute’s essence God Demirva personally used to create the wraiths. They thought so since this was not their first time in the ridge. Moreover, even if they have not seen before the damnable wraiths, there was no apt mercenary in the Western Continent who was not familiar with their external characteristics.

“Forget it, everyone, it’s still too early. We will wait couple more hours and then go get the goodies”. Yarnus convincingly said to his companions.

The other four shifted their gazes from the wraiths, back to their small encampment. There was still the issue of only three wraiths to their five, yet they all decided to put it aside for now, after all...

In addition to being sharp, Yarnus was also very crafty and a little bit lucky. Before they left the Tensen Crow clan for the assignment, his contact in the clan and inside woman in the Mercenary Association, divulged to him the matter of the folktale and the Mercenary Association’s intentions.

Learning about it all, Yarnus was not indignant. On the contrary, he was very much delighted. He immediately informed his long time companions of this valuable opportunity that suddenly manifested within the assignment. It took some convincing, but eventually he got everyone on board.

The plan was to be the first to enter Demirva Ridge, fast enough before the Mercenary Association, and possibly the five powers, would arrive. Then, after being the forerunner by a large margin, a paid off acquaintance who does not partake in the High Rankers’ trials would spread the news about the impending event and the conspiracy of the Mercenary Association.

The idea of this plan was to increase the tension for all those that are participating in the assignment or belong to an outside group, driving them to be more vigilant so Yarnus and his party will have the time to find a safe opportunity to harvest the dark attribute’s essence. Also, in case the worst will occur and the wraiths will start to wake up, hopefully, they would be attracted by the cluster of cultivators behind the leading party.

Several hours later.

“Okay, I won’t prolong the wait anymore, everyone”. Yarnus exited from his tent and summoned it back to his spatial ring as is.

“At long last”. A bulky, bearded fellow commented, dragging his huge physique from another tent.

“Being the first to respond, Haanar, are you perhaps interested in also being the first to try and get a dark attribute’s essence?” An old man, sitting on a rock and carefully observing the slumbering three wraiths, taunted.