Visions suddenly started to appear within Hydra’s mind. At once Hydra knew he was seeing visions of something but at first it was unclear and just a ma.s.s flicker of thousands of pictures, but soon started to slow down until it ended a single picture, it was a tranquil scene of an ever flowing plains with a rolling hills and a slight breeze to wave the gra.s.s in a rhythmic manner. Just then a man appeared out of nowhere in his mind. As if the man knew he was inside of Hydra’s mind he beckoned him over and called him out.

“Young Hydra, don’t mind how I know your name as soon as you entered I obviously have already been alerted and found out. I can see that you’re the next successor to the [Aether Bladist]. It’s such a sad sight to see one as young as you take on such a heavy burden!”

As Hydra was about to answer inside his own subconscious suddenly he blanked out. When he regained his consciousness, he was already in front of the main in the picture! Hydra shook his head back and forth and even tried to pinch himself, and sure enough he could feel the numbing sensation that came instead of pain inside the game. Now he was in a game within his own head, a concept that was hard for him to wrap his head around!

The man didn’t appear to be hasty and simply waited with his calm expression, his flowing black hair and his rough sknned face.  It was a face that looked like had been though many battles, and his gaze was strong enough to submit weaker foes immediately.  The man stood there with his black thin robe, with beautiful embroidery of black shiny thread covered it, flowing in the wind. As Hydra nearly drooled at the amazing quality of the robe he nearly had the urge to steal it! However, Hydra could easily tell that this man was a lot stronger than he was regardless whether this scene in his mind was happening or no he would surely die in one hit if he fought this man. To confirm his suspicions he tried to identify the man, however nothing appeared and only a ‘???’ appeared over his name!

Something that was even more terrifying than actually knowing its stats! The unknown caused many variables to come into play thus Hydra, finally spoke up.

“…Where am I?”

“Hehe, young boy fear not I can not hurt you and I wouldn’t even if I could! Now to answer your question, you are obviously within the shadow core you just retrieved!”

Hydra pondered for a few seconds then asked the man a question once again!

“Then…. who are you?”

“Me?”

The man grinned wildly and turned around and pondered for a few moments before returning his gaze upon Hydra. Instead of looking at Hydra in particularly, his gaze was focused on Hydra’s belt, more accurately the [Shadow Stealer]! As his gaze become more focused the [Shadow Stealer] started to hum! It shook lively as if welcoming back its creator and in fact that was the very reason it was reacting!

“I am the one of the Ancients, Gorulo! I am the creator of the [Shadow Stealer] and the original [Aether Bladist]!”

“What!?”

Hydra was shocked! How could he react normally in such a situation! The creator of [Shadow Stealer] was and ancient, Hydra knew that! However it was how long ago that it truly happened how could Gorulo still be here?! Before Hydra could recover from his shock the man continued.

“I have implanted part of my soul within each of the four [Ancient Shadow Cores]. The reason was to train my successor to become the strongest warrior in the continent! So he or she could venture throughout the lands and finally slay the [Lord of Darkness]!”

“Really?!”

Hydr was excited he was going to learn a new skill?! He was disappointed by the drop of the [Reaper Lich] and although the could have huge benefits the demerits were just as high if not higher! However that was immediately removed after hearing the news the man told him. Excitedly pumping his fists, Gorulo smiled and put his hand to his chin and spoke.

“You’re quite energetic, which is a good thing! After all this profession has many challenges that you must overcome. I can only hope that you stay true to your heart as it is now.”

Hydra was confused by these words, however as he had no way of answering he waited for Gorulo to continue. Suddenly, the surroundings started to change and a thick mist started to invade the lands of the plains. This mist didn’t seem to harbour any damages lingering within however it gave off a very cold feeling. This feeling made Hydra slightly shiver as he was unable to figure out the reason for this feeling as it was not from the temperature drop! As he looked around in the mist Gorulo spoke up.

“This is area represents Niflheim, the area in which this shadow core came from! This is the original appearance of the world within the core and I only changed it slightly for me to live within the plains until I could meet you. Now that I have there is no need to keep up my illusion and I can teach you the move by utilizing the enemies that will appear within this world!”

“There are monsters in here?!”

“They are nothing but a figment of the past, and I will only show you to the weak ones for learning this skill. Now come!”

Although Gorulo said to come, Hydra was unable to move an inch because Gorulo had already picked him up and dashed into the mist. Hydra was secretly shocked at the speed of this man. Even if this man was to have a race person on a bike he would probably win! When they finally arrived Hydra noticed a few dozen heavily equipped undead soldiers guarding a gate. The gate however was hazy and seemed to endlessly change into reality and illusion. It was a mysterious feeling and Hydra only woke up from his distracted self, when Gorulo dropped him onto the ground!

After being dropped without warning Hydra hit the ground hard without preparing and smoked his face into the dirt below. Hydra unhappily got up and looked towards Gorulo who gave an apologetic expression. Without wasting any time Gorulo pointed towards the dozen of enemies and half a dozen black intricate runes appeared. They were all scattered in an abnormal fashion much different from the neat appearance of regular Rune magic that Hydra was used too. As Gorulo slowly but surely finished the magic, he spoke out to Hydra.

“Boy, this must be the first attack spell you will learn right?”

Hydra nodded furiously! He was getting an attack spell?! How could he not be happy over such an occurrence! Thus he was unable to to speak and kept nodding like an excited child. At this Gorulo only smirked and pointed his hand towards the dozen undead and shouted.

“[Shadow Piercer]!”

Just then under the mist appeared dozens upon dozens on thin black spikes, as they rushed towards the undead piercing straight through the armor to and appearing on the other side of their bodies! They there impaled with so much force that their bodies had been completely been removed from the ground as they instantly turned into particles afterwards! Hydra was flabbergasted. He knew attack spells were usually destructive but such pinpoint accuracy on multiple targets with such strength was amazing!

He couldn’t help but look happily with adoration as he would soon be learning that exact spell! When he was unable to hold his excitement any longer, Gorula wrote another rune and it hovered softly and slowly towards Hydra. At first hydra though it was touch him but instead it went directly into the [Shadow Stealer]! In which Hydra immediately recognized he had learnt the spell, and as he did he brought up the information on it.

Now that Hydra had learnt the spell he didn’t waste any time and immediately tried it out. Gorula, was happy to see him test out his new powers and waited patiently for the results. Luckily when Gorula instantly killed the undead he left one there for Hydra to test his skill out himself! Just then, like Gorulo, half a dozen runes appeared in a scattered motion. Hydra, naturally knew the order in to write by watching Gorula, but even if he didn’t the system would light up the order of the spells themselves.

The only real difficulty about these runes is that the order in which he had to write them was scattered and he could not help but grumble slightly as using this in the midst of combat would be very difficult. However, upon seeing the power first hand he knew exactly how devastating it could be when utilized correctly!

Finally Hydra finished and although only 3 blades appeared instead of the few dozen like Gorulo the armor was still pierced through the into the undead, however it did not pierce through to the other side or lift it off the ground. [Shadow Piercer] didn’t even kill the target, however Hydra expected such a result as it was still only at level 1!. Finally Gorulo smirked and nodded happily before turning to Hydra and spoke.

“Now Hydra, while our first meeting is short, it is not the end. Although I will not know you in the remaining cores, our time together has been wonderful. I can now peacefully move on, knowing that you will succeed me. I can only hope that you will stay strong in the face all the challengers you will face in the future!”

“Wait.. You’re going to die?!”

“I am but a fragment of my real self, and even if I could I would not return to my self. Now, gather the remaining cores, when you gather the last one, all shall be known to you my successor!”

As Gorulo spoke his last words, his body started to fade along with the mist. Hydra stood there stupidly unable to react. Hydra had a good impression on the man and just as he was getting to know him and learn from him he had already disappeared like the wind. It was a sad thing to see, however Hydra couldn’t stop now as he promised himself to gather the remaining cores to find out what happened to his predecessor!

Finally Hydra woke up from the illusion and stood up immediately. It was time to leave! He had no more time to fool around and had to quickly find Irina to continue his journey!