[Basic Mission: Survive for Twelve Hours.]
[Main Mission: Kill Aberrations!]
[Hint: The more aberrations you kill within twelve hours, the higher the reward...]
The missions appeared on the holographic panel, all in striking scarlet font. The transcendents, preparing to enter the city, immediately stopped in their tracks. None of them appeared surprised or confused. Their teachers had already briefed them about the Spirit Realm, telling them that each layer would feature clear mission objectives.
Ben paused and looked over at Leo.
"Leo!" Ben called out.
Leo didn't seem to mind Ben's affectionate tone. She frowned slightly, her focus on the mission at hand.
"The basic mission requires us to survive here for twelve hours, but there's no specified location. Should we head into the city now?" Ben asked.
Leo took a moment to think before responding.
"Let's enter the city."
"Oh?" Ben replied, "Didn't you say this place felt off? Why go in now?"
Leo was patient with him as always. She explained, "This area is barren, with nothing for us to understand. We don't know what the aberrations are or how powerful they may be. If there are a lot of them, staying here could leave us trapped. The city has buildings, so we can hide there. It's safer."
Ben smiled, nodding in agreement.
"What if the town is the lair of the biggest demon? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
"The chance of that is low," Leo replied confidently. "The first ten layers of the Spirit Realm are mandatory newbie realms. The difficulty isn't too high, especially the first layer. The survival rate is higher, so the risk of falling into a deadly trap is slim."
Ben was satisfied with the explanation.
"Alright, let's go into the city then."
The majority of the other transcendents made the same decision. However, a few teams chose to stay outside, wary of what lay ahead.
Entering the city was easy. No obstacles stood in their way.
"Greetings, travelers from afar. I am the law enforcement officer of Ron City, representing the City Lord's Mansion. Welcome," said the officer at the city gate, a middle-aged man dressed in retro-style armor. His high nose and deep eye sockets made him appear somewhat European, though his black hair and eyes gave him a distinctly East Asian appearance.
This confirmed that each layer of the Spirit Realm was, indeed, an independent world. But that wasn't what caught everyone's attention. What mattered was the fact that the law enforcement officer spoke in an unknown language—but everyone could understand him perfectly!
Upon entering the Spirit Realm, all transcendents automatically acquired the ability to understand the world's language.
Just as everyone was preparing to move forward, the law enforcement officer's expression turned serious.
"Ron City is a place of freedom, and you can go anywhere. However, I must remind you: It will be dark in an hour. When the darkness falls, do not wander outside."
This information immediately caught everyone's attention. Until now, they hadn't been sure if it was morning or afternoon. The sky had been overcast. But now, they learned that darkness would come in an hour, and the officer warned them not to wander once night fell.
Clearly, the officer was hinting that there would be dangers after dark—likely the aberrations that had been mentioned earlier.
A white transcendent, seeing how friendly the officer was, stepped forward and asked, "Respected officer, we have traveled from afar, and we don't yet have a place to stay. We lost our money on the way here. Could you kindly advise us on where to stay safely for the night?"
The officer nodded sympathetically. "That's unfortunate," he said before pondering for a moment. "If you have money, I'd recommend Ronan's Tavern. He offers fine wine, comfortable rooms, and hot baths to help you relax after your long journey. But if you're short on funds, try your luck at Earl Rozen's house. He's a very hospitable man and often provides shelter and food for travelers in need."
This last suggestion caused a stir among the transcendents. Several of them immediately looked at each other, wondering if they should try their luck.
"Thank you, respected officer," the white transcendent said, bowing. He then led his companions toward Earl Rozen's mansion.
Among the other transcendents, some decided to follow, interested in the free accommodation.
Ben turned to Leo.
"What should we do?"
Leo thought for a moment before replying, "The officer mentioned it will be dark soon. Let's explore the city first. If we can't find a suitable place, we can always head to Rozen's mansion later."
Ben agreed, clearly pleased with the idea.
"Alright, let's take a look around."
And so, the two of them ventured deeper into the city, their surroundings full of new and intriguing sights.
Meanwhile, another group of transcendents, including Robert, Mark Wood, Trump, and Smith, made their way toward the same city gates. They had already heard the officer's warning. Trump, the ever-skeptical one, voiced his concerns.
"Should we trust what that officer said? What if this whole city is a trap?" he asked.
Mark Wood, always calm, nodded thoughtfully. "We don't know what's ahead, but we can't just sit in the wilderness either. At least in the city, we might find clues or other transcendents to help us."
Robert added, "Besides, if the officer's right about nightfall, staying outside might be even riskier. Let's head in."
The group nodded, making their way toward the city, keeping their guard up despite the apparent safety of the city.
As they all explored the city, each with their own thoughts on the dangers of the night, Leo and Ben continued their quiet journey.
"Do you think the aberrations will be dangerous?" Ben asked, his voice low.
Leo looked up at the darkening sky. "We can't know for sure. But we have to be ready for anything. As the officer said, darkness brings new dangers. We'll be safest if we stay alert."
Ben nodded, still trying to make sense of it all. "Let's stay close. We'll be ready for whatever comes our way."
And so, with the final hour of daylight slipping away, the transcendents scattered throughout the city, each pondering what the coming night would bring.