CHAPTER 66: WAKING UP IN A WEIRD PLACE

"What? Ah... right, right, never mind then boss, I will return here again this evening..." hearing the reply of the store owner, Azrael felt confused for a second, recovering before the middle-aged man even realized the confusion that popped out of his face.

’This means the Forbidden Zones runs on a different time flow...’ as he thought of this to himself, he couldn’t help but think of how absurd the Forbidden Zones are, as well realize that these places might be one hell of a great training ground for forces should it be utilized properly, however, such mountain of treasure just had to be ruined by him conquering the place completely.

’Even if this can only serve as a one-time training ground since the effects will disappear the moment that the Forbidden Zone Quest is finished, that is still one hell of a treasure trove of a training ground’ the young man added to his thoughts as he waves goodbye to the middle-aged store owner who is still wondering what got into his mind for him to inquire about his orders, only for this man to dismiss it as he knows that ascenders are just like that, peculiar people.

’I wonder if there’s a Forbidden Zone that allows entry and exit even while during the Forbidden Zone Quest...’ Azrael’s mind starts flying on places imagining the possibility of such things which would truly make it a training ground for experts, after all, the monster residing within a Forbidden Zone are not normal opponents that one can encounter anywhere, hence why they will make a good practice for experts to hone themselves even more.

While imagining about all sorts of things, he knows that the only way this sort of thing can be useful is when he has an army to train, right now though, not to mention an army, there’s not even a single person willing to follow him as a companion when exploring outside.

’Am I destined to be lonely for life?’ he lamented as he traveled along the road, the exhaustion of fighting against such a dreadful opponent finally catching up to him, said exhaustion urging his body to go to his residence.

"I’m back..." opening the door to his dilapidated apartment and announcing his return to what he expects is no one, he sighs in relief as he felt like it is now truly a good time to rest for a while, dragging his body towards the mattress lying on an extremely clean corner of his apartment, fighting the urge to just plop there as he still felt the need to clean himself before lying on his soft, comfortable bed.

Defeating the lethargy and sloth whispering promises of unprecedented comfort to his head, Azrael drags himself towards the bathroom, enjoying a warm shower for a fairly long while as he still couldn’t help but feel quite dirty from all those black fog, gruesome flesh and blood and decay, as well as the trauma inducing Demonic Flower Petal consumption, recalling it just making him shiver in fear of that nightmarish taste.

After taking a good bath to clean himself, the young man just felt all the more comfortable plopping on the soft mattress while feeling extremely refreshed, making him let out a satisfied sigh as he drifted into dreamland in record time.

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"Hmm? Immortal Energy? In this desolate place? Hahaha!! The heavens have yet to forsake this old lady’s legacy!!" feeling a being, an extremely strong one he can’t see through, staring at him as if boring a hole through his body, Azrael woke up, surprised as he saw nothing but pure darkness in front of him, his worry of turning blind immediately being dispelled as he can still see his body.

Wondering where he is, he stood up, feeling that he was no longer on his comfortable mattress, prompting him to look around as he recalls the ancient voice that woke him up in this place.

"Is there anyone here?" trying to confirm whether there’s truly anyone in this place as he just can feel like the voice that woke him up is not a dream, the young man asked with a loud shout, his voice not even returning an echo, indicating the vastness of this space.

"Tsk, acting all mysterious... there’s nothing good with it at all..." despite knowing that the person previously observing him is some expert that might be powerful enough to kill him with a single thought, Azrael still said in a loud tone hoping to provoke an answer from his target, only for his words to be for naught as yet again, no one responds to his words even after a good few minutes of waiting.

Knowing that there’s nothing he can do if such an expert is refusing to show themselves, the young man then decided to start roaming around trying to figure out the nature of the place he is currently on, his confusion just increasing all the more as he felt like despite travelling for a fairly long time, he’s still on the place where he woke up.

"Where the hell am I?" travelling around as he searches for the owner of that feminine, melodious voice, hoping to encounter them somewhere, the young man asks as he felt like he had been walking for quite a long time already, and it feels like he’s not making any progress at all.

"You’re in a special place, boy, to be exact, a Secret Realm that only those who possess Immortal Energy can enter" as if waiting for him to ask that question, the owner of the voice previously refusing to reveal themselves appears in a brutish, yet still grandiose fashion, their body being covered in divine light for a few seconds as they stepped out from a massive void shattered through whatever means it is that they just used.

"Welcome to this unnamed Immortal Realm, boy, you’re the first person to enter here, of course, only after me" this mighty figure said with a clearly entertained tone in her voice, making Azrael feel surprised, not because of her tone but rather due to her appearance.