Heart racing, Leo stood still, staring into the ruins before him. The destruction was more than he could imagine. Trees uprooted, the earth ripped apart. His hands shook from the weight of what he had just done.
"This... this is my strength," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. The revelation hit him like his fist had smashed into that Orc Lord. He was done being an ordinary adventurer.
He gazed down at his shaky hands. A slight wind ruffled his hair. When he looked up, the bright blue sky and glaring sun met his eyes.
It seemed unreal.
He stepped back, lost his footing, and fell. As he landed on his back after rolling quite a distance. Wide eyed. He then discovered he'd fallen into a much bigger hole in the ground.
Did that punch actually pack that much power? He thought, gasping at the size of the crater.
Thud!
A staff struck the earth.
"Young man," a high, old-fashioned woman's voice called out. Leo blinked. What he saw before him was almost unthinkable. A woman towered over him, calm but fearsome.
Thin mist followed each of her breaths. The air around her shimmered with cold.
Her staff, taller than her, ended in an elaborate crystal that caught and threw off the light, separating it into a hundred glittering points.
He shuddered.
"Still breathing, are you?" she said.
"Now tell me, what trouble have you gotten yourself into?"
Leo, still in shock, was speechless.
Then, a message flashed in front of his eyes.
[System Notification] You have encountered Winter Warlock.
[System Notification] System User details acquired.
[System Notification] Open details?
He focused on the "Okay" button. The window expanded, displaying detailed information:
Name: Kurea Level: 70 Job: Wizard System: Winter Warlock
It then listed her status, skills, abilities, and benefits she got from her system. He recalled what Ranna had told him — that system users could see only the names of other users' systems, hence their title like the Dragon Lord.
Kurea saw that he was observing her closely.
She tipped her head slightly and her lips twisted into a small, knowing smile.
"Oh-ho! Quit staring, young man! A proper gentleman keeps his eyes to himself," she said, her speech light yet rippled with humor.
Her hand went over her chest; the blue of her elegant dress danced with ice-like folds. Her white pointed hat tipped just slightly as she walked, shading her long white hair that fell over her shoulders. She sparkled for a moment in mock reprimand and humor with her blue eyes.
Taken aback, Leo stuttered an apology, his cheeks turning red with shame. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't know it would... I didn't mean to..."
Kurea sighed and waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it, young man. This place is far too dangerous for someone like you. Best you leave before you meet your end."
Leo shot to his feet, offering a slight bow. "Thank you." He glanced back and then hurried away, his heart racing.
He sighed to himself, Well, I dodged a bullet again this time.
As he stepped outside, he felt a sharp, chilly wind on his skin. He glanced down and saw, to his great shock, that his shirt had blown completely off. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed until now.
"Damn it, why am I only seeing this?" he muttered, the air biting cold against his face. The shirt was a gift from Amanda, and the thought of losing it hurt worse than the cold.
It must have blown off when the Orc Lord hit me, he thought and sighed heavily.
As he hurried along, trying to avoid being seen, he couldn't help but take a moment to admire his body. It was the first time he saw himself since syncing with Amanda, and the change was stunning. Gone were that slightly plump tummy and the average build he had back on Earth.
Now his body was sculpted. Chiseled abs, and broad shoulders.
Wow, look at me, he thought, surprised and a little in awe.
He flexed his arms a little, muscles swelled each motion. "Not bad, Leo, not bad at all," he muttered under his breath, a self-satisfied smirk plastered on his face.
But the cold soon brought him back to his predicament. Okay, focus. I've got to get home without Amanda seeing me looking like this, he thought, picking up his hurried walk again.
He moved by a group of soldiers and overheard bits of their conversation: no signs of other high-tier adventurers around the area and acknowledgment that the Orc Dominion had fallen with the defeat of the Orc Lord.
Behind him, Kurea looked over at Leo, released her staff, and crossed her arms. The staff ignited and turned into a magical owl, its feathers shimmering ice blue. Its eyes glimmered with a ghostly shine.
"Coco, have you felt anything from watching him?" she asked.
Its eyes flickered, widening, and narrowing as it studied Leo. The owl's head tilted. It hesitated for a few moments as though sensing that something strange was happening. Then, with a sharp fluff of feathers, it turned away. "He is an average citizen, not even a registered adventurer," it replied, its voice slightly irritated.
"And no calling the legendary owl 'Coco!'" the owl squawked in disapproval, but Kurea did not pay attention. She retained her gaze on Leo until he disappeared beyond the woods.