Darkbloods? Fighting Saints? Alnea went through the information in his head once again. Of all the races that once existed in the world, the Darkbloods were the best when it came to exploring the Mysteries of their own bodies. Fighting Saints, on the other hand, were the best in exploring the Mysteries of Oren. And the legacy, that came from combining both their paths, was known as the path of the Blood Saints. Or Fighting Blood. Whichever the inheritor preferred.

  Though, given how Alnea had deviated from the path of blood, neither of those names were appropriate anymore. Maybe the name of Oren Saint would be better. Or Fighting Oren? How about—

  That was not the important point. He could think of a name later. At the moment, he was more worried about the origin of the legacy. A path that came from the experiments between Darkbloods and the Fighting Saints… When did those two races became such good friends? Were they not supposed to be one of the most bloodthirsty and war hungry races in their time?

  More importantly, he thought that the legacies were supposed to be from the ‘Lost’ races. Like the one which had imprisoned the Fire Spirit. And the one that the creator of the Fire Spirit came from. Races, which had even had their names removed from history. How come the information in his head was saying something else?

  Then again, what did the origin of the legacy have to do with him? As long as it could help him become stronger, and fulfil his Oaths, he did not mind where the legacy came from. So, after some thought, Alnea stopped thinking about the legacy’s origin, and went through the other information in his head.

  The path of the Darkbloods involved exploring the Mysteries of their bodies, boosting it with all other sorts of Mysteries to obtain an effect similar to what the path of Warriors could achieve. Except, the path of the Darkblood was much more mature, and systematic. Not like the path of Warriors, where everyone had to explore their own path with their Martial Styles.

  Darkbloods, after countless years of exploration, had mastered almost all there was to the Mysteries of Blood, Mysteries of the Five Treasures, Mysteries of the Three Palaces, Mysteries of the Microcosm, and many other similar Mysteries pertaining to their bodies, which allowed them to guide their young from their infancy all the way to the limits of the Origin Sea, and even beyond.

  In contrast, Fighting Saints took a completely different path, focussing on exploring the Mysteries of Oren. After all, Oren was the most unadulterated, and the most pervasive power of the Origin Sea. Even more than its Mysteries. While Mysteries could only said to be endless because of their large numbers, Oren truly was endless. And held infinite possibilities.

  There was just one problem. Oren could not be touched directly. It could only help the beings of the Origin Sea in manifesting and urging its Mysteries Aspects. But the Fighting Saints knew the potential of Oren. So, instead of using it as just a fuel to wield other powers of the Origin Sea, they went the other route, engraving the Mysteries of the Origin Sea on their own bodies, thus gaining the right to touch Oren directly.

  Of course, in the beginning, they did not know much about Oren, and could only make do with other Mysteries. But through countless years of exploration, they were finally able to create a path that went beyond the limits of the Origin Sea with just the Mysteries of Oren. And that was how they gained their name, Fighting Saints. In part. There was also their war hungry nature which contributed that name. And they accepted it with grace.

  Regardless, be it the path of the Darkbloods, or the path of the Fighting Saints, both were a well fleshed out path, that went beyond the path of Wanderers. Unfortunately, neither were suitable for humans. Unless humans could also spend countless years in exploring the Mysteries of their bodies and Oren, adapting those paths for their future generations. Even then, the chances of success were abysmally low.

  Unlike the two races, humans were born with Spirits. And in laying their Roots in the Origin Sea, they linked themselves inextricably to its Mysteries. To the dangers that lay lurking under its surface. One wrong step, and they would end up being devoured by the Origin Sea. Unless absolutely sure, engraving Mysteries on their bodies would only be inviting more troubles to themselves.

  More importantly, the legacies of the two races were not widespread. At least, Alnea had never heard their names outside of legends. And even at the moment, the information in his head only gave a basic description of the two paths, asking him to explore their Mysteries on his own. Though it did give him a direction to explore in. Still, to recreate the two paths all the way to their peaks, that was far from enough.

  Then again, the legacy he had received was not about the Darkbloods or the Fighting Saints. It was about the Blood Saints. Or Fighting Blood. Maybe Oren Saint would be better. Or Fighting Oren? For the moment, Alnea decided to refer to it as the legacy of Oren. And to the Oren Cycle as the Oren Vessels. Or would Oren Veins be better?

  In any case, the legacy of Oren was about combining the best of the two paths, while abandoning their weaknesses, creating a universal path that any race could use. And to that end, it combined the Mysteries of Blood with the Mysteries of Oren to create the Blood Crystal Martial Styles. Though its original name was the Blood Crystal Mysteries. Yet rather than the Mysteries of the Origin Sea, they were more like Artificial Mysteries.

  No wonder they were so different from other Martial Styles. It was because they were not Martial Styles at all. They were only referred to as such because of convenience. But if he needed to pass the second test of the legacy, he needed to know their essence. So, the legacy gave him all information about them. Including how to combine them into one, single Mystery.

  Alnea, however, was more interested in the information about the Blood Crystal Patterns. After all, the path he took was slightly different than the one described in the legacy of Oren. The rest of the information was not of any use to him. Only the information about the Blood Crystal Patterns could help him. Though he did not mind taking some notes from the Blood Forging Martial Styles. Maybe, it would help him later…

  “What?” Alnea said, opening his eyes involuntarily after going through a particular information about the Blood Crystal Patterns, and found himself back in the midst of a meadow once again, sitting on the ground, surrounded by flowers of all kinds. It was only then, that he noticed the absence of the stabbing pain. Though he still felt terribly sore.

  “…Is it finally over?”

  “It is,” the Assistant Panel rad, moving back into his vision once again. “How are you feeling?”

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  “…I have been better,” Alnea mumbled, pushing himself back to his feet, wincing from the muscle cramps all over his body. “It did not hurt even a tenth as much when the Fire Spirit transformed my body.”

  “Because he just stuffed the subspace into your body. The city, on the other hand, integrated it into your body, turning it into something like an organ. Of course, it is going to hurt. But the most difficult part is over. All that is left, is letting your body adapt to the new ‘organ’. In short, you should be fine after some rest.”

  “If I can rest,” Alnea said. “After reading the information about the legacy of Oren, I can finally understand why those clans are so crazy…”

  “Legacy of Oren? That is an indeed a fitting name. Though a little lazy. But I should not expect much from you when it comes to names.”

  “Hey! I can also think of good names!”

  “Like subspace?”

  “…How about Oren Veins?”

  “It is better than Oren Cycle.”

  “…Oren Veins it is, then,” Alnea said, deciding its was best not to waste his time on arguing with a senile old being. Though it was mostly because he still needed to ask the city’s creator some questions. “Is the information I received in the legacy all true?”

  “It is.”

  “Even the part about the Darkbloods and the Fighting Saints?”

  “Yes.”

  “…And what about the Blood Crystal Patterns?”

  “That part is just a conjecture from the city. After all, no one has taken this path before. But according to my experience, it should be as the city predicted.”

  “…I can really ‘Forge’ my body like my Spirit?”

  “Yes, but like I said, no one has taken this path before, so you need to explore the way on your own.”

  “That’s fine,” Alnea said, as a smile involuntarily made its way to his lips. “I have always liked challenges.”

  “Try not to kill yourself. You are the first Wanderer to earn a legacy at just the False Rank. It would be a pity if you died before completely mastering it.”

  “I am not so easy to die,” Alnea said, widening his smile. “Though I really do need to be careful… Will other people be able to guess that I have already obtained a legacy?”

  “The city will not reveal your information, and it will not let anyone hurt you within its walls, but it cannot restrict anyone’s imaginations.”

  “…How many people know about the city’s legacies?”

  “Not many. At present, excluding you and your master, there are only three other people who have obtained legacies, but none of them are within the city right now. And they have yet to master their legacies, so they cannot tell anyone about what they have gained either.”

  “So, five people in total?”

  “Five people with exact information.”

  “That is enough. Without enough confidence, even Grand Wanderers should have some scruples against breaking the city’s rules, not to mention fighting against two Grand Wanderers. As long as I leave the city before they can confirm their guess…”

  “It is good that you have not become too arrogant of yourself because of the legacy.”

  “…The legacy cannot increase my strength right away. What is there to be arrogant about?”

  “But you are thinking too much. As long as you are within the city, no one can harm you within the rules.”

  “…So, as long as they do it within the rules, they can still trouble me?”

  “With your current strength, I do not think you should be afraid of any False Wanderer.”

  “What if it is a True Wanderer?”

  “Unless you break the city’s rules, no Wanderer above your Rank will dare to touch you.”

  “…I am not talking about myself.”

  “Are you worried about the girls following you?”

  “…Them. And the two Wanderers whom I want to take as my Dependents.”

  “With your status, you should indeed take a few Dependents. Who knows, they may even bring you a surprise.”

  “…Is it related to another legacy?”

  “Let us keep that as a surprise.”

  “…I am afraid that I will not be able to see your surprise.”

  “Why? Have you changed your mind?”

  “It is not that I have changed my mind, but the city that won’t let me take them away.”

  “Why would the city stop you from taking away your Dependents?”

  “…Do you know which two Wanderers I am talking about?”

  “I did not know them before, but now I do.”

  “…I have a friend who can peek into fate.”

  “The girl with the breath of Fate on her body. She is also special, just like you.”

  “…She is.”

  “So, what is it that is bothering you?”

  “…Yuri peeked into the Daes and Tia’s fate, and noticed that it did not change after I asked them to become my Dependents.”

  “And you think that is because other people might not let them become your Dependents, or make them stay in the city with force?”

  “…Can you help me take them away?”

  “You are worrying too much. Like I said before, within the city’s walls, no one can break its rules. Not even Supreme Wanderers.”

  “But their fate—

  “Is hidden by the city. As is the fate of all the Wanderers who lose the right to leave the city on their own. Not only for their own safety, but also for the sake of preventing people from spying on the city’s secrets.”

  “…Then Yuri—

  “She read it wrong. Their fates had already changed the moment you met them. Even the two who chose not to become your Dependents. Though one of them chose to betray you, ruining her fate with her own hands.”

  “…Martha?”

  “You can check that information out on your own.”

  “…Forget it. It does not matter. I will just treat it as repaying the favour I owed her. As long as I can take Daes and Tia away…”

  “You can. Though you need to register them as your Dependents first.”

  “Right. I still haven’t registered them as my Dependents… Is there anything else that you need to tell me?”

  “Are you getting impatient again?”

  “…I…”

  “It is alright. I have already seen what I wanted to, and you have also got your legacy. It is indeed time for you to leave.”

  “Wait. At least tell me what I need to do next.”

  “What you have always been doing.”

  “…That’s it?”

  “That is more than enough. Even if it was by accident, you did provide the Fire Spirit with the idea. And that was when you did not have any information about the legacy. That is the reason why the city made an exception for you, and why I chose you.

  “Choose me… You mentioned something like that before too. What does that mean? What did you choose me for?”

  “You will understand when the time comes. Right now, all you need to do is focus on becoming stronger and mastering the legacy of Oren, until you create your own path.”

  “…I will.”

  “Then until we meet again, Alnea Oathkeeper.”