Siosand

Leyden City, the western heart of the Yagrant Kingdom, was quite well-developed, with even a relatively large and mature sewer system to deal with the city's daily wastewater and other problems.

Watching the attendant struggle to lift the heavy metal plate, Aaron felt even more strongly the unique charm of this world.

Strictly speaking, the technology tree and path of development in this world seemed to have taken on a fantastical deviation.

On one hand, this world still seemed to retain certain medieval traditions from his original world, with kingdoms, nobles, and fiefdoms. On the other hand, the influence of the supernatural was everywhere.

Even though the supernaturals constantly talked about "letting the supernatural remain supernatural," in reality, they were also imperceptibly altering the historical course that should have developed along its original path.

Take the metal plate covering the sewer in front of him, for example. It was a full meter square and as thick as an adult's fist. Even more remarkably, it had no seams at all, forming one seamless whole.

With medieval productivity, it would have been extremely difficult to forge such a plate. Even if it were possible, it would have consumed an enormous amount of the craftsmen's time and energy.

The plates both restricted the monsters bred in the sewers from reaching the surface and kept ordinary people from entering the dangerous sewers.

However, such metal plates could be seen everywhere in Leyden City, with one appearing every hundred or two hundred paces.

The reason was also very simple. Lord Bals had personally participated in this massive project. As a Gold Tier Holy Grail Path supernatural known by the title "Iron Arm," he could easily control all kinds of metal and forge it into whatever shape he wanted, as though it were modeling clay.

In a sense, Aaron felt that Bals could be considered half a scientist.

As the heavy metal plate was lifted, a stench accompanied by faint green fumes wafted out.

Curious, Aaron leaned closer. He merely took a light sniff, yet it felt as though someone had punched him hard in the nose. He could not help grunting and stumbled back several steps.

Heaven help him, that smell was devastatingly potent, absolutely no less lethal than the socks in the boys' dormitory at his university in his previous life—the ones so stiff they could stand upright!

He had clearly come out of the sewer last time as well. Why was the smell so earth-shattering now?

Siosand glanced at Aaron before looking toward Lord Bals. "My lord, I don't understand. Why would this operation bring along someone who..."

He saw Alice looking at him and tactfully stopped speaking.

At that moment, Aaron saw the light before him rapidly weave together, ultimately forming a screen of light. Faint words appeared along with it.

The host has successfully entered the Dream Realm for the first time. Supernatural aura digestion successful. Dream Realm · Strange Event Point +1

Consume the Strange Event Point to generate a corresponding ability?

Note: Different abilities will be generated according to the source of the Strange Event Point.

Strange Event Point?

Aaron's mind had first endured several waves of supernatural information, been forcibly dragged out of his body into a soul-extrusion experience, and then suffered another biological attack. His brain was in a peculiar state of heightened excitement.

He was clearly wide awake, yet had no idea what to do.

"Take a deep breath." Sart came over and lowered his head to offer him a small pinch of dark-blue powder.

A cool, mint-like scent slid from his nose into his lungs. It was like a chunk of ice, and Aaron shuddered involuntarily before breaking into loud coughs.

"Powdered Ice Heart Grass leaves can help clear your mind. The only side effect is that they tend to make you cough." Sart gently patted Aaron's back while whispering in his ear, "Stand behind Siosand later."

Huh?

Did that mean he wanted that little white-haired guy to protect him?

Aaron froze. For a moment, he even forgot to cough as he stared blankly at Sart.

Sart gave him a slight nod, then said nothing more. Instead, he turned and walked over to Siosand, engaging him in conversation.

Aaron watched Sart and Siosand, then coughed several more times. His mind, stimulated by the Ice Heart Grass, was unusually active.

Although he did not know why Sart was doing this, judging from his earlier behavior, Sart did not seem to harbor any ill will for the time being. It seemed that Siosand was a powerful ally?

Thinking this, Aaron silently consumed that single Strange Event Point.

Aside from generating an ability, he had no idea what else the Strange Event Point could be used for.

So far, this system was so crude that it looked like the interface of a bootleg online game. Not only had it failed to provide a beginner's gift pack, but its guidance module was also terribly designed.

Even now, Aaron still did not know what other functions this system might possess. At most, he could summon the screen of light to view his current status. As for things like a lucky roulette wheel or a card pool where the final draw was guaranteed to be divine, none of them had anything to do with him.

Could this system be an alpha debugging version?

The screen of light began to flicker erratically. At the same time, the several supernaturals unconsciously turned their gazes toward Aaron.

They vaguely sensed that the Dream Realm aura surrounding Aaron had begun to seethe, seemingly showing signs of converging.

After noticing this, Sart, Alice, and Ed all developed strange expressions.

"Is he advancing?" Siosand asked casually.

It was merely an advancement from Black Iron Tier to Bronze Tier, hardly worth his attention.

So what if he advanced to Bronze Tier?

Even if he had just entered Bronze Tier, he would still be utterly insignificant in this operation to hunt the Heretical Cultists.

To a Silver Tier Gold Coin Path fallen one, anyone below Bronze Tier was practically no different from an ordinary person.

"This speed seems a little too fast..." Sart murmured.

"Fast?" Siosand let out a mocking laugh. "Senior Sart, you are Julian of the Star Tower's apprentice. You should have seen what true talent looks like. In theory, as long as one accumulates enough supernatural aura, one can rise from Black Iron Tier to Silver Tier in a single night."

He cast Sart a sidelong glance. "At the Star Tower, it only takes us an average of one month to advance from Black Iron Tier to Bronze Tier. Of course, some people may need a little longer."

Sart paid no attention to the provocation in Siosand's words and looked toward Alice. "Miss Alice, his rate of advancement..."

His tone was filled with deep concern.

Sometimes, advancing too quickly was not a good thing. For supernaturals, the strength of their power was not important. What mattered was whether that power could be controlled.

And as for the consequences of losing control...

Sart remembered all too clearly that the Star Tower's book, Uncontrollable Supernatural Cases, contained several thousand entries of different kinds.

"I'd really like to see just how quickly this person who became your junior can advance," Siosand said, his face full of pride. "Back then, it took me only a week to advance from Black Iron Tier into the supernatural realm. I was even an entire day faster than my teacher."

His advancement speed ranked among the best in the entire Star Tower. Moreover, to this day, he had shown no signs of being corrupted or falling.

"Him? It only took him a day as well." Alice thought for a moment before saying hesitantly.

Siosand flatly refused to believe it. "An entire day? That's impossible!"

Sart glanced at Aaron, then turned to Siosand. A rare, mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"To be precise, it was one night, my dear junior."

Siosand's expression froze.