Pursuit of Power

"Vivian, you should go and rest."

In the pitch-black mine, a torch's light resolutely pushes forward into the darkness.

Two figures, one large and one small, were visible in the light.

Leading the way was Linsey, who was naturally there to investigate the situation, while beside him was Vivian, whose face still looked weak.

As Linsey arranged temporary campsites for the others, Vivian quickly regained her senses.

He had intended for Vivian to rest with the others.

With dozens of Mutated Sheath Blade Insect protecting it, the safety here is beyond doubt.

But on this matter, Vivian showed extraordinary stubbornness.

That unwavering attitude even reminded Linsey of her past self.

In the Hidden Borderlands, that's how he made his stance clear, and then Anrui led him to explore the Black Mountain World.

Now, facing Vivian, whom they want to cultivate.

Linsey was inexplicably moved and agreed to the request.

After all, with my current strength, I shouldn't lose an arm just by exploring underground, right?

He had no intention of sending Vivian a straw hat.

When Linsey asked her about it, Vivian also spoke frankly about her thoughts:

"Mr. Linsey, I feel I need to at least know what took those lives, and understand who our future enemies are!"

"..."

A sense of responsibility towards subordinates? A protective instinct?

Linsey raised an eyebrow.

Vivian's behavior still showed a maturity beyond her years.

For a child living in the Wasteland, this is definitely a gifted advantage, but for a child's development, Linsey doesn't think it's good news.

Other children may not be able to confront their emotional problems directly.

But Vivian ... a sword's edge is honed through tempering, Linsey felt Vivian could do it, so she tried speaking to the young girl:

"I heard it from Mill before."

"On your escape route, a little boy mentioned his father."

"..."

Sure enough, Linsey spoke up.

Vivian fell silent, not answering immediately as she had before.

Linsey continues:

"Vivian, I don't know what your true thoughts are. But you haven't mentioned Mr. Yarrowen since the attack on the Yarrow Camp. What are your real thoughts on this?"

"..."

Vivian remained silent.

But Linsey waited patiently for a few seconds before the little girl spoke:

"I, Mr. Linsey, am not capable."

"This world is all about strength, but I'm not even an Awakened One."

"Of course I'm worried about my father, but at a time like this, if I continue to act recklessly, it will only cause trouble for others!"

"No... isn't that right?"

Vivian is so mature that it's almost heartbreaking.

Linsey's tone also carried a hint of distress:

"At your age, you should be able to be willful."

Vivian lowered her head and said:

"But being willful cannot change reality."

"What I learned from elementary school is to face problems with a practical attitude."

The girl suddenly looked up:

"Mr. Linsey, do you think I'll have a chance to become an Awakened on the next Harvest Day?"

"..."

Linsey could not answer this question.

In his understanding, there are indeed ways to increase the probability of awakening.

That would require Ascender with a very high degree of Essence Integration to help an ordinary person adapt to Essence over a long period of time, and would also require the assistance of some rare materials.

And after paying such a price.

What you get only increases the probability of awakening; it doesn't guarantee 100% success.

Linsey couldn't possibly fool a child.

But then he glanced at his luggage again.

[Rare Item/Material: Source Material Seed]

[A special entity condensed from Essence; if ingested by ordinary people, it increases their probability of becoming an Awakened; it can also be used as a material to craft other items.]

[An extremely rare and valuable item.]

Three of these can be combined to form one [Source Material Emblem].

Based on Linsey's understanding of the Equipment System, this [Source Material Emblem], once synthesized, will not only provide attribute bonuses, but will also most likely enable one to become an Awakened.

Unfortunately, this kind of item only appears to awakened individuals at Fifth Stage or higher, and it has a very low drop rate.

To date, Linsey only has two.

If...

"Lord Linsey, may I learn martial arts from you?"

At this moment, Vivian suddenly spoke up.

The girl remembered the story Linsey had once told her.

In the Hidden Borderlands, the person who saved him twice had learned martial arts from that Lord, but did not follow the path of the War School.

Linsey was somewhat curious about Vivian's question:

"Vivian, didn't you want to become an Awakened One?"

"Do you hope to follow the path of the War School in the future?"

"Actually, right now—you can acquire basic combat skills immediately just by training at our soldier training grounds!"

Vivian shook her head:

"I learn martial arts not to kill, nor to become a high and mighty Awakened. I just... I just want to have the power to protect, even if that power is very weak, I want to have it myself."

"..."

Vivian's maturity left Linsey speechless.

He recalled scenes from the past, and some words came out naturally:

"Child, have you studied combat techniques before?"

Vivian answered honestly:

"My father taught me some basic swordsmanship."

"But at the time, I felt that I might not be able to become an awakened one, so I didn't study seriously."

Linsey continued to ask:

What do you want to learn now?

Vivian replied without hesitation:

"A sword! I want to learn how to wield a sword!"

Linsey nodded earnestly and made a promise:

"No problem, I'll teach you."

"..."

In the darkness, two figures, one large and one small, continued deeper into the mine.

The monsters that had been driven away earlier seemed to have completely given up the fight.

Linsey and his companions encountered no attacks along the way, and only stopped when they reached the bottom of the broken mine tunnel:

"Vivian, did they come out from here?"

The girl nodded seriously:

"Yes, this is the place."

"This crack wasn't here before the earthquake!"

Vivian thought they would continue deeper underground.

But at that moment, Linsey stopped moving forward and instead stood still, speaking in a lecturing tone:

"Vivian, have you noticed something strange?"

Vivian looked bewildered.

"Something strange? What is it?"

Linsey began:

"Their purpose in launching the attack."

Vivian was even more puzzled:

"Isn't it hunting to obtain food?"

Linsey shook her head:

"But what about the body, or rather, the bloodstains?"

"Your lost people, or those who originally lived in the mine, were not found along the way, not even a trace of blood, let alone any severed limbs."

"..."

Vivian was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head in shame.

This was something she hadn't considered before.

Linsey then confirmed:

"Vivian, did you see them eating people?"

Vivian thought back carefully.

Linsey's question was also something she had previously overlooked.

Looking back now, she realized that during the tense and intense times, and even the several times she directly faced crises, she had never seen these monsters devour any humans.

"No, I haven't seen it!"

Upon hearing this, Linsey opened the map.

Strategic Map can, to some extent, depict the trajectory of his subordinates' activities.

In the mine tunnels right before us, there are routes that have been explored, leading straight down four or five kilometers underground before finally disappearing!

"From here on, the markers gradually disappear."

"Is that their lair, where they drag their prey to kill it, or is there another answer?"

"The Invaders, the Corruption Poison, the mutation of flesh and blood..."

Linsey sighed softly.

Only then, holding a torch, did he take the lead and step into the darkness deep within the mine.