Born In Ashes: The Enigma

Early the next morning, Azrael and Rudheer began their journey toward New Moon City.

According to Rudheer, it would take them about twelve hours to get out of the forest and reach the city.

Honestly, Azrael would have preferred to stay in the forest a bit longer and increase his strength by killing more monsters. After all, with his current power, he wasn't confident in taking on a Class-level warrior.

If he went to the city and somehow managed to identify who the vessel of corruption was among the three Tower Masters, he wouldn't be able to kill them.

However, the reason he was heading back was because of an event that would be held in New Moon City two days later.

'A recruitment event of the Magic Tower and Knight Tower...' Azrael thought with narrowed eyes.

According to Rudheer, the towers would hold a recruitment event two days later, and all three Tower Masters would be present at that time.

For Azrael, who had no idea how to approach the Tower Masters, it was a perfect opportunity to see them and try to identify the vessel of corruption among them.

By returning today, he could gather a little more information about them and be prepared for the event the day after tomorrow.

"Rudheer, since the Knight Tower is harassing you, why don't you go to the Juri Tower? Didn't you say both the Magic and Knight Towers are under its jurisdiction?"

Rudheer smiled bitterly at his question and shook his head.

"It's not that I don't want to go, but even if I do, nothing will happen. The Juri Tower will just give the Knight Tower a warning. The Knight Tower won't do anything for a few days, but once the matter calms down, they will come back to harass me, and I will have an even harder life..." He paused before adding, "They might even kill me for complaining about them."

Azrael raised an eyebrow at his response. He knew Rudheer was lying about being in the forest because of the Knight Tower.

But at this moment, when he spoke about the Knight Tower killing people who filed complaints against them at the Juri Tower, Azrael noticed he wasn't lying.

'From the way he is speaking, it seems both the Juri and Knight Towers are not good places.'

Azrael shook his head, unwilling to believe everything he had heard and seen so far.

'I should try to talk to other people in New Moon City as well before reaching any conclusions.'

On the way, Azrael and Rudheer encountered many monsters.

Each time a monster appeared, Azrael would rush forward to kill it, aiming to increase his Stat Points and level.

The level of these monsters was not high, and as they moved toward the outer area of the forest, the monsters' levels grew lower and lower.

(You have killed level 3 Forest Python. Agility +0.4, Stamina. 0.2)

(You have killed level 3 Earth Worm. Strength +0.2 Stamina +0.1)

(You have killed Level 3 Rock Monkey)

After a few hours, Azrael even stopped gaining stat points from the monsters he killed because their levels were too low, and his stats had reached the limit of how much they could increase through killing such low-level creatures.

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---) Strength: 23.9 —> 25.4

---) Agility: 23.3 —> 24.7

---) Stamina: 24.9 —> 25.8

---) Cosmic Energy: 178 —> 180

=====

By the time he stopped getting stat points from the monsters in the outer area, his Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Cosmic Energy had all increased slightly.

Just like when Azrael had killed the Mud Crocodile, Rudheer didn't find it strange that the monsters Azrael killed disappeared. It was as if he were programmed to ignore such things.

Since Azrael wasn't benefiting from killing these monsters anymore, he stopped taking the initiative to rush toward them and let Rudheer take the lead instead.

When Rudheer killed monsters, they did not disappear like they did when Azrael killed them.

Rudheer dismantled the precious parts of the slain creatures and stored them in his leather bag, intending to sell them for money once they reached New Moon City.

Time passed as they continued moving forward. They took breaks along the way, as Rudheer's stamina was far lower than Azrael's.

Soon, ten hours had passed, and they were getting close to the edge of the forest.

At this moment, Azrael suddenly stopped because his keen senses detected a very slight fluctuation of cosmic energy coming from behind the bushes not far away.

The fluctuation was natural and wasn't released by a person.

"What's wrong?" Rudheer asked when Azrael suddenly halted.

Azrael smiled apologetically and spoke in a slightly embarrassed tone.

"Please wait. I will be back in a minute."

Rudheer looked confused at first, but when he saw Azrael's legs clamped tightly together, as if he were holding something in, a look of realization flashed in his eyes.

"Don't worry, go ahead."

Azrael nodded and immediately rushed toward the direction from where he felt the cosmic energy fluctuations.

Once he was out of Rudheer's sight, his expression returned to normal, and he headed straight to the bushes where the energy had originated.

Rudheer waited, and around five minutes later, he saw Azrael return.

"Let's continue."

Rudheer nodded, and the two resumed their journey once again.

Three more hours passed quickly, and they finally exited the forest.

Rudheer couldn't help but sigh in relief and smiled after leaving the dense wilderness.

"The city isn't far from here. We should be able to reach it in just half an hour."

Azrael nodded. The sun had already set, and the darkness made it hard to see very far.

Rudheer was holding a light stone in his hand, but it could only illuminate about five meters around them.

They did not stop after coming out of the forest and continued moving forward.

About twenty-five minutes later, the outline of a city— illuminated by various colors of light in the night came into Azrael's view.

They had finally reached New Moon City.