Chapter 3: The Devourer of Heaven and Earth
"Thirty-two percent? That's a much larger margin than I expected."
Joshua's life radiation pulsed and contracted, making him, still standing on the ground, resemble a crimson sun embedded in the earth, constantly radiating light and heat outward. Through this simple and crude method of perception, the warrior had roughly explored part of the essence of the Steel Force in this world, which the system called Grandia.
If, in the Mycroft Continent, the free-floating energy that overflowed at the dawn of creation was dispersed throughout heaven and earth, existing in the form of elements, then in the Grandia World, the creative energy was much heavier. Before the ancient era, it had condensed into numerous crystals, buried deep within the soil and earth. As Joshua's power swept across the surroundings, he discovered many small crystal fragments buried beneath the trees and vegetation, most of which originated from powerful beings who had died hundreds of years ago.
Of course, the energy within these crystals would gradually dissipate into the atmosphere over time, turning Grandia into an environment similar to Mycroft. But in essence, they were still that 'heavier' power. The use of these crystals by intelligent life would further accelerate this dissipation process, filling the atmosphere with elemental force. This was why the Grandia World now appeared similar to the Mycroft World—it was because many transcendent beings, while alive, absorbed the power of crystals to cultivate, and upon death, their entire power dispersed into heaven and earth.
After ascertaining the general situation, Joshua began to tentatively absorb these distinctive free-floating energies from the atmosphere. His lungs worked, drawing these special elemental particles into his body, integrating them into his flesh, blood, and bones, to complete himself.
At this moment, the warrior had just arrived from the Mycroft Continent. The power within him was still entirely from a system on the other side of time and space, incompatible with the environment of the Grandia World. That was why he was suppressed, able to release only 32% of his strength. But now, with just this single breath, Joshua could clearly see that the system progress bar had begun to loosen. After a flicker of numbers, it rose to 33%.
—Just as I thought.
Seeing this, Joshua couldn't help but reveal a smile. Everything was as he had imagined. Although he hadn't fully analyzed the new power of this world yet, merely absorbing and assimilating it on a basic level could slightly release his own strength.
Since that was the case, there was no need to worry too much.
Standing on the earth, the warrior spread his arms as if embracing the heavens and the earth. Then, he opened his mouth and took a deep breath.
As he inhaled, a sound like thunder rumbled. Joshua seemed to want to drain all the surrounding air, endlessly swallowing the free-floating energy around him. One could even see with the naked eye the wind turning into translucent ripples, surging toward the warrior as the center, while countless tiny specks of fluorescent light gathered and were all sucked into his mouth.
Those who eat meat are strong and courageous; those who eat grain are dexterous and wise. This is the norm of the mortal realm. But for transcendent beings, aside from the flesh and blood of magical beasts, there is no food that can bring them power gains or changes. Most of them absorb the free-floating energy in the atmosphere to sustain the operation of their transcendent bodies.
This is what is meant by feeding on Qi, on energy. Joshua had long reached this realm, but now, he seemed to be on the verge of surpassing it.
The elemental energies of different worlds, no matter how similar they appear, have certain differences in essence. Rashly swallowing these energies could easily cause indigestion, a major taboo that most transcendent beings must heed. But Joshua showed no such tendency. On the contrary, the more he absorbed the power of this world, the more his body adapted, the greater the strength he could exert, and the stronger his muscles and bones became, evolving to a higher level.
He was feeding on the essence of this 'heaven and earth,' this 'world,' enhancing his understanding of all things, thereby allowing himself to achieve the fundamental power of the Steel Force.
This was the Devourer of Heaven and Earth, the path Joshua had chosen for himself to advance to the Legendary Realm.
Meanwhile, Davian and her group were cautiously emerging from the Autumn Water Forest, looking toward the warrior on the distant plain.
Joshua was now voraciously devouring the free-floating energy around him, the aftershocks even affecting the forest several kilometers away. The lush green grass of summer withered and yellowed in an instant, and leaves drifted down from the branches of vibrant old trees. The crimson sun was now the complete opposite; it seemed to radiate a dead light around it, driving everything toward destruction and end.
"By the ancestral spirits, this..." A robust knight calmed his restless warhorse beneath him, his eyes wide as he whispered in shock, "Was this heroic spirit a Demon King in his past life?!"
He had concluded that the warrior was a Demon King buried here in ancient times, resurrected as a heroic spirit by the power of the Great Cataclysm.
"No, not necessarily."
Davian first shot a glare, silencing the other riders who seemed about to argue or eagerly discuss, before this imposing female knight spoke cautiously in a low voice: "Just now, this... the power he released contained a terrifying life force. Those shadow apparitions collapsed like they met sunlight at the slightest touch. It shouldn't be shadow apparitions."
Unable to think of a proper title, Davian used 'he' to refer to him, but everyone understood who she meant.
"If it's not a heroic spirit, then what is it?" A rider scratched his head. He glanced in the direction of the warrior from afar, then fearfully closed his eyes. He whispered, "Why would such a powerful living being come to our backwater?"
For some reason, this rider dared not look directly at the warrior, even from several kilometers away.
His words were echoed by many. Many also couldn't understand why such a strong individual would come to this remote edge of the continent. Whether he belonged to the shadow apparitions or the resistance, he should be at the central or southwestern core battlefield.
"We should leave as soon as possible."
After a few exchanges, the female knight, who had been thinking for a long time, spoke. Davian's expression was grave. She restrained her horse, looked around at the riders and the people on the carriage, and said sternly, "Although the surrounding shadow apparitions have been cleared, they won't be completely destroyed. They'll collectively revive in a while. If we don't break through and return to the village now, we'll still be in extreme danger."
This was true. Deep within the Autumn Water Forest, the mist had not yet fully dissipated. Although it had been heavily damaged by the crimson light, it was rapidly regenerating, and twisted black shadows were gestating within, as if they would revive at any moment.
As for the terrifying existence in the distance... the female knight had no desire to make contact with him. Although he had indeed cleared a large area of shadow apparitions as easily as brushing dust off a table, saving the besieged group, it was precisely because he was so overwhelmingly powerful that Davian couldn't muster the will to communicate.
If he harbored goodwill and thus destroyed the shadow apparitions, that would be the best of all outcomes. But if he had done it casually, not even noticing their group, then rash contact would carry immense risk. With just a casual wave of his hand, the entire carriage convoy could be annihilated.
In fact, in Davian's view, this person, who radiated astonishing light and heat like a crimson sun and was continuously devouring surrounding energy, was likely not a benevolent being. This wasn't a conclusion reached through rational judgment but an instinctive warning of danger. In any case, an aura that made one feel despair and invincibility just by looking at it was definitely not something a kind-hearted person could possess. He must have personally killed countless lives, with endless resentment clinging to him.
In short, the farther away, the better. This strong individual had indeed saved every one of their lives. The descendants of the Astorea family would not forget this. But even if they were to repay him, it would have to wait until they safely delivered the supplies in the carriage to the village. After that, they would be at his mercy.
Everyone in the carriage convoy deeply agreed. But just as Davian turned her horse, ready to continue along the mountain path toward their destination, a cry of alarm rang out.
"D-D-Davian, big sister! Big trouble, big trouble!"
It was still that robust man. This fierce individual, who had fought desperately against the shadow apparitions without fear, now spoke in a panicked tone, even biting his tongue as he spoke, completely lacking his former bravery.
But no one laughed at him, including the female knight he called 'big sister.'
Because everyone was staring in horror behind them.
And at that moment, the stammering male voice echoed through the convoy.
"That guy, he, he's coming!!"
In the distance, Joshua stopped inhaling.
This time, he had almost swallowed all the free-floating energy and the life force of the vegetation within a radius of several kilometers.
The vast and complex energy within Joshua's body was meticulously filtered and separated by his pure life force, leaving only the parts he lacked or couldn't yet understand and analyze. The rest was all assimilated by his life force. Impurities that couldn't be assimilated were burned away, expelled as light and heat.
This full-force breath of heaven and earth directly pushed Joshua's power release from 32% to 37%, a rise of a full 5%. This was still because the warrior hadn't formally begun to study and analyze the essential power of this world, but was merely trying to homogenize his energy with this world. Once Joshua started his formal research, the progress bar would undoubtedly make a qualitative leap.
But now wasn't the time to rush that. Researching the essence of the world could be done anywhere. Joshua raised his head, his eyes emitting a torrent of life radiation, scanning the surrounding land.
The crimson light swept through the entire Autumn Water Forest in an instant, everything entering the warrior's vision, including, of course, the carriage convoy that was about to turn and leave.
Satisfied, he nodded. He had found his target.
With one step, Joshua, along with the two Divine Mechanisms floating behind him, arrived several kilometers away. The sound was left behind him as the warrior created a long vacuum corridor, reaching the front of the convoy in a few seconds.
His battle Qi rotated, suppressing the surging gale that followed. Joshua looked around at the leading female knight, who was staring dumbfounded, and the panicked riders behind her, who looked as if they were facing some terrifying entity. Then, in a calm tone, he asked, "Hello, may I ask where this is..."
Female Knight: "***, ******?"
As everyone immediately dismounted and performed a respectful bow toward him, Joshua realized a huge problem.
He couldn't understand what they were saying.
In simpler terms, there was a language barrier.
"...This is a problem." The warrior looked at the scene before him, where almost everyone was kneeling, not daring to raise their heads. He rubbed his forehead in slight frustration. "I don't know any convenient spells like 'Comprehend Languages'..."
On the other side.
Davian, upon seeing the terrifying humanoid figure arrive from several kilometers away in just a few seconds, immediately abandoned all thoughts of resistance.
How could they resist? The aftershocks of his walking could annihilate their entire group. To think of opposing him in such a situation would require having a brain damaged from a childhood fall to be so bold.
Moreover, the female knight's mind was sharp. She had noticed that he had deliberately suppressed the aftershocks of his rapid movement to avoid harming them. Since he hadn't killed them immediately and had shown such obvious goodwill, then this humanoid creature, who didn't look like a good person... might actually be a good person.
At least not an evil one.
Davian couldn't help but feel ashamed of her earlier instinctive judgment of his character. But she still dared not look up to meet his face. Honestly, the female knight felt the muscles in her neck go weak. She was now so scared she couldn't move, only her brain could still think.
The other riders were much the same. Everyone, including the horses, was kneeling. This wasn't a respectful bow; they were simply too frightened to stand straight.
Then, they heard this powerful being speak in a gentle tone.
Joshua: "***, ********."
Davian subconsciously replied, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
The next moment, she realized—this strong individual didn't share their language!
Could he really be some ancient hero, speaking some ancient language?
Everyone present understood this as well. Unfortunately, they were all sword-and-spear-wielding riders. If you asked them how to kill and set fires, at least seven or eight different plans would be proposed in an instant. But if you asked them to be proficient in ancient linguistics, that was really too much to ask of these guys who couldn't even fully read the common language of the Grandia Continent.
Under Davian's cautious gaze, the unknown strong individual frowned, clearly also realizing this. It was only then that the female knight noticed two enormous weapons floating behind him—a silver-white greatsword and a black-gold great axe. These weapons shimmered with flowing fluorescence, floating automatically in mid-air. They exuded a terrifying aura of blood and slaughter, as if they had torn through countless living bodies and drunk their blood.
—This oppressive aura... it's just like the ancestral holy sword enshrined in the village.
Swallowing her saliva, Davian lowered her head again. Although he had shown some goodwill, no one could confirm he was a good person. The female knight dared not say a word.
But then, a gentle yet irresistible force lifted everyone's kneeling bodies.
Standing at the front of the group, Joshua made everyone stand. He didn't know how to solve the language problem for the moment, so he simply moved to the next step.
"Since there are people, there must be a place to live. This carriage convoy is traveling through the mountains, definitely rushing back to their settlement."
The warrior's mind was sharp. He deduced much information from Davian and her group's actions: "When they saw me, everyone was extremely respectful. This means that transcendent beings like me also exist in this world. Judging by their practiced manner, such beings are not uncommon, or they see them every day."
The language barrier was only temporary. With Joshua's current level of power and brain development, learning a new language would only take a few days. If someone taught him, it would be even faster. The warrior believed that if he followed this group to the human settlement of this world, he would soon learn and master most of the information about this world.
His body slowly floated in mid-air. Joshua watched as the riders below sat back on their horses with uncertainty. They seemed to be hesitating whether to return to their lair along the original path. If they were targeted by such a strong individual, even if their village had a trump card to protect it and could fight against the warrior, it would still result in heavy casualties.
The warrior understood this. He waited for them to make a decision.
"Hesitating, what are you doing!"
It was Davian who made the decision first. The female knight gritted her teeth and scolded, "The Astorea family has no indecisive cowards. You all know that with his strength, finding our village is only a matter of time. Judging by his previous actions, he doesn't seem like a Demon King bent on extermination. Let's just go back like this, anyway—"
Before she could finish, everyone nodded in silence.
Anyway, the village wasn't completely without the power to resist.
So, with shouts and commands, the carriage convoy resumed its journey. The warrior naturally followed behind, heading toward the distant darkness.
The wind howled.
And on the other side of the continent, in a dark and gloomy forest, a red-haired, dragon-winged girl suddenly opened her eyes from a dream.
She looked with some surprise at her robe, which had begun to emit a faint cyan light. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
This was the first time this ancestral robe had shown its extraordinary nature since the anomaly of that pillar of light. The cyan light pulsed like a heartbeat, radiating endless divine power and life force.
The girl had a premonition.
This anomaly was absolutely different from any before.
On the other end, Joshua, flying in mid-air, also thoughtfully raised his right hand and pressed it against his chest. The Azure Orb was throbbing due to an inexplicable tremor, transmitting wave after wave of pure Order Force and life force. This sacred and gentle aura made the members of the carriage convoy below occasionally look up, their eyes shifting from initial fear and wariness to less guarded.
The warrior pulled out the mirror given by Pope Eagle from his bosom.
Light flickered.
The direction was west.