Chapter 10: A New Day & New Revelations
The World Marble remained unchanged, its eternal daylight untouched by the passage of time. The sky overhead stretched in an unbroken sea of soft blue, absent of clouds, sun, or any indication of movement. It was an unnatural stillness—neither warm nor cold, as if the air itself had been frozen in an endless, motionless afternoon. Despite the vibrant hues of the grass and trees surrounding them, the lack of a shifting sun left the world feeling artificial, as though it were a painting come to life.
At first, the unchanging landscape had unsettled Issei. A world with no night, no passing hours—it went against everything he knew. But now, after so much time here, he had stopped questioning it.
Stretching with a yawn, Issei looked around, taking in the quiet morning—or what passed for morning in a place with no real time. The small wooden house they had set up stood nearby, simple but sturdy. Outside, Wu Ying sat near the unlit campfire, her posture relaxed yet focused as she sharpened a newly crafted dagger. Wu Lan was fixing her hair, fingers threading absently through the strands as she adjusted her robes. Her movements were habitual, precise, but there was a distant look in her eyes, as if her thoughts were elsewhere.
Wu Xiao, unsurprisingly, was still fast asleep, sprawled over the reluctant "pet" she had claimed—the smaller Silver Wolf. The poor beast had long given up resisting its fate, accepting the girl's presence as inevitable. Though Wu Xiao had been forbidden from keeping it inside, it seemed she had sneaked out in the night to curl up next to it.
A few feet away, coiled in a lazy sprawl, lay Ddraig. His massive red-scaled form gleamed in the ever-present light, his wings partially folded at his sides. His emerald eyes blinked open, watching Issei with the slow, measured gaze of a predator roused from slumber. Unlike before, when he had only been a voice sealed within the Boosted Gear, he now had a real body again. And he was enjoying every second of it.
(Partner. You're awake.)
Issei yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Hey, Ddraig?"
(There is much to talk about.)
"Can it wait? I'm pretty hungry."
"Just a minute, I'll fix something right up," Wu Lan said, her hands still occupied with tying her hair into place.
Ddraig's tail thumped against the ground, the impact sending a small tremor through the earth. (No.)
Wu Ying glanced up. "Yeah, I was going to bring this up anyway. Since when can you just summon a sword?"
Wu Lan frowned as she prepared the fire. "And why did it seem like it was part of the Boosted Gear?"
Issei sighed, rolling his shoulders as he walked closer. "Don't ask me. Ddraig, do you know anything?"
Ddraig exhaled, a small plume of smoke escaping his nostrils. (I told you the Boosted Gear could store items. The moment you desired something to help you kill the mutt, the Boosted Gear responded. Honestly, I almost thought it wouldn't work.)
"Wait, are you saying I could have been eaten? For listening to you?" Issei tensed.
(Well, this is new territory for me. The sword was in this world, not in the Boosted Gear, but the marble was in it and became part of the Sacred Gear. So, my best guess is that it would come out in response to what you needed at the time. If it didn't, the Boosted Gear would have responded in some other way—most probably another Boost. You are long overdue for one.)
Wu Xiao stirred, rubbing her eyes as she stretched. "That sounds awesome!"
Wu Ying narrowed her eyes. "What does that mean?"
"Yeah, Ddraig. I'm still at the First-Stage Fighter and haven't cultivated. I haven't gotten any stronger to receive another Boost."
Ddraig let out a deep rumble. (Are you an idiot? Of course, you have. Why are you using the standards of this world's form of strength? All your predecessors were strong without cultivation. Every day, you're getting stronger. Surviving in this world, or sparring with this little girl, is helping you grow.)
Wu Lan turned to Issei, studying him more closely. "He is?"
Ddraig's gaze flicked toward her. (It might not be a dramatic show of strength, like when you reached the Second-Stage, but with good training, Partner can also reach your strength without cultivating. And remember, the amount of times you can use the Boosted Gear depends on your stamina.)
"Alright, I'll start exercising!" Issei grinned, his competitive spirit kicking in.
Wu Ying crossed her arms, still processing what she had learned. Could someone really grow stronger without cultivating? It went against everything she knew.
She turned back to Issei. "Issei, where did you get that sword? At the time, I thought nothing of it, thinking it was just a plain sword like the ones the bandits had. But that sword cut the Low-Ranked Beast as if it was air."
Issei scratched his head. "The old man gave it to me. Same guy who gave me and your cultivation manual."
Wu Ying blinked. "Hold on. That old man, the merchant?"
Issei nodded. "Yup, he handed it to me directly."
Wu Ying frowned, exchanging glances with Wu Lan. "Then… that means he gave you both the sword and the manuals. But why?"
Ddraig huffed. (That's something we need to figure out.)
Wu Xiao pouted. "So, does that mean Big Bro has a dragon gauntlet and a magic sword? That's so unfair!"
Issei smirked. "What can I say? I am attracted to cool stuff."
Wu Ying rolled her eyes. "You mean trouble."
Ddraig chuckled. (Either way, Partner, you need to figure out what else is hidden in the World Marble. If this sword can be brought out, there's a good chance anything could.)
"Breakfast is ready," Wu Lan announced, placing the prepared food down. The scent of grilled meat mixed with rice filled the air, a small comfort in this strange world.
Issei exhaled. "Alright. First, we eat. Then I'll start training."
After breakfast, even Ddraig had eaten, though his portion had been absurd. Wu Xiao had wandered off with the Silver Wolf, while Wu Ying had retreated into the house to cultivate—no doubt wanting to avoid distractions.
Meanwhile, Issei had begun training. His routine was simple but effective: push-ups, sit-ups, and a run along the edge of the marble. The boundary of the world was unsettling, like staring at the edge of a painting where the horizon met the ground with an unnatural finality. Every time he slowed down, Ddraig released a tiny burst of flame, sending a warmth at his back that kept him moving.
Wu Lan lingered nearby, her arms crossed as she watched him. There was an unusual look in her eyes—not judgment, not curiosity, but something more contemplative.
(Do you no longer fear me?) Ddraig asked, his gaze shifting to her.
Wu Lan puffed out her cheeks, clearly recalling their first meeting. "You didn't make it easy… but watching Wu Xiao climb all over you helps."
Ddraig huffed in annoyance.
"Issei." Wu Lan finally spoke, stepping toward him hesitantly.
"Yeah?" Issei paused mid-run, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Let's read the manual." Her voice was quieter, and she didn't meet his gaze.
Issei blinked. "Eh? Are you sure?" He remembered her initial horror at the book's content.
Wu Lan's fingers curled slightly. "I promised I'd read it to you… and if it isn't too degenerate, we could try some of it out."
She glanced around, ensuring her sisters weren't nearby.
Issei nearly choked on his own breath.
Ddraig, catching the moment, wisely turned away to give them privacy. And blocked the entrance of the wooden house.
—
"Alright from what I understood this manual is the exchange of energy between a man and woman through intimate contact." Wu Lan says with extreme embarrassment. As she and Issei sat down with the manual opened on the ground.
Issei with his most serious face was extremely focused on every word from Wu Lan. He had no clue what yin or yang energy is. But he has the idea of it. "Can we try it?" He felt the power from the Boosted Gear, maybe he could use that energy.
"I'm… sorry, Issei. I'm not quite comfortable doing that, yet." Wu Lan says with the last part a mumble.
"No.. Not that." Issei denied not wanting to give her the wrong idea. "But the exchange of energy we can at least practice by holding hands."
"Holding hands? I guess we can try to see if that is enough for it to work." Wu Lan says with a massive blush.
As their fingers interlocked,Wu Lan hesitated, then tried channeling a small portion of her own qi into him.
Issei closed his eyes, focusing on the unfamiliar sensation of energy passing between them. It was subtle—almost imperceptible at first—but as he concentrated, he could feel a faint warmth seeping into his body. It wasn't like the Boosted Gear's power, which surged through him with raw force. This was softer, like a gentle stream flowing over his skin.
Wu Lan, on the other hand, felt as though she had just touched a live ember. The moment their hands connected, a heat unlike anything she had experienced before spread through her veins. It wasn't painful, nor was it overwhelming, but it was intense—like standing too close to a fire on a cold night.
Her breath hitched.
For the briefest moment, she found herself leaning toward the warmth. It was comforting, steady, something that made her want to relax into it. Her grip on Issei's hand tightened instinctively.
"Are you feeling anything?" Issei asked, eyes still closed.
Wu Lan swallowed, forcing herself to sound composed. "It's… warm. Very warm."
The heat wasn't just physical—it carried something else. Strength. Stability. Something ancient and powerful. It wasn't just raw energy; it was alive. Maybe because it came from Issei, it felt safe.
The moment their energies mixed, something shifted. The warmth between them deepened, and Wu Lan felt something inside her tremble—something old, something locked away. A barrier that had always been there but had never seemed important.
Then, all at once—
Crack.
It was like a thread snapping inside her. A shackle loosening.
Wu Lan gasped softly.
"Something wrong?" Issei asked, opening his eyes.
Wu Lan stared at him, wide-eyed, her heart pounding. "I think… I broke through the Second-Stage."
Issei's face lit up. "Really?"
"I think so."
"And how do you feel?"
Wu Lan swallowed again, trying to suppress the heat still lingering in her face. "…Stronger."
Issei grinned. "Then we need to test it."
Wu Lan frowned. "Test it?"
"Yeah! We need to see if you actually got stronger. Punch me."
She took a step back. "What? No!"
"How else are we supposed to know?" Issei argued, looking confused.
Wu Lan hesitated, looking down at her hands. She did feel different. Lighter, faster. There was a tension in her muscles that hadn't been there before, as if her body was still adjusting to the sudden surge of strength.
Issei grinned. "Alright then I know, push me as hard as you can."
Wu Lan bit her lip. "…Are you sure?"
"Of course! I wanna see how strong you got."
Taking a deep breath, Wu Lan placed both hands on Issei's chest, preparing to push him. The moment her fingers made contact, she realized her mistake.
Her eyes darted to her hands—her hands, resting firmly against his chest. Against him.
Her face erupted in heat.
What am I doing?!
Her body moved before her mind could catch up, her embarrassment fueling her next action. She shoved.
Hard.
Issei was launched backward like a ragdoll, skidding across the ground before managing to land on his feet. His eyes widened. "Whoooa!"
Wu Lan clapped her hands over her mouth. "I'm sorry!" Without thinking, she rushed toward him, her movements sharper, faster than before.
Issei rubbed his chest, blinking. "That… actually hurt a little."
Wu Lan, still red-faced, stopped just short of him. "I-I didn't mean to push that hard."
Issei grinned as he got up from the ground. "Nah, that was great! We gotta tell Wu Ying—"
"Absolutely not!" Wu Lan blurted, shaking her head so fast her hair whipped around.
"But—"
"Issei, promise me you won't tell." Her eyes locked onto his, her expression pleading.
Issei hesitated. "…Alright."
He wasn't sure why it was such a big deal, but Wu Lan's reaction told him arguing would get him nowhere.
"Big Sis! Where are you?" Wu Xiao's voice echoed from the distance.
Wu Lan took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Let's go see what she wants."
As she turned away, trying to suppress the last of her lingering embarrassment, Issei noticed Wu Xiao perched on the Silver Wolf's back, the creature standing alert and unusually steady beneath her.
The wolf was taller. Not by much, but where it had once been the size of a regular canine, it now stood closer to a large hunting beast. Its fur was thicker, its frame more defined, muscles showing faintly beneath the silver coat. Even its eyes seemed sharper, more intelligent.
Issei narrowed his gaze. It definitely wasn't that big before…
Has its growth been natural? Or was something else at play?
Regardless, the wolf didn't seem bothered. It let out a low bark, flicking its tail as if completely unbothered by the realization.
Issei smirked. "I swear that thing gets more intimidating every day."
Wu Xiao patted the wolf's head proudly. "She's just eating well!" (They had a look below. Mostly Issei, the girls forced him to check. The wolf acted as if it was the end of the world with the humans humiliating her.)
Issei wasn't so sure about that.
As the group prepared to move forward, Ddraig finally moved from his spot, watching his partner closely.
(How was it?) he asked.
Issei stretched, rolling his shoulders. "I feel more energized, but I don't feel that different."
Ddraig hummed thoughtfully. (Hmm. Only time will tell.)
But deep down, he knew something had changed.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Ddraig could feel it. His partner had grown stronger—not just him, but the very world around them had shifted.
The colors of the landscape looked richer. The energy of the World Marble was different—vibrant, more alive. It was a small shift, but one Ddraig couldn't ignore.
His tail flicked against the ground as he silently observed.
This world was still a mystery. So was its connection to Issei.
"Alright, you girls ready?" Issei asked as they prepared to leave the World Marble and continue their journey to the capital.
Wu Ying sighed. "Finally."
"Let's go!" Wu Xiao cheered from atop the Silver Wolf. The beast barked in response, standing taller than before.
Issei gave it another glance. Yup. Definitely bigger.
The portal soon opens to the outside world. With that, the group stepped forward, leaving the World Marble behind.
The moment they stepped out, the familiar sight of the clearing greeted them. The space was just as they had left it—quiet, undisturbed, with the remnants of their previous arrival still faintly visible. The soft rustling of leaves filled the air as a gentle breeze passed through the trees, contrasting the unnatural stillness of the World Marble.
Glancing around, they took a moment to scan their surroundings. No immediate threats. No signs of danger lurking within the dense forest.
With a collective nod, they moved forward.
The journey through the forest was slow but steady. The towering trees stretched high above, their thick canopies filtering the sunlight into scattered patches of gold across the forest floor. The occasional chirping of birds and rustling of unseen creatures provided a natural soundtrack to their travel.
Wu Xiao, full of energy as always, found her entertainment in the Silver Wolf. Whenever boredom threatened to creep in, she played with the creature, running alongside it or tugging gently at its ears. Over time, the wolf, once wary and resentful, had started warming up to her, occasionally nudging her in response or flicking its tail playfully.
It was a slow shift, but noticeable.
Even Wu Ying, who had initially opposed keeping the wolf, had begrudgingly accepted its presence. She no longer eyed it with suspicion and had even been seen absentmindedly stroking its fur when she thought no one was looking.
They continued walking, the path twisting through the thick foliage. Along the way, they encountered a variety of small animals and insects—some darting away in their presence, others pausing just long enough to be observed.
Wu Xiao, fascinated by every new creature she saw, often forced the group to stop. Sometimes to admire them, other times to capture them. She has become quite fast as she was now a First-Stage Fighter. Normal animals were no match for her.
"Big Bro! This one is so cute!" she exclaimed, holding up a small, furry creature (squirrel) that wriggled in her grasp.
Issei sighed, rubbing his temples. "You know we can't take everything with us, right?"
Wu Xiao pouted. "But we can put them in the World Marble, right?"
That was how it started.
By the time they continued their journey, Issei had lost count of how many tiny creatures had been relocated into the World Marble under Wu Xiao's insistence. At the very least, it provided her with entertainment, and it was better than her complaining about the long walk.
Luckily, no strong beasts attacked them as they traveled deeper into the woods.
After what felt like hours, they stumbled upon a small stream. The sight of flowing water was a welcome one. Following its winding path, they eventually reached a wider river.
Issei took a moment to think.
"If we follow it upstream, we might find a village nearby." He said, recalling lessons from school. "People usually settle near rivers."
Wu Ying arched an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"Pretty sure."
With no better option, they followed the river's path, hoping it would lead them to civilization.
Their journey took several days (7), each one blending into the next as they pressed forward. Whenever night fell, rather than risk camping in the wild, they retreated into the World Marble.
Inside, the creatures they had captured scurried freely, darting across the vast emptiness of the realm. It was strange watching them adapt to a world that had nothing but open ground, Ddraig's looming presence, and the old wooden house that had belonged to the Wu sisters.
But the emptiness soon became a concern.
Wu Lan's brows furrowed as she sat near the campfire one evening, arms crossed. "If there's nothing growing in here, what are these animals going to eat? What are we going to eat?"
Wu Xiao clutched one of the furry creatures (Rabbit) she had taken a liking to, her eyes wide and teary. "Big Bro… they're not gonna starve, right?"
Faced with both their concerns and Wu Xiao's dangerously effective teary eyes, Issei sighed. "Alright, alright. I'll figure something out."
His mind drifted back to the farm work he had done in the Wu sisters' village. He wasn't exactly an expert, but he knew enough to try.
The next day, as they traveled, he began gathering seeds—berries, wild vegetables, and saplings from nearby trees. He took extra care in replanting them inside the World Marble, unsure if they would even grow in such a strange place.
To his surprise, they didn't just survive. They thrived.
The berry bushes flourished, their leaves greener and thicker than before. Saplings stretched upward at an unnatural pace, their trunks sturdy and their roots digging deep into the seemingly lifeless ground. Vegetables sprouted faster than they should have, growing larger than expected.
Issei didn't understand why it worked, but he wasn't about to question it.
Each morning, after his training, he took time to check on the garden. It became a small routine—tending to the plants, checking their growth, making sure the creatures had food. He and Wu Lan also continued to practice Issei's cultivation manual in secret.
They continued walking, the dense forest gradually thinning as sunlight poured more freely through the gaps in the trees. The towering trunks became smaller, the undergrowth less tangled, until finally, the forest ended.
Stepping beyond the last of the trees, they were met with open land stretching out before them. In the distance, nestled between rolling hills, a village stood with a wooden fence around it. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, the faint outline of wooden houses visible against the horizon.
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