True strength

On the seventh realm Leo and the girl called Selina. She didn't tell her last name and neither did Leo. If he made enemies, he didn't want them to hire someone from the lower realms to hurt her. They had been walking for about a day and were getting hungry.

Leo wasn't that sleepy because he had been sleeping while knocked out for advancing so many realms. They had not seen any animals or other eatable things at all, no mushrooms or known medicine plants.

Water they did get because of Selina but soon they would also need food. They would need to fight a lot to advance again and would need energy for that. Selina had been silent for the whole time and Leo wasn't in a talkative mood either.

Leo soon noticed a cave far away and informed Selina about it.

"Let's go rest there."

Selina nodded and they started walking towards the cave nearby. It was about the size as the small cave that they hid in from the sect. The inside was like any other cave.

Water was dripping from the room and there was some moss on the walls. It was rather cold inside but you would not freeze to death. The cave didn't have much depth in it so nothing could be hiding to ambush them.

Leo lit a small fire in a pit so that a lot of light would not shine outside. Selene was already asleep and soon Leo also closed his eyes. He wondered about how his mom was doing and how long it would take him to see her again.

He also wondered about Selena, was she a friend? What if she attacked him in his sleep? He could only trust her and hope, that she had not been with him only to kill him.

This was one of Leo's biggest problems in his past life too. He trusted people to easily and that's why he got his heart broken and staid weak on for the rest of his life. He doesn't mistrust anyone, if he doesn't know beforehand that they are evil.

While Leo was still sleeping Kagura had found a cheap inn near the edge of the capital. It only cost one Onyx per night, so Kagura handed the young girl behind the register 10, to not bother her and tell anyone about her.

The young girl nodded and looked happy for the tip. When Kagura looked at the short haired and dirty but happy looking girl, she was reminded of Leo. Kagura had calmed down from the rage so her eyes were back to yellow, but she was still sad about his disappearance and would get him back.

The room that Kagura would spend the rest of her time in the eight realm was shabby to say the least. It was made out of planks. There were countless gaps between them so the room was cold. There was only a bed that looked like rats slept on it. There was dust on the floor but at least there wasn't mold.

Kagura put her weapon on the floor and sat down next to it in a lotus position. She took the wooden box and opened it. Inside was a black and red pill. Normally, people would only find this on the seventh realm but the shop bought items from people on the highest realms who could visit the lower ones.

From the third realm down, you could visit lower realms but your strength would be heavily restricted. Of course they still had their items and experience but if it was a naked slap contest, they would be equal. Except if the guy from the advanced realm is experienced slapper.

This pill wasn't very common to use, it would check your body and make it back to it's peak. It however had downsides. One is the time that it would take to process it and you could not move even an eyelash during that time.

However the biggest reason that no one uses it is because how long would it take for you to lose your trained body? Even old people, over 100 years old are super shredded after retiring. So it was unusual to need the pill. Kagura however had retired over 20 years ago and not done anything physical during that time.

She had not rested and eaten properly and because of the mental stress after Leo got depressed she had lost all her muscles. That's why her skin was so pale and she looked skinny. Those old people had probably gotten to the third realm at 80 and then continued their habits or done something else to take care of their body.

Kagura thought about Leo for and in an instant with no hesitation she ate the pill. She could feel it going down her throat and at her stomach it opened. She felt like a lightning hit her but she had to stay calm, not a single emotion could escape on her face. It would ruin the whole process.

The electricity finally escaped got easier and easier until it stopped. Kagura got a moment of peace until the more painful progress began. The pills power started making and growing her muscles and doing that this way was painful.

It felt like all of her body was being stretched to all direction with millions of tweezers. Her bones and organs were being crushed, her muscles and skin were being moved so forcefully that it almost made Kagura pass out but one memory of Leo made Kagura continue and handle the pain.

This would be the first part of the process and the least painful one, now Kagura would endure this for a week and after that, she would find Leo from the seventh realm and bring him to safety.

On the seventh realm Leo had completely different plans. He had just woken up and Selina had not murdered him. They had continued their journey to find a nearby village and get food, armor and possibly information about wanted people or nearby wars.

Selina was like before, silent and walking behind Leo. Leo was silent yesterday because of everything that had happened but he was tired of this awkwardness.

"What world did you come from?"

Selina was surprised because of the sudden question but answered.

"Volatale."

"Why did you start advancing?"

"Because I want to be strong and because my father was one."

This was a common answer, you could not tell anything about people who answered like this but Leo didn't mind. He already trusted the woman he had known for less than a day a lot because she had not killed him yet.

"What about you, why did you become one?"

Leo didn't know what to answer, if he answered that he was forced would that give him trouble?

"I have people I want to protect."

Selina nodded and they were back to being silent. But soon after they saw something, a gate. A village was here. They glanced at each other and then started running towards the gate and village.

The village was made out of shabby wooden planks but there was a lot of people. Many of them stared at Leo and Selina but they didn't mind. They walked straight to large building thinking it was a mercenary station. And that it was. It was a tall building at least 10 meters tall but it looked so empty. There were just a couple tables and chairs inside but that's not the reason that they came.

They walked to the billboard that was as big as the wall and started looking for jobs to pick. They would not need a lot, money here was valuable or if they found some good items too, it would be helpful.

They ended up taking two wanted posters. They were about two men who were part of the same group and were to be taken out. Leo and Selina had to take their heads, return and they would get the money. It was not much but enough for a room in an inn.

This would be quick was the thought that Leo had about the quest.