15 The HUNT

Rio went blank after that. He doesn't know what to say and accidentally bit his tongue a few dozen times. Enough to make his tongue bleed.

Flute look up and saw Rio's face. He made a satisfied smile then took something in his pouch.

"Master, I already served you the tea of my obedience. After that, my destiny will depend on whether you pass the test or not!" Flute said then handed a scroll to Rio.

Rio stretched his hands and accepted the scroll absent-mindedly.

Flute bowed his head once again then left the blank Rio with a satisfied smile. 'A brute as a master is not that bad, right?'

The foolish one billion-year-old Flute thought that Rio is having a hard time processing the information but in actuality, something unexpected happened to Rio.

[Congratulations! Last Game System Upgrade Available!]

[Gaining allegiance of One World Artificial Intelligence activated the seal to enter the Wild Rift!]

[After entering the Origin Universe, the host will be able to store the One World inside the Wild Rift!]

'What Wild Rift?' That's the first thing Rio asked himself.

The Wild Rift title of the game is pointing to the map they're playing. But just how will he store a world inside a small place like that?!

Rio's questions were hard to answer since he could only know the truth once he managed to enter the origin universe. That's what made him uneasy and excited at the same time.

"Mr. Flute..." Rio muttered as he looked around to find where old man Flute is. He even checked his map but he failed to find him. Rio was so Irritated but he could shout it out. "Why are these bastards keep on claiming things without my permission!? Ah! Stress!"

"Ya~ don't be so loud and let us sleep in peace ..." Rebecca talked while she was sleeping.

"Sheesh! Haist!" Rio stood up as the only one left, he could only do his best to carry the two on his back. 'Allegiance, he? He was able to peak at what is happening in this world because he's on me with it. He is the will of the world after all... I should have expected such a thing to exist since another world exists too.

'I also know that this universe is ownerless and needed a king to develop it but I never expect that they will approach me despite I'm only an examinee without enough strength to rule other races.'

Rio went back to the Inn and have a proper rest. And although it is proper rest, his mind is still lingering on the fact that he was accepting lots of benefits from peerless people he doesn't even know.

He felt like he was the main character that is task save a world. But he doesn't like that. He wanted and seek for freedom for a long time of being contained by both his fake and real identity.

He doesn't want the student 'Rio' who is tall and silent. He also hated the Magus heir 'Rio' who has been trained to the bone to save the world.

He just wanted to seek what he wants and what makes him move forward. At the moment, that one thing that made him look at the future is just what kind of world is waiting for him in the Origin Universe.

"Damn it! If he really is this world's will then he probably knows the existence of this chained people!" Rio said as he sit-up on his bed. "I should have at least asked a thing or two!"

***

The Vinel City mayor's office.

The plump man who was chained twitched as if he felt something.

"Who!?" The two-meter tall dog-headed person screamed in fury. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared up to the ceiling.

The plump man with a feather on his neck entered the room where the mayor is detained in a hurry. "Mayor! What is it? What happened?!"

"What happened?! Fuck you! Someone is trying to refine this world!" The mayor shouted as he tried to unchain himself. "Ah! God damn it! Who has the qualification to do such a thing?! I only need a few more years to escape this damn prison! Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!"

The plump man went pale after he heard what he said and true to look for someone. There are thousands of prisoners in the world they are currently residing and most of them already knew each other after spending a lot of years.

The servant that served as their representative has a deeper relationship as most of them were not detainees like their masters so they have the freedom to make a conversation with other servants.

"Oh! Fatty! You're here! Did something happened to your master as well?" A pig-headed giant Skopje to the plump man as soon as he entered a hidden room underground.

"You too?" The rooster-headed asked him too.

"Yes. My master is cursing non-stop after he felt the refining of this world." The plump man said with a nod.

"There is nothing to worry about. We just need to find the individual the will of the world recognized and hinder him to fail the examination." A giant with a head of a Bull said as he took a piece of paper on his desk. "I've contacted the other cities to find the person. You guys have to help as well. You can always reject it though. That is if you want to become this world's source, that is."

The giants and other representatives nodded as they left one after another. Their mission is to find Rio who received the allegiance of Flute and hinder his progress to fail the exam.

The city walls that are being guarded by a single feathered giant increased, making a rumor that spread throughout the encampment.

"Stupid. How can a mere participant could catch the ire of this scary giant just because of staying too long inside without payment? Haven't you seen a giant dog dragging those who cheated with ease?"

"Indeed. It's definitely not because of that. I've heard from someone who came out of inside the city that they are looking for an individual who knew Flute."

"Flute? What's a flute?"

"Who knows. Even that person who told knows nothing about the flute."

"Maybe, maybe it's a hidden quest? You know, the thing that the city's protectors are giving quests to the examinees? I heard that some of our ancestors managed to receive the protectors' quest and instantly became a powerhouse of our race!"

"For real?! Hahaha! Stop joking! A thing like that is impossible to exist!"

The others laugh at the person who mentioned the quest, but they are actually thinking the same thing.

'We need to find out what is that flute is!'

The same thing is happening in the other cities. They began searching for anything that has a connection with the word flute.

The only thing they found out is the word flute is something that has a connection with Earthers, nothing more.

Examinees started to look for the Earther's location. The examinees who have been spawn near the Vinel City were on ecstasy when they found out that it has confection with Earthers.

Lurkers started to occupy the food that surrounds the city. Each of them has the intention to kill Rio and his group just to make him spill information about the flute.

It only took about half a day for the rumors of Earthers residing on the Vinel City to the other cities. A large group of examinees started to march and make visit Vinel city.

Rio and the others know nothing about the commotion created by the word flute just woke up. They went straight to the cafeteria to eat their fill then rest.

None of them knows the danger that is lurking in the shadows except for Rio. Rio has developed the habit of checking his map every minute. He was shocked that even he woke-up, there are already hundreds of red marks surrounding the Inn they were in.

Rio managed to remain calm and checked what is happening. He quickly learned about the reason why they are doing that.

"Senior sister, it seems like we've become a public enemy." Rio casually said to Rebecca.

Rebecca drank a glass of water then looked straight at Rio. "You mean, you became a public enemy, right? I mean, we did nothing since we enter the city except for steadying inside our room or eating out."

"This time it's different," Rio said then pull the scroll Flute gave him last night. "The whole city is looking for flute. They then found out our connection with the flute and look after us. We are currently being watched. Once we leave the city, those bastards will hunt us."

"Are you telling the truth?" Rebecca asked in return, feeling nervous.

"Of curse! We'll leave the city later tonight. I'll notify senior Rever first then leave." Rio said.

Rebecca thought for a second then said. "Why do we have to leave the city? We already have enough materials to pass the test. Also, if we just tell them what is flute, they'll let us go, right?"

"Senior sister, it's not that simple," Rio said. He is currently looking at the projection of the Rooster-Headed feathered giant that is chained at the bottom floor.

"Flute! You god damned bastard! I'll tear you to shred if you dare to come here!" The Rooster-Headed giants screamed in anger. His eyes were bloodshot like a maddened bull as he tried to destroy the chain that is containing him.

"Master, it's no use. No one knows Flute. The only thing the examinees know was that the flute is an instrument from Earth. Now, every examinee, even those from other cities is after our representatives' head." The rooster-headed innkeeper said with grief.

"Who the fuck cares about representatives?! I don't fucking care! What's the point of having a strong representative when I, the patriarch is on brink of turning into an energy source!?"

The innkeeper nodded then left the room. He sent to his post, ignoring the lurkers who are watching over Rio and the other's movements.

Rio sighed then went to Rever's room to warn him. Rever is still considered by the system as a hostile individual so Rio is not fond of him. He just did it in order to make his conscience clear if ever Rever died because he never warned him.

Rio went back to his room then open the scroll the One World will, Flute, gave him. He gently spread the scroll on the ground and saw magic arrays inscribed to the scroll.

[Unable to use due to the lack of Magical Source!]

'A scroll that could only work once I am awakened? That old man put me and my comrade in such a situation yet he only gave me this unusable scroll?!' Rio thought then irritatedly put the scroll back to his dimensional pouch.

Rio was getting ready while Rebecca is trying her best to learn more before they leave the city. Up to now, she has already learned quite a bit about herb gathering. Although she doesn't have experience when it comes to the concoction.

Bluch prepared dishes from the ingredients Rio gave him and found out that the tools he is using don't need to absorb the whole meat but the energy within the flesh. He quickly upgraded his Diamante Cooking set up to class three.

'Bluch is improving. He's even calmer than the senior Rever now.' Rio thought as he watched Bluch Grump cook a dish after dish using his Diamante Cooking set.

Rio stood up then clapped his hands. The attention of Rebecca and Bluch instantly has their focus on him. "It's already dark outside. Steel your guts, we'll run away from this place no matter what! So, this is our plan..."

***

Rio went out and noticed the bloodlust from those who are waiting for him.

When they saw Rio and his friends come out of the Inn, the lurkers were alerted and eyed them. They want to take action but they know that they're just asking for death if they did. The rumors of brutish Rio spread wildly when the information about the flute was out.

With Rio's strength, they have no chance of killing him with just a small number. They quickly left their post and went outside the city to notify their team.

"Cowards," Rio muttered then throw Bluch to mount Matt Volk.

"We're ready." Rebecca who is mounted at Olive gently said. She has her Diamante Crossbow +4 on her hands with Diamante Quiver +4 on her waist. Her Diamante bolts instantly upgraded once she put it on the quiver.

"Then let's go!" Rio smirked then assimilated with his best combinations.

"Garen, Shyvana, Tryndamere, Yasuo, and Dr. Mundo!" Rio shouted with glee. He doesn't know why, but he suddenly has the urge to shout it out. His body became filled with excitement for some reason.

"Seriously, why now. Tsk! Haha!" Rio cackled then transformed. His slim body become buffed, his skin turned purple, his black hair grew longer, he grew a mustache on his face, while his eyes turned into that of a dragon.

"Tahahaha! Haha! Let's play, you bastards!" Rio laughed like a maniac then shouted out loud to mock those who are waiting for him. His body is overflowing with unknown energy because of his assimilation.

[Health Bar is generated!]

[Fury Bar generated!]

[Health Bar is already generated! Health Bar is doubled!]

[Fury Bar is already generated! Fury Bar is doubled!]

[Flow Bar is generated!]

[Health Bar is already generated! Health Bar is tripled!]

[Conditions have been met! The combination name Monster tanker has been acquired! From now on, every time the caster loses a health bar, become immune for three seconds for every attack.]

[Keystone Rune Conqueror selected!]

[Domination Rune Champion selected!]

[Resolve Rune Regeneration selected!]

[Inspiration Rune Pack Hunter selected!]

"Be thankful, you puny aliens, that I still need to upgrade my life weapon so I won't kill all of you!" Rio shouted then stomped on the ground. The ground shook as he sent his body forward, running to the entrance of the city.

Those who are waiting outside the city felt tremors every time Rio landed on his feet. They became worried all of a sudden.

"Hey... isn't that the brute?!" One of them exclaimed. Rio did not activate skills but he still managed to reach the city gate in no time.

Behind him were Matt Volt and Olive, carrying the other Earther.

Rio saw thousands of red marks around the map and felt elated. "Behold my true form!"