"Huh? He can do that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
"I didn't know he could do that…?"
[Nor did I.]
The System replied dryly, as if avoiding a direct confrontation with this possibility.
I couldn't hold back a short laugh.
Although this shared being between me and Lloyd inhabited two different bodies, Lloyd's actions were sometimes unpredictable, like the shifting waves in a stormy sea.
***
Meanwhile..
Planet Aurora, the Reflection World.
[Ding!]
[13,500 Gold has been consumed!]
[The "Beginner's Gift" pack has been successfully sent to the character "Neithan Dortmund"!]
"Good! Still, the expense was outrageous this time!" Lloyd muttered with some annoyance, wiping his brow with a grim expression.
He wasn't entirely convinced by the ancient Orc's plan, but he decided to go through with it anyway.
"If that's what it takes," he said to himself, taking a deep breath.
He knew he had no other choice.
He had thought things would be simpler, but Gorlam's plan didn't seem to be what he expected.
He had always believed that resources would be the most difficult element on this path, but he never imagined he would have to spend such huge sums on something that seemed so uncertain.
As he was thinking about his next move, the voice of Gorlam, who was always present with his advice laden with commands, boomed.
"Don't worry, you just need to focus on fully merging with the [Source Engine] this time. Only after that can you subjugate the two warring kingdoms by mastering the [Golem Dolls - Gornux] spell."
Gorlam's voice always seemed to float in the air, as if the world itself reacted to him, while he personally supervised Lloyd's training.
The controversial Orc didn't care whether Lloyd was satisfied with the plans or not. He had only one goal: to awaken the others.
"Hmm, this is going to be exhausting!"
Lloyd said with a grumble, placing his hands on his head, imagining the amount of work he had to complete.
***
"So, Lloyd suddenly decided to be generous? I don't think so! He didn't want to go through with that plan before," Nathan asked, pointing a finger at the screen, contemplating the system notification before him. His feelings were a tangled mess of curiosity and sarcasm, but he also felt a hint of confusion.
"What are they thinking! I'm not supposed to receive any help from them until the invasion of this planet is over."
In the grand scheme of things, the "Nathan Dortmund" persona could be considered a mere experiment to see if it was better to rely on copies to open up new worlds, rather than the original body, in order to protect his sensitive identity. Either that plan would fail, and he would be forced to reveal himself again, or perhaps both would succeed. In the end, either of those plans would be decisive for the future.
[An unusual command... A beginner's pack is being granted? Sent? In the end, I am but a fragment of the "Legacy."]
"My other self is sending me a beginner's pack? Does he really care about me that much?" Nathan muttered, his gaze fixed on the notification. He stared at the System, wondering if he would get an honest answer.
[It is unlikely he has a hidden agenda, unless there is additional information concealed in his system log. That war-pioneer must be planning something..]
"Wow, that's not unsettling at all," Nathan said sarcastically, trying to endure the situation. "He just made me feel like I'm on some reality TV show, where someone decides to give me a gift while secretly planning how to screw me over in the end."
[..]
A moment of silence, then a new notification was issued, adding a touch of tension to the atmosphere.
[A beginner's pack has been granted to you! The items have been added to your inventory.]
Nathan examined the pack, taking a deep breath, then sighed. "Interesting. Let's see what's in this strange package then." He felt a bit of anxiety, but at the same time, his curiosity pushed him to open the pack and discover its contents. His feelings towards "Lloyd" were filled with questions, ranging from curiosity to suspicion. He was just a copy bearing some of Lloyd's original personality, but he had been heavily influenced by the memories of the original Nathan Dortmund, so he could no longer call himself Lloyd Amora or even Lloyd Reinhart. He was essentially stuck in the template that had been assigned to him.
He had lost his connection with Lloyd since the last time and had no way of knowing what was happening with his main body. This could be considered a way to protect the original at the expense of the copy, in case he fell into the hands of his primary enemies.
In the end, Nathan decided to push all of this to the back of his mind. Lloyd had only sent a mere "Beginner's Gift" pack, so he shouldn't be too affected. "He probably spent no more than 100 gold, at most," Nathan muttered, trying to calm himself.
[..]
"What?"
[Nothing!]
"This day isn't going to get any weirder, is it?"
He grinned broadly, clasping his hands behind his head with boundless confidence. "Anyway, I'm extremely handsome. I'm sure I can recruit 100 disciples in three days, tops," Nathan muttered enthusiastically, running a hand through his shining blond hair, which gleamed as if it held the sun's own rays.
A moment of reflection, then he continued, "I can't believe I'll have a sect this big so soon." Despite his obvious sarcasm, his eyes shone with an undeniable confidence. He thought that completing a part of the epic quest quickly would be easy, or at least less complicated than it seemed. "It's easy to find disciples, right? I just hope this pack has something good to help me progress quickly."
Suddenly, his system issued a new notification.
[Epic Quest Confirmed: Recruit 1,000,000 disciples within a decade.]
"Yeah… yeah," Nathan sighed quietly, staring at the notification with a look of deflation. "A million disciples? That's beyond me right now! I can recruit a few hundred first, to test the waters!"
He quickly regained his composure and took a deep breath. "Alright, no need to worry. Everything will be fine. If I can recruit 100 disciples in three days, maybe I can double that number in the future."
He then looked at the beginner's pack, his mouth moving slowly. "Let's see what's inside." After all his thoughts and questions, the pack still piqued his curiosity.
[Do you wish to open the Beginner's Gift Pack?]
"Yes."
[You have obtained: Body Boosting Pill x3 - Transparent Shield - Body Tempering Pill - Dragon's Fang Sword (Transformation-Type)]
Nathan looked at the items that appeared on his system screen, examining each one carefully.
[Body Boosting Pill x3]: This pill possessed a great ability to temporarily enhance physical capabilities. It provides a quick effect, increasing physical strength, endurance, and speed.
These three pills were like a stimulant for the body, helping to overcome fatigue. He felt they would be most useful in times when he needed to quickly recover his stamina after a grueling battle or an arduous journey.
[Transparent Shield]: This shield was unique. Although it didn't possess the immense defensive power of some heavy armors, it was excellent at concealing itself from enemies, only appearing when a blow was received.
The shield relied on a special technique to absorb attacks invisibly, making it a strategic weapon in stealth combat or surprise attacks.
[Body Tempering Pill]: This was the most exciting item for Nathan. The "Body Tempering Pill" focused on permanently improving physical stats. Once consumed, it would raise the levels of physical strength, endurance, speed, and combat intelligence by significant margins. It was like an explosion of energy that would continue to work gradually over time. This pill wasn't just a temporary boost; it was a transformation of the body to a higher level of efficiency, making it the most valuable item in the pack.
Nathan felt as if it were the perfect answer to the challenge of the "Epic Quest" he was facing. If he could improve his body in this way, he wouldn't just be an ordinary sect leader; he could become a force to be reckoned with.
[Dragon's Fang Sword (Transformation-Type)]: The Dragon's Fang Sword was a morphing weapon, capable of transforming into different forms based on combat needs. It could become an extremely light sword to increase speed, or a massive greatsword to increase offensive power.
This sword held immense power, and Nathan felt that this weapon would be a great addition to his combat abilities, especially when he needed to deal with strong opponents.
Nathan looked at the items thoughtfully, then smiled a confident smile. "It seems this pack wasn't bad at all. The pill is the key, and if I can make the most of it, I'll have a much better chance of achieving my goals."
He didn't hesitate any longer. His next step was clear.
He had to use the Body Tempering Pill.