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Chapter 21 – I'm Home!!!
The forest finally quieted down.
Edem stood over the massive corpse of the Earth Bear, his chest rising and falling with slow, satisfied breaths. He manipulated the bear's blood through the air, drawing it to his mouth and drinking deeply. The warm, metallic essence of the beast filled his tongue — rich, vibrant, and pulsing with life.
"This capability is indeed quite advantageous," he murmured. "Before, I would soil my mouth with beast blood, but now... I can command it directly. Like a monarch attended by servants."
The rush that followed was brief, less intense than before. A reminder — intermediate-tier blood no longer offered the power it once did.
[+2 Attribute Points]
"Only two points?" Edem's tone lowered. "So I've grown that strong, huh? Even intermediate blood barely helps now."
He flexed his fingers, feeling the dense energy within them before turning to his storage bristle. Runes flickered faintly as the device cataloged his spoils. The light caught each core he placed inside, one after another, until he finally smiled.
"Three hundred beast cores," he counted aloud. "Fifty basic-tier, seventy intermediate-tier, and the rest... normal-tier. Not bad."
Satisfied, Edem sealed the bristle and exhaled. For now, that was enough. He'd been fighting and surviving for nearly a month. It was time to rest.
"I'll leave them for now. I'm exhausted. Three days of rest — then I'll leave this cursed portal."
He gently rubbed the side of his ribs where the bear's claws had torn through flesh. The pain had faded, leaving behind a faint numbness as Mid Blood Regeneration began knitting his skin together.
"This... defies all logic," he whispered, still fascinated by his own body's transformation. "To regenerate like this... Vampires truly are remarkable."
His mind wandered to higher challenges — advanced-tier beasts, and even kings. Just the thought made him laugh softly.
"Advance-tier and king-tier beasts... not something to joke about. That's a dream for later," he said, shaking his head. "For now, I'll rest and gather strength."
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The time had come to return.
Edem stored everything he used for battle back into the bristle, then altered his appearance. He crafted casual clothing — denim shorts, a simple shirt, and Nike sneakers. Nothing flashy, nothing that would draw suspicion on Blue Star.
The system pulsed. A portal began forming, its edges glowing red and black like an open wound in the air.
Beyond it, the Primordial Forest lingered — decayed, humid, and wild. Edem took one last look, committing it to memory before stepping through.
WHOOSSSH.
BZZZT.
In a heartbeat, the world changed — from trees and blood to metal and steam. The air was different. Cleaner. Busier. The smell of beasts vanished, replaced by that of oil, iron, and perfume. He closed his eyes and smiled faintly.
"It's always a pleasure to return home," he whispered.
He emerged exactly where he had first entered: the Zahara Federation Unit Base District.
Soldiers stood guard around the portal site, their weapons gleaming under the morning sun. Their faces were sharp, disciplined, focused. The Federation never lowered its guard around Gates.
Edem smiled faintly. They couldn't sense him. They couldn't even see him.
"Ha... having supernatural powers is awesome," he chuckled under his breath. "But in the wrong hands, this system could turn anyone into a monster."
He paused, his expression softening.
"Though I'm no saint, I don't crave destruction. I just want to cure my little brother... I hope he's okay. He'll miss me — though it's only been one night for him."
Indeed, time in the Gate flowed differently. A month within had passed as only one night outside.
He had evolved twice now. His agility had multiplied sixfold, his reflexes beyond human. He moved like a whisper of shadow — weaving between guards unseen. By the time they turned, he was gone.
No alarms sounded. The base continued its silent watch, unaware of the ghost that had passed through them.
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Blue Star – Zahara City. Morning.
The city was alive.
Street vendors rolled up their awnings. The air filled with the scent of bread and spice. Children laughed on their way to school. Neon lights flickered awake. Delivery drones hummed past, slicing through the cool air.
Edem walked among it all, quiet, composed — a lone figure moving through the symphony of civilization.
His white-silver hair shimmered under the rising sun, and his cool blue eyes caught the light, sharp and distant. His casual stride carried the air of calm confidence, and inevitably, people turned to stare.
"Who is that?" a young woman whispered.
"He looks like a rich young master," muttered an older man, eyes wide.
"He's... gorgeous," another voice sighed.
Edem ignored them all. Attention was cheap — and dangerous. He had bigger concerns than idle curiosity.
His path took him through lively streets that gradually grew quieter. The polished sidewalks gave way to cracked pavement, laundry lines, and narrow alleys. Children played ball by old fences; the scent of breakfast drifted through open windows.
He smiled faintly. Home.
At the end of a worn street stood a small house — old, simple, familiar. The paint had peeled, the gate creaked, and weeds crept through the once-kept garden. Yet to Edem, it was beautiful.
He stood silently for a long time, memories washing over him like rain — barefoot races across the yard, nights counting stars under one blanket, and the sound of his little brother's laughter echoing through the house.
He took a breath and gripped the doorknob.
For a heartbeat, he hesitated — like a pilgrim before entering sacred ground — then turned it.
The door groaned open.
Inside, time had stood still. Dust hung in the air, the scent of old wood thick and heavy. A faded sofa leaned near a cracked table. Books stacked carelessly in the corner. Small shoes sat neatly by the entrance — waiting for their owner to come home.
"I'm home," he whispered.
The words filled the silence, breathing life back into the house.
He knelt, sliding the storage bristle into its hidden slot beneath a loose floorboard, then leaned back on the couch.
For the first time since entering the Gate, Edem allowed himself to relax — to be human again.
Fatigue washed over him like a tide. The crimson energy, the thirst, the drive for Evo Points — all of it faded, just for a moment.
He had gathered three hundred cores. He had earned two points from an intermediate beast. He had survived. The emergency quest was complete — though its reward could wait.
Now, he would rest. Heal.
Once his strength returned, he'd enter again — to face advanced-tier beasts, and one day, the kings themselves.
But today, am home. The smell of bread, the hum of lights, the peace of human life filled the air. It was brief, fragile... but precious.
He opened the old door with a click. And entered.
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