Second World

Grace, Jet, and Oswald went into the hut to rest. Jack didn't go to sleep immediately. Despite it being almost midnight, he still wanted to do his regular training before bed. It didn't sit right with him to skip a training session, not to mention the mana density here greatly improved his learning process. That's why he had asked Whitebeard if they were allowed outside the hut. He couldn't train inside without disturbing the others.

He cast his spells and trained his mana manipulation on the spells. He also cast spells to increase their proficiencies. Skills as well, especially the Spirit Weapon skill. Peniel mentioned that with each star, the spirit weapon would get more powerful.

Jack had used the skill every three hours when it was off cooldown. The spirit weapon complained every time there was no enemy, just like it did when it was first summoned, but Jack ignored it. He had tried communicating with it, but he learned that although this spirit weapon could talk, it only responded to simple commands. It was not an entity like Peniel who was capable of complex communication.

Once he trained for around one hour, Jack retired into the hut.

*

"Rise and shine! Rise and shine!" Whitebeard's voice echoed throughout the hut accompanied by loud gong sounds. The talking rodent was carrying a miniature gong and was hitting it with passion. Everyone inside the hut was awake due to the noise.

"Dude! It is still dark outside!" Jack protested.

"Our custom here is to rise before the sun comes up, so we will be fully awake when it does. Come on! Give me that wake-up smile!"

"Damn, you are one energetic mouse," Jack said. He then rose with a grunt.

"Oh, you are real…," Grace said when she saw Whitebeard again. She probably slept with the hope that it was all just a dream.

"I will wait outside," Whitebeard said. "Don't make me wait long! I have talked with chief Meratis, she will be seeing you once you are ready."

"All right. Come on, everyone. Let's get ready," Jack said. He was wearing loose clothes when sleeping. With a flick of his mind, all his armors reequip instantly.

"Damn it! You outworlders are cheats," Oswald uttered. He was changing his clothes manually.

"Hey! Why do you just change your clothes here?" Grace protested. She immediately turned away.

"What? It's not like I can do it in an instant like you people," Oswald replied. He continued undressing without any shame.

"Let's wait for him outside," Jack said.

Grace was the first to rush out.

Jet came over to the naked native assassin and took a look. He then grinned. "Hehe, I win."

Oswald looked at Jet walking out the door with his smile. He asked Jack, "What the hell does he mean?"

"You don't wanna know," Jack replied.

After everyone was ready, Captain Whitebeard asked them to follow it. Now that the sun was about to come up, many of the villagers were out. Similar to the Daminos Square Garden, they saw seven main races in equal proportion here. In addition to that, there were also many animals. Not just common animals, these animals mostly wore clothes like Whitebeard. Not only that, but they also saw these animals talking with one another.

<br/>"This is certainly… different," Jack said.

"Yeah, it's like we have entered a village full of animals from children's books," Jet remarked.

They walked slowly as they watched everything in fascination. Jack used his Inspect. All the ones he saw can be considered weak. Their level ranges from 10 to 20. They were mostly basic grades, with only a few elite grades. He had a problem accepting this place as the home to a divine faction equal to the Council of Virtus. Or perhaps this divine faction called Harmony Keepers lived in another part of the village?

"It's so peaceful here," Grace commented.

"Yeah. As I said, it looks like a place pull out from one of those tales in children's books," Jet said.

"It is ironic, don't you think?" Jack said. "A peaceful village in the middle of a forest of horror."

"Maybe that's why they have this peace? Protected by the forest, they are free from outsiders."

They were suddenly startled by a voice from above. "Whitebeard! These the guests you mentioned?" They looked up and saw a monkey in a shirt, dangling from the eave of the roof.

"Yes, Shortpaw," Whitebeard replied. Then to Jack and the others, it said, "This is Shortpaw, my pal."

"Sup, you all," The monkey extended its one hand for a handshake, with its other one still holding the eave.

"Sup," Jack said and shook the monkey's hand, feeling weird while doing it. The others followed his lead. Only Jet had a problem because the monkey dangling from the roof was too high for him. Shortpaw dropped down and shook his hand on the ground.

"Yo, what takes you so long!" They heard another voice. This time, it was a german shepherd in some sort of a uniform.

"Sorry, Sharpsnout. This is the first time our guests visit our village. I think it's a lot to take in for them," Whitebeard said to the dog.

'It certainly is!' Jack said in his mind.

"Hurry up, will you? Chief Meratis is already waiting," Sharpsnout said and dashed off.

"You heard him, let's pick up the pace, shall we?" Whitebeard said. "You can sightsee the village after meeting the chief. Well, considering if she lets you stay, of course."

"Why would she not let us stay?" Jet asked, but Whitebeard didn't answer.

They were heading towards the largest building in the village. It was visible from afar. It had a tall and sharp roof. Taller than all the other houses in this village. Jack guessed that should be the village hall. When they arrived, they saw Sharpsnout standing in pose outside this village hall.

Whitebeard half-covered his mouth and whispered, "Sharspsnout enjoys acting as a guard dog, just treat him like one."

"Greetings, loyal Sharpsnout. I come bringing guests from the outside world. They wish to meet our chief," Whitebeard said with a bow.

"You may all enter," Sharpsnout said, maintaining its pose. "But take care to show respect. Otherwise, you will have to answer to me."

The mutt was a level 18 basic animal. How would it make them answer? Jack wondered. But he still showed respect nonetheless. He gave the dog a slight bow following Whitebeard. The others did the same.

When they entered, a loud voice was heard, "Guests from the outside world have arrived!"

They saw the voice was coming from a rabbit in court attire beside a seemingly old woman. This woman must be the village chief, Meratis, that the animals had mentioned. Jack was expecting this woman to be one of the Harmony Keepers and possess a high level considering her high station in this village, but she was just a level 20 elite.

"That rabbit is Pete, the chief's herald," Whitebeard informed with a whisper.

A talking rabbit named Pete, how original, Jack thought.

Whitebeard came before the old woman and bowed, "Chief Meratis, I have brought the guests from the outside world."

"Guests of the outside world, approach!" Pete's loud voice was heard again.

Meratis who was beside the shouting rabbit cringed. The rabbit's voice was indeed a little too loud.

"Thank you, herald," Meratis said gently to the rabbit. "I wish to speak with these guests alone. Do you mind leaving us alone?"

"Of course, my chief," Pete said and hopped outside.

When Meratis saw Whitebeard still standing before her, she said to the mouse with a smile, "that includes you as well, my little captain."

"Oh, as you wish, my chief," It scurried towards the door. "Just call if you need anything."

Meratis chuckled. She then spoke to the guests, "Please sit."

There were four chairs already prepared for them, so Jack and the others sat on them.

"Three of you are outworlders," Meratis said.

"That will be us," Jack nodded and pointed to himself, Grace, and Jet.

"As you can see, we don't usually have outsiders," Meratis said. "The forest protects us from all outside threats and we also have no desire to involve ourselves with the outside world. I know it is not easy for you to pass through the forest and come here, I imagine you must have a purpose coming?"

"Yes, we would like to…"

Meratis lifted her hand to stop Jack's words. She said, "Before you tell me your desire. I must first see if you are qualified to remain in this village."

'What? Another trial? Isn't the forest trying enough already?' Jack lamented within.

"How do you determine if we are qualified?" Grace asked.

"I need to see if any of you carry wickedness within you," Meratis answered.

"Wickedness? What if we do carry it?" Jet asked.

"If you do, we will tear you apart and let you be the fertilizer to the forest outside. Or in your outworlders' case, send you back to your starting level."