Realm X: Ascending Through The Arcane Tower

Chapter 3: Immortal Dragon Incarnate

"Congratulations, Einstein, the Immortal Dragon Incarnate. You will be teleported into Realm X shortly..."

That was the last statement that came from the portal before Erwin's body was hurled into it along with Einstein—the sparrow... no, the Immortal Dragon Incarnate, apparently.

The words didn't make sense, but then again, nothing about the last few minutes had made sense.

A blinding white glow consumed his vision for a moment after phasing through the portal. The sensation was so odd he nearly felt sick.

Then he was greeted by a strange atmosphere, calm and peaceful.

[ENTERING REALM X]

[Dimensional Essence System - Adapting]

[New Environment: Cosmic Assembly]

[Warning: Power levels here far exceed current user capabilities]

When he finally felt his feet touch solid ground, and when he vision finally cleared from the blinding light of his teleportation, what he saw first made his jaw drop in shock.

It wasn't just what he saw first, either. It was everything he was seeing as his eyes scanned frantically through the entire surroundings.

The place Erwin found himself in now could be simply described as a field, but that description was almost wrong when looking at the sheer scope of it.

It stretched in every direction to flat horizons, under a sky that was blue in color like that of Earth and held no sun, but somehow provided light anyway.

And filling this impossible field were countless creatures heading toward the only single structure present in their field of view—a tower so distant it should have been below the horizon, yet somehow remained perfectly visible.

[System Notification]

[Average Power Level: Mortal Rank C to Awakened Rank B]

[Your Power Level: Mortal Rank F]

[Status: You are significantly weaker than average]

Erwin would have panicked—at least a little bit—at what lay before his eyes.

Any sane person would have.

But again, he had been through too many confusions and surprises recently to have any panic left in him. His capacity for panicking had been practically exceeded, at least for now.

Besides, compared to being beaten half to death by an infected, killing said infected, and then being sucked into a portal that appeared above its corpse, this was almost... mundane?

Not to talk about this floating screen in front of his vision.

Wait. Where was his spa—

No, wait. Where was the dragon?

He glanced around frantically, his gaze getting lost among the countless different kinds of creatures walking past him in an orderly fashion toward the distant tower.

There was one resembling what dinosaurs must have looked like—if dinosaurs had been covered in crystalline scales of a mixture of blue and purple. Its legs were so massive that when they crossed over Erwin's head, they cast a shadow over him that made it feel like night had fallen just for that moment.

Another creature resembled a cross between an overgrown fly and a dog, while still remaining alien. It had too many legs, too many eyes, and it moved with fluidity.

Then there was something that looked like a living flame given shape and purpose, walking on legs made of solidified fire.

"Stop gawking, creature. You're blocking the line."

The creature behind Erwin shoved him forward and walked past him.

'Oh, it can speak human language.' Erwin's expression darkened, not even really by the creature's ability to speak, but by the action it took.

'This oversized gorilla doesn't know how much I hate being shoved like some weakling, making me feel sick.' Erwin's mind was going on high gear anger as he watched it move further with a death glare.

'Maybe I should go give him a well-deserved kick in the arse and challenge him.' Erwin pouted with his mouth stretched out like a little kid as he marched forward toward the creature.

[System Notification]

[QUEST ALERT: Don't be an idiot]

[Time Duration: 10 minutes]

[Reward: +50 EXP, Common Sense Achievement]

The new notification only fueled Erwin's rage as his face redden with embarrassment.

Right now, he so much want to kick the ape-like creature and must do so. This system interface was getting on his nerves.

"What the hell do you think you are doing!" The floating ball, or rather, sphere-like creature with the shape and size of a volleyball quickly moved in front of him to block him.

"You hot-headed overgrown kid." It spat out in annoyance. "Are you trying to cause trouble already?"

Erwin's eyes moved to the creature in puzzlement as he halted.

"Tsk. Another creature who can speak human language." He scoffed in annoyance. "And who might you be?"

"You dummy, are you truly tryna tell me you don't recognize me?" It fired in annoyance at Erwin, its blue glow turning red momentarily. "You should be on your knees apologizing for risking me as a decoy in your fight against that infected."

[Scan Complete]

[Name: Einstein]

[Title: The Dragon Incarnate]

[Species: ???]

[True Form: LOCKED]

[Power Level: ???]

Erwin's eyebrow raised as he glanced at the writing, then turn to stared more intently at the light blue floating sphere in front of him.

"Is this you, Einstein?" He muttered out.

"What does it look like, dummy?" Einstein responded and began to float forward. "Start moving if you don't want to get shoved for the second time."

"Don't tell me what to do, birdy!" Erwin barked, but obeyed regardless now that the ape-like creature had already gone too far. "If you have anything to say, should you start with explaining why the hell you didn't tell me you were the 'dragon incarnate' all this while?"

"Simple, because I was a bird incapable of speaking."

"Now you can speak, tell me how you were a freaking bird." Erwin fired again, his voice loud and echoing in the expanse.

"Stop screaming or keep screaming," Einstein responded nonchalantly, staring at him with his animated eyes that resembled a projection on his cartoon-like features. "Whichever you choose would decide if you would get a response from me or not."

Erwin gritted his teeth in annoyance.

[Quest Update: Don't be an idiot]

[Time Remaining: 8 minutes 34 seconds]

[Current Status: Causing a scene - Stop yelling]

Erwin gritted his teeth but then, Einstein began, diverting his attention. "Let me start with the fact that we are in Realm X."

"I already know that much," Erwin interjected.

"And every creature is heading toward the distant tower within our field of view."

"Obviously," Erwin chimed in again.

"All I can say is that we join them." Einstein's cartoonish expression shifted to what could be translated as "he was proud of himself." "That's all I can contribute right now since I just came here as soon as you did."

"Thank you for telling me all the obvious facts I already know. I should have made you into a steak while I had the chance on Earth, you dumb bird."

"Ouch." Einstein's expression shifted as if he had been struck by lightning. "You should at least have been trying to make up for almost sacrificing me with more positivity instead of insults."

"I already apologized!" Erwin protested. "I said I was sorry. Didn't know if you could understand me at the time you were still a bird. The fact remains that I apologized."

"Apologies won't fix that, and they never will. By the way, look where we are at."

Einstein signaled forward, making Erwin avert his gaze from Einstein to what stood before him.

"Oh great. Why am I not surprised?"

They were directly in front of the tower, despite having walked for just a few minutes according to their own calculations.

Crazy things wouldn't fascinate him at this moment.

Then that voice came again.

*"Congratulations for making it to the doorstep of Realm X core. Your journey to the top of the Arcane Tower begins."*

*"Warning: Entry portal will seal in 89 seconds. Failure to ascend before sealment results in permanent exile to the land of erasure."*

"Land of erasure?" Erwin's blood ran cold as he clenched his fist in annoyance. "This voice kept directing me to where I don't want to be without giving me any choices."

"That voice of whatever it was from the portal made it clear that it was challenging me." Erwin pointed out. "Well then, what is it waiting for."

"Bring forth your challenge so I can ace them all and go back to my parents." Erwin's voice went cold in anger. "I hate these long procedures, I need to be back quick enough with water or else they will die from dehydration."

[System Recommendation: Stop talking and start moving]

Erwin screamed like a madman to the floating screen only he could see, causing Einstein to stare at him blankly.

[Quest Complete: Don't be an idiot]

[Reward: +50 EXP]

[Achievement Unlocked: Common Sense (Barely)]

[Total EXP: 50/200]

[Enter The Arcane Tower For Extra +100 EXP]

Einstein floated closer to Erwin's ear. "I suggest we hurry. Something tells me 'land of erasure' isn't a place you want to visit."

For once, Erwin agreed with the floating sphere without argument, his face reddened in anger.

They moved toward the entrance together, joining the horde of creatures moving into the massive tower that would decided their fate.