Aldrich's footsteps kept coming through as he walked, and finally, he had successfully completed his walk and entered into the Realm of Crafts.
It was a vast market space where souls in human form stood. Some were artists of different kinds, Others were sword makers Others dealt with other types of weapons.
Aldrich, having his eyes upon the massive craft market, realized once again that he was lost and dead. But an enormous emotion struck him as well as he thought of Sarah.
"How are you doing, my love? I don't know what exactly is going on, but right here, this moment, I vow to do my best to make it back to you, Sarah somehow someway I just have to figure things out."
While he said that, one old craftsman beside him laughed and said, "I've heard a lot of souls who say things like 'I'm going to fight my way back.' Hahaha. And they never do. Some get lost as well,You should know this that this is your new reality."
Aldrich was shocked to his core, These words he had said earlier were only within his thoughts, so how did this old person read his mind to know exactly what he thought?
But then the old man smiled and said, "You should head right up and make a trade with some of your Essence for a weapon because you will definitely be needing it across here."
And so the old man began to walk off, But Aldrich waved at him and said, "Thanks for the assistance, but I will fight my way out of here somehow. But for now, what do you mean trade my Essence?"
The old man responded, saying, "Essence is your energy,It can be used for several purposes, but right here, you will be needing it for a trade. You must sell a portion of it to be granted a weapon."
Then he said to Aldrich, "Turn around and look,There are souls here just like you trading for weapons"
Aldrich turned and saw some other people,When he turned to walk to the old man, he was no longer there,It was like he had never existed,Aldrich stood upright and said, "Was that the Screen thing again? Maybe in human form? I do not understand these things, But however, I will follow the instructions given."
So he moved forward until he arrived at a craft shop. A goblin raised his head upwards from under the table and then asked him, "What weapon would you be seeking for the moment?"
Well, Aldrich had never been a fighter in his previous life, so he knew less of weapons and all of that. But he said to himself, "A goblin as a trader? This is crazy. I am seeing a lot of things only my imagination would make, but these things are real."
He swallowed his saliva and said, "Can I get some options of what is available?"
The goblin said, "Definitely," and pulled out a menu for him which carried swords, axes, spears, guns, bows and arrows, and lots more.
But before Aldrich could say anything, the Library of the BookKeeper system appeared in front of him that only he could see.
[System Online: Welcome, User Aldrich.]
[Quest: Obtain Your First Weapon]
[Reward: Ability Slot Unlock]
So he told the goblin that he was going to go for the sword.
The goblin said, "Fine choice," and said, "That would cost you 10% Essence."
Aldrich, knowing that his essence indicated unreadable, wondered, "What if I had only 20% of Essence and I get a weapon for 10? I could be running out of it."
Nevertheless, this weapon was important according to that old man, wasn't it? Aldrich thought and decided to risk the unknown.
"Alright, I will go for it," he told the goblin.
The goblin nodded and asked him to stretch his hand. Upon doing that, he cut a little bit on his palm, and blood dripped out of his palm into a cup. The blood instantly turned into a red energy, and the goblin took a full sip and said, "Payment received."
He began working right away.
Aldrich's palm was already healed as he said, "So I can bleed here too, even after death? Does that mean we can still die here too?"
He turned around,Right next to him was a girl at another shop crafting something for herself. It was a bow and arrows,She was dressed in a black sleeveless crop top that revealed the midriff, paired with dark pants that sat low on the hips. She was holding a bow, and the crafter who was attending to her was making preparations for her arrows now.
Of course, Aldrich, still with a few of his personality, wanted to engage in a conversation. So he said, "Hey, woman? Nice pick, you know. Arrows are good for proper shooting skills. What is the name?"
The lady didn't respond immediately.
Aldrich continued, "I mean no harm, you know? It's just a name."
But by this time, her arrows were already set, and she stretched out her hand and got them and hovered them on her shoulders Only then did she answer him.
"Kira," she said, and turned and walked out.
Aldrich said, "Yeah, nice one you got there. Kira. Nice name too."
He turned back to his goblin as it was already done and presented a sleek blade, black in color, to him and immediately a screen displayed for Aldrich.
[System Alert: Weapon Acquired]
[Item: IceKing Breaker Sword]
[Rank: A]
[Ability: Ice Release – Generates Freezing Waves and Ice pillars]
[Weapon Type: Growth Class Weapon evolves as user's Essence increases]
The goblin said, "You ain't supposed to speak to one another, anyways."
Aldrich said, "Well, nobody said such a rule to me" while he took note of the update he had just gotten about the weapon.
"But now you know it," the goblin said. "You're rare. Your taste is different. And now a black version blade?"
But Aldrich didn't pay any attention to them as he grabbed the sword and ran towards Kira, who was already heading out of the market towards the next exit known as the Realm of Monsters a door that was made of giant roots.
Aldrich spoke, saying, "Hey! Hey, Kira! Mind waiting up for me? I know we ain't supposed to speak, but you know, teamwork kind of thing? I help you, you help me. Hahaha."
But before his eyes, Kira had disappeared, it was clear she wasn't interested and had her own goals to carry out.
He said, "Well, I guess I've got to do this on my own."
And so it was finally time for the test to begin in the Realm of Monsters,Aldrich had walked into a lion's den where most souls perish and never get a second chance.