Ding!
[You have received the S-Level Quest: "Bring a Stronghold Crystal to the Elven Stronghold."]
Leon didnāt hesitate even for a second. The moment the notification appeared, he opened the quest panel and began reading through every line with sharp focus.
---
[S-Level Quest: "Bring a Stronghold Crystal to the Elven Stronghold."]
[Time Limit: 3 Days.]
[Objective: Bring a "Stronghold Crystal" to the "Elven Stronghold."]
[Penalty for Failure: Reputation with the "Elven Stronghold" drops to zero.]
[Reward: Secret Realm Token and Legendary Treasure Chest.]
[Description: The "Elven Stronghold" has been seeking a "Stronghold Crystal" for months to no avail. Bring them one to allow their stronghold to evolve.]
---
Leon closed the panel slowly.
Three days. That was... extremely doable for Leon.
"We are facing more dangers by the day," ElvenStronghold said, his tone heavy. "Having this [Stronghold Crystal] would greatly benefit us."
Leon looked at the elf leader calmly. There was no hostility in his eyes, no respect either. Just neutrality.
"Alright," Leon said with a grin. "I accept."
[Stronghold Crystals] were among the most sought-after resources tied to territory control.
Any stronghold that wanted to grow needed them. Without a crystal, a stronghold was stuck at its current level forever.
The [Elven Stronghold] was only Level 1. Obtaining a single crystal would allow it to evolve to Level 2, increasing its defenses, facilities, and overall influence.
But that was also the problem. Stronghold Crystals were absurdly rare in the [Lower Domain].
That was why most players didnāt even bother creating strongholds here.
Even if they managed to establish one, leveling it up was another matter entirely.
Each evolution required crystals, and each crystal was harder to find than the last.
For most people, this quest would be nearly impossible. For Leon, he already had a plan and a way to clear it.
What surprised him more was the additional reward. A [Legendary Treasure Chest].
He had expected the [Secret Realm Token], that alone was worth more than enough, but the legendary chest was a bonus even he hadnāt anticipated.
āMaybe this elf isnāt completely unreasonable,ā Leon thought.
"Well," ElvenStronghold spoke again, a faint smirk appearing on his face, "I doubt youāll succeed. But if you do... we might be thankful."
"Third time Iāve heard that," Leon replied with a relaxed grin. "Iāll be back in like an hour."
"Sure," the elf said dismissively.
Fwoosh!
In the next instant, ElvenStronghold vanished, his figure dissolving into particles of light as he returned to the safety of his stronghold.
Leon and Emilia were left alone on the plains.
"No reason to stay here anymore," Leon said as he turned around. "I got what I wanted."
"Nice," Emilia replied with a grin. "So weāre safe for now? At least nothing exploded."
Leon shook his head slightly, his expression turning serious.
"No," he said. "Weāre far from safe now."
"...?" Emilia tilted her head.
"He used [Appraisal] on me," Leon explained. "Which means he probably saw my ID."
Emilia froze for a moment.
"...Oh."
The implications were obvious. Leonās ID wasnāt something that could be ignored, especially after the global announcement.
He knew that Leon was [Celestial] now.
The fact that ElvenStronghold showed no reaction meant only one thing: he noticed, and he chose not to say anything.
"That makes things... complicated," Emilia said quietly.
Leon nodded. "Exactly, though I wonder if heāll do anything about it."
He sent the quest panel to Emilia so she could read it herself.
"Only three days?" Emiliaās eyes widened. "Thatās brutal. The rewards are amazing, but it feels like he didnāt give you any room at all."
"Weāll be fine," Leon said confidently. "Unlike the [Secret Realm Token], I know exactly where to get a [Stronghold Crystal]."
"Really?" Emilia asked, surprised.
Leon nodded. "The [Land of Mist]."
Emiliaās expression shifted immediately. That name carried weight.
The [Land of Mist] sat at the boundary between the first and second sections of the [Lower Domain].
Anyone traveling between them, especially those returning to [Moon City], had to pass through it.
It was a Level 40 zone. And not a friendly one.
"Remember that monster I told you about?" Leon continued. "The one that could actually challenge you?"
Emiliaās eyes sparkled instead of showing fear. "So thatās it?"
"Thatās the one."
She smiled widely. "Good. Letās see if it can really live up to the reputation you gave it."
The two turned away from the [Elven Stronghold] and headed back in the direction of [Myriad Race City], their pace quick and deliberate.
Leon already had his next steps planned.
The [Star Magic Cave] wasnāt far from the [Elven Stronghold]. Once he obtained the [Secret Realm Token], heād be able to enter it without delay.
āEverything is lining up,ā Leon thought as they moved. āAlmost too smoothly.ā
The plan was clear: enter the [Land of Mist], kill the monster guarding the crystal, obtain the [Stronghold Crystal].
Return to the elves. Claim the [Secret Realm Token]. Head straight for the [Star Magic Cave].
And after that...
āThe [Farlands],ā Leon thought. āAnd finding a way to move between [Lower Domains].ā
He still wanted to give Eleonore and the others some of the elemental sub-talents he had acquired, but heād wait for them to reach the second part of the [Lower Domain] for that.
He didnāt have any equipment to give like before, but that didnāt worry him.
He believed in them. In his past life, they had grown stronger and faster than he did, even without his help. Their deaths had come from bad timing and worse luck.
With his intervention this time, their future would be completely different. They would rise.
Still, Leon wanted to finish everything he needed to do in the [Lower Domain] before ascending.
Leaving even one loose end could spiral into disaster later.
Fwoosh!
Soon enough, [Myriad Race City] came into view again. Leon didnāt slow down.
They passed by the cityās outer edges without entering and continued forward until the landscape changed.
Ahead of them stood a massive wall of dense, swirling mist. The [Land of Mist].
"There it is," Leon said with a grin. "Didnāt expect to come here this soon, but better to deal with it now."
He stepped forward.
Beep!
[You are about to enter the "Land of Mist."]
[It is not advised to enter unless fully prepared as the "Crystal Mist Guardian" resides within.]
"Thatās exactly who Iām here for," Leon replied calmly.
Around them, several players who had been lingering near the entrance stopped and stared.
"Theyāre both level 27, are they insane?"
"I heard that most who enter while being below level 40 never come back, why would you even wanna go back anyway?"
"I mean, if you go back, you can farm on the newbies and get their loot!"
Some laughed. Others shook their heads.
A few spoke loudly, not bothering to hide their disbelief.
None of them intervened though. Why would they?
[Eternal Ascension] was massive, with billions of players. Two more deaths meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Still...
"Be careful, kid," a human man approached Leon, his expression serious. "If the [Crystal Mist Guardian] finds you, thatās a death sentence."
Leon looked at him, then nodded once.
"Thanks."
He didnāt bother explaining that being found was the entire point. Without another word, Leon stepped forward again.
The world around them shifted instantly. Visibility dropped to nearly nothing. The air grew heavy and cold.
Shapes moved at the edge of perception, only to vanish the moment they were noticed.
Ding!
[You have entered the "Land of Mist."]
[You have been inflicted with "Mist Summon."]
āTime to find that [Stronghold Crystal],ā Leon grinned as he gazed at the new panel that appeared before him.
...
A/N
I just wanna note that MC might seem carefree, but he will be absolutely ruthless to his enemies later, Itās just that it hasnāt been shown yet :).