Yuta pressed on toward Yusaki City, pushing his vehicle to its maximum speed. Three days flew by, during which he drove continuously, never once stopping to rest.
With only three days left until the auction, he needed to be prepared for what lay ahead—and for the very thing that awaited him there.
He brought his vehicle to a halt 24 meters outside the city limits; cars were still prohibited within city boundaries, as the infrastructure wasn't yet adapted for them, and the general population had yet to embrace the concept.
After paying a nominal entry fee, Yuta stepped into Yusaki City—a major commercial hub within the Arcana Empire.
This status had allowed the "Crimson Cat's Eye" auction to flourish in an incredibly short time, drawing wealthy figures from across the five continents to participate.
As he wandered through the city, Yuta searched for the item that the Venerable "Heaven's Blessing" Iselabeth had told him about.
Continuing his path, he spotted a 15-year-old boy—someone who looked familiar—strolling through the city alongside a girl of the same age.
A faint, satisfied smile crossed Yuta's lips. He feigned ignorance, pretending he hadn't noticed anything. The boy cast a suspicious glance his way, then quickly moved on, dismissing the encounter as a mere trick of his imagination. "It seems I've encountered guests from other worlds—how incredibly fortunate I am! Adrian Xomias—who would have thought I'd run into you after all this time? Hahahaha! Wait, I forgot... we met in the future!" Yuta's tone was laced with irony as he recalled the Second Ragnarok War from the original timeline and his encounter with Adrian Xomias.
Flashback:
"Who are you?" the man asked, his voice filled with caution and a keen sense of the danger Yuta posed.
"Don't worry, friend—for now, we're allies!" Yuta replied, his tone calm and indifferent to the sword pointed his way. He continued walking toward Zhao Li and Alessandra, who were locked in a fierce, intense battle.
In a flash, Yuta vanished from his spot and reappeared right in the midst of Zhao Li and Alessandra's assault. He parried their strikes with effortless ease, leaving them both struck with terror. Their combined power was formidable—on par with entities of the ORR -05 rank—yet Yuta had deflected their attacks with complete nonchalance, using only two of his fingers.
Zhao Li and Alessandra stepped back, trying to assess the situation.
Realizing he posed no threat, they lowered their swords.
"I have a deal I'd like to propose to you both." Yuta's tone was calm as he looked toward Zhao Li and Alessandra, a faint smile hidden behind the mask he wore.
Expressions of surprise appeared on their faces. What kind of "deal" could he possibly be offering? This was the question running through everyone's minds as they gazed at Yuta.
"The deal is one to alter your destiny—I will change your fate, provided you agree to a few conditions!" His voice remained steady as he looked at each of them, waiting for their decision.
Zhao Li and Alessandra both let out deep sighs, then looked back at Yuta in utter disbelief. How could it be that, despite possessing power levels beyond measure—levels that defied quantification—they had been unable to change their own destinies, yet he spoke of it with such ease, as if the trillions of years they had lived were nothing more than a cheap, pathetic trick?
"Very well, we accept the deal. We will fulfill any condition you set, no matter what it is!" Alessandra said, her voice calm as she glanced between Yuta and Zhao Li—who had also agreed, despite his skepticism regarding Yuta's claims.
End of flashback.
Yuta continued on his way toward a house he had purchased through a business associate in the city of Yusaki. After all, Yuta was a dealer in technological goods; it stood to reason that he would have influential clients in a city like Yusaki.
He decided to call his associate, Seong-hoon—the man who had purchased the house for him—a faint smile playing on his lips. A few seconds passed before the call was answered.
"There are two individuals: a girl and a young man named Adrian Kzumias. I'll send you his photo." "Prepare one of the finest mansions in the city of Yusaki for them—I'll send you the image. As for how to address him, speak as if you're talking to a commoner, and act as though you're forced to evict him because he failed—or something along those lines... Just handle it, and I'll take care of you—financially and in terms of influence within Yusaki. Understood?"
Yuta cut the connection immediately, not even giving the other man a chance to respond. Yet, Seong-hoon—one of the most prominent merchants in Yusaki—wasn't the least bit offended; after all, Yuta was among the most powerful merchants not just on the Central Continent, but across all five continents.
After wandering through the city of Yusaki for an hour and thirty-four minutes, Yuta arrived at his residence—a magnificent mansion that even surpassed his estate in the city of Berhais.
Yuta headed straight to the bedroom to take a hot bath, seeking some relaxation and comfort. While he hadn't suffered any physical strain from traveling for three days—or even centuries, for that matter—there were certain human habits, like a hot bath, that he still enjoyed.
As Yuta soaked in the hot water, a system interface materialized directly before his eyes, prompting a faint, satisfied smile:
[Important: Ruler's Path Quests]
[Objective 1: Assist in protecting the Tree of Existence, Ji Yao Li. Difficulty: ?????. Reward: Ruler's Robe (Rank: ?????). Abilities: Absolute immunity against all things—both existent and non-existent.]
[Failure Penalty: Reversion to the primal origin.]
[Sub-quest 01: Gather the heroes of the prophecy and prepare them for the impending War of the Paths and what follows. Reward: ??????] Duration: 504 years | Rank: ?????
Sub-quest 02: Assist the descendant of the Narrative Time and facilitate their path to becoming the strongest. Reward: ?????? | Duration: Until the end of the year 675 AD | Rank: S
Sub-quest 03: Assist Alessandra's allies in becoming capable of fighting in the War of the Paths and the events that follow. Reward: ?????? | Duration: 504 years | Rank: ?????
In progress: Alessandra's ally, named: Adrian Kzumias
Important Notes:
Mandatory sub-quests will be assigned alongside every main quest, given that the esteemed candidate "The Great Creator" Yuto completed his primary objectives three years and approximately nine months ahead of schedule; consequently, several mandatory sub-objectives will be imposed upon him.
As the candidate departed the novel *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*—during his battle against Vermon Solterk, the ruler and creator of the novel *War of the Conflicting Kingdoms*—three years earlier than permitted, the esteemed candidate, "The Great Creator" Yuto, shall be prohibited from leaving the world of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy* for the duration of three years: 676 AD, 677 AD, and 678 AD.
Furthermore, because the candidate returned to his original body before concluding the storyline of one of the protagonists of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*—Yuta Kaseral—the host is forbidden from utilizing the abilities of his original body, or any power unrelated to the capabilities inherent to Yuta Kaseral's vessel. This restriction excludes innate abilities (such as "Eternal Scribe," "Ruler's Eye," "Ability Crafter," "Infinite Evolution," etc.). Additionally, the user is prohibited from employing his "Great Creator's Wings" or any associated powers for the entire three-year penalty period.
Objective 2: Undisclosed. Objective 3: Undisclosed. Objective 4: Undisclosed. Objective 5: Undisclosed. [Mission Duration: Permanent]
Yuta kept his gaze fixed on the system interface, his smile widening. Sub-mission 03—which involved assisting Alessandra's allies in becoming combat-ready for the War of the Paths and the events that would follow—was now underway, meaning Adrian Kzumias was among the characters covered by this sub-mission.
Moreover, the extension of the duration for sub-missions 01 and 03—lasting until the start of the War of the Paths—was the best thing that had happened to Yuta all day. Even if he were to gather the "Heroes of the Prophecy," he wouldn't have been able to prepare them—or Alessandra's allies—in time for the War of the Paths and its aftermath.
He dismissed the system interface and remained lying in the tub, a faint, satisfied smile still lingering on his face. After all, the risk of failing sub-missions 01 and 03—a constant concern in the past—was no longer an issue.
"Sometimes life actually smiles at me. It seems the 'Great Outcast' decided to take pity on me, lifting those penalties and mandatory sub-missions... What a truly wretched existence!" Yuta's tone was laced with mockery as he climbed out of the tub, wrapped himself in a towel, and pulled on a black, slightly loose-fitting shirt and trousers.
Inside his private bedroom, Yuta walked toward a table where a black envelope lay, a cunning smirk spreading across his features.
As he dried his hair—having already tucked the letter away into his personal dimensional storage—he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm: "Oh!" "The 'Crimson Cat's Eye' auction is inviting me as a guest of honor? How generous—a decision they'll surely come to regret!"
He promptly collapsed onto his bed, eager to rest after the events of the past few months. For the next two days, he decided to clear his mind completely, leaving the role of the 'protagonist' to Adrian Kzumias for the time being.
Meanwhile, in the city of Yusaki, Adrian Kzumias and his companion, Anastasia, were wandering about, searching for a place to live.
"This is so tedious! I shouldn't have followed you. Three hours have passed, and we haven't found a single house! You promised you'd handle everything—we left our own world only to end up in this backward place!" Anastasia's tone was laced with complaint and mockery.
Adrian, though deeply annoyed, chose to ignore her as much as possible; he had a specific objective to fulfill in this world, known as the "Prime Origin."
"If I recall correctly from the game *Absolute Zero*, there's an elf being held at the 'Crimson Cat's Eye' auction. For now, I just need a place to rest and figure out how to rescue her."
"First the trouble with the transition, and now the struggle to find a place to get my affairs and plans in order... what a nuisance!" Adrian muttered, his voice thick with irritation as he walked through the city.
Suddenly, he stopped—an incredibly grating voice called out to him from behind. Anastasia, her patience completely exhausted—as evidenced by her expression and sharp words—was visibly furious. They both turned their gaze toward the individual known as Seong-hoon, causing Adrian to feel a slight sense of irritation as he looked at him.
"He's one of the secondary antagonists at this stage of the game—Seong-hoon, a prominent merchant in the city of Yusaki and a key leader of the 'Crimson Cat's Eye' auction house... What the hell is he doing here?" Adrian Kozumias thought to himself, feeling both annoyed and bewildered that he hadn't managed to alter the course of events.
Moreover, according to the game's mechanics, every world follows its own distinct plot path; even if one were to completely change the events in a single world, the other ordinary worlds would remain unaffected.
Nevertheless, Adrian decided to hear what the man had to say. He stopped Anastasia from doing anything rash—something they might come to regret for the entire duration of their stay in Yusaki, or perhaps even within the kingdom itself, given the immense influence the "Crimson Cat's Eye" auction house wields across the western reaches of the Arcana Empire.
"Is your name Adrian, Leon, or Stephen? Yes or no? Hurry up—I have plenty of other business to attend to!" Seong-hoon's tone was dripping with disgust and provocation as he stared at them.
Anastasia's temper flared instantly, but Adrian gripped her hand firmly. "Anastasia, pull yourself together, you utter fool!" he said, communicating via telepathy. "He's a major merchant in Yusaki and a top figure in the 'Crimson Cat's Eye' auction house. Acting recklessly right now will only lead to complex, disastrous problems—do you understand?" Anastasia didn't say a word as she angrily and irritably pulled her hand from Adrian's grip—a sight that made Seong-hoon chuckle inwardly with derision.
"Yes, my name is Adrian. What do you want from me?" Adrian asked, his tone cautious as he studied the man—a reaction that earned him a flicker of admiration from Seong-hoon.
Deciding to focus on the task at hand, Seong-hoon continued on his way, speaking with blunt rudeness: "Fine, follow me. Someone has decided to bequeath their home to an individual bearing one of three names: Adrian, Leon, or Stephen. You're lucky—you happen to be the first people I've asked. And don't bother asking me any questions; I'm just as disgusted by the idea of handing over the 'Devil's Jewel' mansion to scum like you!"
He remained Adrian listened to Seong-hun's words with an outwardly composed expression, though he was inwardly stunned. According to the game's lore, the "Demon's Jewel" mansion was one of the finest estates in the city of Yusaki—and, to top it off, it was located in close proximity to the "Crimson Cat's Eye" auction house.
Anastasia, meanwhile, remained visibly agitated; she was itching to beat Seong-hun to a pulp. However, she managed to restrain herself, knowing that his background could lead to complications—and she certainly didn't want their mission to fail, which would be a massive nuisance.
As they headed toward the Demon's Jewel mansion, Anastasia reached out via telepathy, her tone laced with intense annoyance: "Do you know anything about this 'Demon's Jewel' place? That scoundrel Seong-hun seems incredibly worked up about it—going on and on about how we're 'scum' who don't deserve to be there... He's just so irritating!"
Adrian remained silent for a few seconds before responding in a calm, steady voice—a tone that caught Anastasia off guard, though she quickly feigned indifference. "From what I've heard, the Demon's Jewel is one of the most exquisite and luxurious mansions in Yusaki, valued at millions in platinum currency."
"Who cares? We're still in the seventh century AD—it's probably just some medieval-style estate or something. My family's own mansion puts this one to shame, and that's even by our 'ordinary' standards! Hahahaha!" Anastasia's tone was dripping with mockery and arrogance. Adrian glanced at her for a few moments, then simply chose to ignore her. After two hours of walking, they arrived at the "Demon's Jewel" palace—a structure so breathtaking that Anastasia couldn't even blink for several seconds.
Seong-hoon cast a look of blatant mockery at the pair before tossing them the key to the palace. "Try not to lose it, you two pathetic, blind fools!"
With that, he turned and left. Anastasia glared after him, her expression simmering with rage and a faint, murderous intent, while a subtle smile played on Adrian Kzumias's lips as he gazed at the key.
*Step one complete,* he thought to himself with satisfaction. *Not much left now—just two days until the real plan begins.*
He stepped into the palace, a faint, relieved smile crossing his face at the prospect of finally having a place to rest. Anastasia followed, her expression suddenly bright and cheerful—as if nothing at all had happened just moments before.
Adrian stared at her, bewildered, trying to fathom what—if anything—was going on inside her head. He shook his head and continued deeper into the Demon's Jewel palace.
"You'd better not act like we're still back in our own world, where we have to..." Adrian's words trailed off. Both he and Anastasia froze in shock; the interior of the palace was equipped with the latest, most advanced technology!
It was radically different from what they had seen in the game. For Anastasia, it was a total j shock—they were in the 7th century, yet here was technology that rivaled the world they had come from, a world set in the year 3456 AD. However, Adrian's shock soon gave way to anxiety and tension. The presence of technology indicated that he was not the only person transported into the world of the game "Absolute Zero"—there were others.
This led him to suspect that the individual who provided them with the house was either someone who had also been reincarnated or someone connected to such a phenomenon.
He headed toward the stairs, intending to rest in one of the rooms and clear his head. "I'm going to take a break, so I'll be keeping to myself for the next two days. If anything comes up, handle it yourself—provided it's nothing dangerous or critical to our mission. Understood?"
Anastasia, who was busy inspecting the "Demon's Jewel" mansion, didn't seem to pay much attention to his words; yet, Adrian felt she had heard every single one. Besides, she was one of the most skilled and intelligent characters in the entire game of *Absolute Zero*.
As Adrian wandered through the mansion, making his way toward a room to rest, he sensed something in a nearby chamber—a realization that brought a faint smile to his lips.
He walked straight into the room, still smiling, and discovered two envelopes resting on a table: invitations to the "Crimson Cat's Eye" auction—as guests of honor!
It became clear to him that they had been specifically chosen by someone so prominent and powerful that the *Crimson Cat's Eye* auction had extended an invitation for them to attend as guests of honor.
He sat down on a nearby bed, chuckling with a clear sense of irony regarding the situation: "Who would have thought? I'm going to enter the very place I intend to destroy—as a guest of honor! Hahahaha! How ironic!" He let out a weary sigh as he gazed toward the ceiling, then drifted into a deep sleep—the result of the exhaustion brought on by traveling between worlds.
Hours and minutes slipped by in the bedroom shared by Adrian Kzumias and his companion, Anastasia; both lay fast asleep, overcome by extreme fatigue and exhaustion.