Valerian and I began our trek toward the human settlement. It isn't particularly large, about half the size of the G'eth Village. The settlement has a simple structure since the majority of humans haven't been in Agartha very long. Also a lot of the technologies that humanity had on earth were either incompatible with Agartha, could not be replicated here, or could not be brought through the portals. For instance, electronics will be fried going through the portal and even if they made it safe to Agartha the magnetic field works differently here causing them to malfunction. On top of that humans could not find sufficient replacements for many of the raw materials used to create advanced technology on earth. This essentially sent humanity back to the era of cold weapons and rudimentary technology.

This is why human settlements have simple structures reminiscent of buildings from centuries ago. This particular settlement is surrounded by a wooden fence with archer towers in the corner. There are only two entrances, one in the north and one in the south and it is located near Lake Lyenas in an open plain. The settlement is called Black Lion Village after the mercenary group that established it.

Many different groups and factions began to vie for power when humanity moved to Agartha. It is a land of opportunity and many people view it as a chance to gain power and prestige. There were no shortage of average people becoming dazzling figures in my past life. The leader of the Black Lion mercenary group is one such person.

His name is Alexander Morrow, he was a government officials son on earth. He was also a national level boxer, top athlete, and an influential society elite. This gave him both the physical skills to rise above others and the ability to lead others with charisma. He formed the Black Lion mercenary group shortly after arriving in Agartha and quickly established a settlement. It was clear he had high aspirations and the drive to achieve them.

In my past I admired him as did many people in Black Lion Village. He seemed like a lofty lord valiantly defending the people of Black Lion Village. However, Alexander Morrow was much more devious than anyone realized. He secretly supports a bandit group that has a hideout in a nearby mountain in the forest. He uses the bandits to both appear as a hero to the people of Black Lion Village and take out anyone who may threaten his authority. It was not uncommon for powerful merchants who tried to establish themselves in the area to suddenly disappear one night. He wants to build an empire and he wants to be the single authority in it.

He was also one of those humans who despised the native races of Agartha. He wouldn't go so far as to kill them in the streets, but his prejudice was obvious and any native races in the village would be relegated to menial, sometimes demeaning jobs. His prejudice spread to the other humans in the village creating an oppressive atmosphere.

Black Lion Village is not a place that holds many pleasant memories for me. However, it is a necessary step on our journey and most importantly I have to be there two weeks from now as an opportunity I cannot let pass will appear.

For the most part our journey towards Black Lion Village has been a mundane one. There were a few wild beast that tried to attack however, between Valerian's vines and my daggers they posed no threat to us. I had studied a few dagger techniques in my past life, but that was at a higher fitness than I'm currently at so I couldn't use them. However, I could simplify some of the techniques allowing me to still perform at a high level compared to other humans. The wild beast were an excellent opportunity to sharpen these techniques and I even gained 43 essence.

The road out of the village had long ago turned to wilderness however, we still had it relatively easy because Valerian could move the plants out of the way reducing the time spent going around them and the risk of tripping over them. He would always use his arms to make a grand gesture like he was parting a sea even though we both know he doesn't need to.

He would look over at me grinning or saying, "I know I know I'm the best."

Sometimes he really gives me a headache.

Nevertheless it was very convenient. After traveling for about half an hour we heard a rushing sound and the trampling of leaves and twigs from our front-right. Valerian who was in the middle of another one of his grand gestures stopped, his face hardened and he got into a battle stance his right arm forming into a spear. I pulled out my daggers and crouched down ready to take immediate action.

We heard a roar and the sounds of something large moving through the brush got closer. Suddenly a large brown bear like creature bust through the brush and into the clearing Valerian had made. I quickly observed it while activating Snake King's Aura to stop it's movements. It was huge, about three meters long with massive hind legs and forearms. The brown fur on it's body reflected like metal however there were gashes covering it's body especially on it's face. One of it's eyes was even cut open blood still leaking out of it. This is a brown steel bear I realized, although it is in terrible shape.

As I finished observing it the bear shook it's head erasing the Snake King Aura's fear effect. That was quick, it only had a moment to observe it yet it already broke free of Snake King Aura. So far this is the first creature I've encountered to break free that fast.

The bear glared at me with it's remaining eye and began to charge as it roared ferociously with immense hatred.

Did I kill it's cub? I suddenly thought. I had no idea why it would have such hatred for me and seem to ignore Valerian's presence entirely.

I used the shifting sands technique to dodge to the side and almost simultaneously Valerian said, "You really shouldn't ignore me."

Four large vines burst out of ground wrapping around the legs and forearms of the brown steel bear just as it turned to face me. I dashed in front of it stabbing one of the Twisted Serpents into it's eye. At the same type I flipped onto it's back, I noticed a gash through it's fur below it's head. I plunged my other dagger into the open wound severing it's windpipe. It gurgled and collapsed on the ground.

Essence gained +2300

The large brown steel bear laid on the forest floor dead.

I looked towards Valerian, "Nice timing."

"Yeah yeah I know you couldn't have killed it so easily without me," he laughed.

Just as I jumped off the bears back and retrieved my daggers the sound of many things rushing through the brush came from the direction the bear had came from. We turned towards it getting back into our battles stances. Seven humans came through the brush, they were all wearing a brown leather armor with a yellow wolf painted on the front.