Chapter 22
After defeating the beasts and extracting their crystal cores, Randin led Grey to a cave where he lived alone. There, he decided to question Grey and answer his questions in return.
Once Grey had responded, Randin began his explanations. "I'm Randin, and no, we aren't humans. We are our own species, or race—whatever you want to call it. This planet is called Bronze Land, and we are known as dwarves."
"Dwarves?!" Grey exclaimed in shock.
He had read about dwarves before but believed them to be either a myth or extinct. That was why Randin had seemed familiar—he just hadn't been able to place him.
"Yes, dwarves. And before you ask where the rest of us are, as I said earlier, we were almost wiped out. Many of us were scattered across the Bronze Continent. As far as I know, I am the only one left here."
"Why haven't you tried to reconnect with your kind?" Grey asked.
"Do you think I haven't tried?" Randin sighed. "No matter how much I search, I can't find any of them."
Grey stroked his chin, deep in thought. Then, a question popped into his mind. "You said your race was nearly wiped out. By whom or what?"
"I don't know exactly who they are," Randin replied. "They called themselves humans but also used another name."
'Humans? Is that why he called me that after seeing me? But why will humans come here and decide to wipe an entire continent? I saw Randin fight earlier and he is incredibly strong.
So if his race are as strong as him, I doubt anyone would give them much trouble even a yellow coloured fire mage. So who are the humans that were strong enough to almost wipe out the dwarves?' Grey thought.
"You said they called themselves another name, what did they call themselves?" Grey asked.
"They had another name... but I can't quite remember," Randin muttered, his face scrunched in thought. "It was a long time ago—about five hundred years."
"Five hundred what?!" Grey shouted, stunned. "How old are you?!"
"Me? I'm eight hundred," Randin answered casually.
Grey felt faint. 'Calm down, Grey. You read that dwarves have long lifespans, so this makes sense.'
Just then, Randin suddenly shouted, "Yes! I remember!"
"Remember what?" Grey asked.
"The other name those humans called themselves. They called themselves the Otherworlders."
Grey's chest tightened. "Otherworlders?"
His mind raced. 'Aren't they the ones that mage warned me about? The ones he said I needed to grow stronger to face? Who are they? And how were they strong enough to nearly wipe out an entire race?'
His thoughts spiraled further. 'Come to think of it, the book that mage gave me—the one on runic circles and portal magic—was from that book that I drew the circle that brought me here. Was it intentional? Had he been here before? Is this where he learned about the Otherworlders?'
Grey clenched his fists. 'I guess my questions will remain unanswered until I meet that mage again... and who knows when that will be?'
Randin's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Anyway, you're welcome to stay here as long as you want. It's been so long since I've had another sentient being to talk to. I was starting to lose my mind living alone."
Randin's lips curled into a slight smirk. 'And this way, I can study you. I need to understand your powers... to find ways to counter them. The Otherworlders took everything from me. You, little Grey, will be my test subject.'
"So, what do you plan to do with your crystal core?" Grey asked.
"Make equipment," Randin replied.
"Equipment? For who? You just said you're the only one here."
Randin chuckled. "It's in my blood. We dwarves forge weapons, tools, and machinery—it's part of who we are. I can't stop now."
"Wow! You forge weapons? And I can tell you're skilled with a sword," Grey said.
"Of course. In a world where beasts roam freely, we need to be able to hunt for cores."
Grey nodded. "I'll be staying here for at least two weeks before I need to return."
Randin's smirk deepened. 'Two weeks? That's more than enough time to observe him.'
"Well, stay as long as you like. I'm off to forge some more weapons," Randin said, leaving the cave.
As soon as he was gone, Grey sat cross-legged. "Time to absorb this crystal while he's away."
He pulled out the core and started the process. The crystal glowed brightly, its light fading with each passing moment as he absorbed its mana and essence.
Finally, the glow vanished completely. Grey tossed the now-empty crystal aside, watching as it rolled out of the cave.
"Time to check how many points I got." He activated his appraisal skill.
{
His eyes gleamed. "Twenty points?! It's even surpassed my wind attribute! Now I'm not just limited to the earth I touch—I can control the earth around me!"
Excitement surged through him. "Now, how do I test this?"
He looked around and then grinned as his eyes landed on the cave wall. "Time to get to work."
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{A/N}
😭🥱 My head is banging doing this over and over again 🤧but there's nothing I can do. My lazy ass self was being too lazy to edit his chapters and now I'm here paying the price.
Anyway, our mass release goals are still ongoing guys!
500 Power stones= 2 extra chapters plus the normal release rate making it a total of 4 chapters to be released.
500 Golden tickets= 2 extra chapters plus the normal release rate making it a total of 4 chapters to be released.
Magic Castle= 5 chapters.
Spacecraft= 10 chapters.
Golden Gachapon= 15 chapters... The chapters above will be released as soon as the goals have been met with only a few hours delay but it will still be released.✌️😘