The wind made it difficult for Nikolai to open his eyes as he fell from the sky. He took out another arrow with a bleeding heart at his dwindling precious Fate Points. Only 46 points were remaining. If not for the quest he finished, he would have suffered.

‘I’m consuming too many points,’ Nikolai prepared his arrow as he saw the orange trees get closer. ‘Every effect I needed until now costs at least 3 points.’

[You infused the Whirlwind Effect, consuming 1 Point.]

Nikolai fired his arrow, and it lodged on the ground beneath him. Winds rose from the ground that slowed down his fall until he landed safely. As soon as he landed, Nikolai fell to the ground.

The fight from earlier, fighting pirates and the Vultra, consumed a lot of his energy. Luckily, he didn’t feel any monsters nearby at the moment.

The sun was going down. The trees around him weren’t green, but light orange with a transparent body. As if they were artificial, the trees looked glass-like. He tried to remember where he was, but he had no clue.

It’s not like he knew everything.

‘I need to find a place to rest.’ Nikolai stood up despite being tired. The potion from earlier worked to lessen his fatigue, but he felt dizzy because he consumed many fate points.

He wondered if this fate resided in his body instead of a separate entity. Nikolai wandered the forest until he found a giant crystalline tree with a hollow trunk. He walked in and found a small space inside, surrounded by the light of the sunset.

However, he couldn’t see what was outside. The light coming through the tree was too distorted to be glass. Nikolai slumped on the ground and started resting.

‘Most of my ammo and luggage are on the ship. There is also Sergio and that mute.’ Nikolai’s eyelids dropped as his breathing slowed. ‘If I’m not mistaken, the Vultra Clan must have taken hold of my ship.’

He needed to reclaim his ship and repair it. Unfortunately, the explosion that allowed him to flee damaged the core. Thus, Alias sank to the ground.

‘How do I repair a core?’ Nikolai felt a headache. ‘I need to find a good craftsman or a new core.’ Unfortunately, both options were equally difficult, given his current circumstances.

Nikolai thought of something and opened his stats menu. His stats have grown a lot since he returned to the past.

[Vitality: 18]

– [Blood Energy: 5.]

[Strength: 18]

[Agility: 14]

[Intelligence: 21]

[Mana: 12]

‘Can I… awaken my bloodline?’ Nikolai wondered to himself. ‘It’s the best way to reclaim the ship and repair it.’

He didn’t know a lot about awakening, but bloodlines gave powers to their owners. So, if he awakens it, then his stats and body should get an enhancement. Nikolai took off the crystal from around his neck and studied it.

[Requirements to use: A Bloodline and 25 points in all stats. The success rate of awakening: 2%]

He didn’t know if it was because it was a broken crystal or low quality, but the chance was minimal. Nonetheless, Nikolai didn’t need to use it with a 100% chance of occurring.

‘If I get a 2% increase for every point, 25 points should make it a 52% chance. So, it’s a high risk.’

He wanted to use points to hunt monsters here before going to the ship. Then, after he gets all of his stats to 25, he would use the crystal to awaken his bloodline.

This way, he should have a chance against the Vultra Clan. The only problem was the fate points he was missing. Nikolai closed his eyes and allowed his ears to be his guards as he rested.

Time passed.

The light stung his eyes. When Nikolai opened them, he found that morning has arrived. He spent the night half-asleep, but it was enough for him to function.

‘I need some coffee.’ Nikolai groaned as he stood up. He walked out of the tree and breathed in the air of dawn. ‘It’s time to raise my stats to 25. But first of all, I need to search for Alias.’

He took out his bow and focused on it. Nikolai could still use the tracking, and he got the general direction of Alias. He got out and ran toward the ship while watching for any monsters.

The ship wasn’t in the direction it fell at, and Nikolai realized the Vultra Clan must take hold of it. However, he needed to act quickly because the tracking wasn’t going to last forever, and the Riders should notice the arrow in a while.

As he was running, he saw something move in the orange forest. Nikolai hid behind a tree as he peaked at the monster. It was a humanoid monster with a head covered in orange leaves and the body of a tree.

‘A low-ranking druid…’

Nikolai started climbing the tree, and he jumped from one tree to the other. With his stats, he didn’t have any difficulty doing so. He could feel that Alias was close.

Nikolai reached a giant tree, which he climbed to get a better view. After reaching the highest point he could stand on, Nikolai looked for Alias.

‘There is it…’

The Vultra Clan resided on a steep mountain in a village of connected rope bridges and watchtowers. Alias was on the bast of the mountain with a cage hanging above it. As he focused, Nikolai could see that Sergio and the mute were in it.

‘The Vultra captured them.’ Nikolai frowned as he looked at the village. It was full of Vultures and Riders walking around. Right beside Alias stood the chief that Nikolai attacked.

Before being seen, Nikolai ran away. He knew that this wasn’t a battle he could take on just yet. So, he ran far away from the village lest they find him.

After he was far enough, Nikolai spotted another druid walking in the forest. Without hesitation, Nikolai jumped in the air with his dagger in hand. He descended from the sky and landed on the druid, stabbing it in the head.

“Goh!” The druid screamed as its arms bent unnaturally to attack Nikolai. Then, with a kick to his dagger, Nikolai retreated away while taking out his gun.

‘Let your death be my stepping stone.’