Micro eventually decided to create a road between the Amber Fire Blade Art Dungeon and the main road. They weren’t in a hurry, and it would be a useful route in the future for anybody who was interested in the dungeon. Blue assisted in burning the remains of the bandits and their camp away as the group departed, all from within her truck.

  “I’m surprised she hasn’t crashed yet…” Micro sighed as he watched her drive recklessly through the burning camp while setting everything ablaze. “I know there are no licensing centres, but at the very least—”

  “It would be hard to destroy such a piece of artwork by conventional means,” Arbur commented.

  “It’s just wood though,” Micro replied. “Trucks are made from steel normally, and you still wouldn’t drive one like that.”

  “Well, the wood you used was much stronger than the steel of any normal blade I have seen,” Arbur explained. He then took a small knife out from his pocket, unsheathed it, and attempted to scratch a nearby tree. However, the knife barely left behind a tiny scratch on the bark. “You see, master?”

  “Ah, right. They’re full of energy…” Micro rolled his eyes. “Even the trees are cultivators here.”

  “Get out of the way!” Blue roared as she drove up behind Micro and Arbur. Micro jumped out of the way, and she came to a stop near his feet. “Alright, so we’re doing the road thing from here, eh?”

  “Yes, but we have a lot of pedestrians nearby, so be careful about—” Micro tried to explain quickly, but Blue was already driving to the edge of the camp. Micro cringed when he saw her aiming a slingshot through the windshield with both hands while steering with one knee against the steering wheel.

  Micro asked Lena to help him explain to the villagers that it would be wise to stay a fair distance behind them as they gradually carved a route through the forest, and the villagers quietly followed the suggestion. Even the brave man who spoke on the group’s behalf seemed content to keep his distance from the explosions and falling trees. Despite the frightening sounds of Blue’s war with the trees, villagers were also quick to notice that monsters largely avoided their party due to the frequency of the violent explosions, and some of them even began to find the constant noise comforting.

  ~

  Several hours into their journey, Micro stopped for a while to check in on his friends. The villagers also began to stop in groups, making small fires and eating together. Blue paid no attention, and continued to clear tree after tree while driving sporadically.

  “Everybody seems pretty happy,” Micro said to Kira, who had a small child on her back.

  “They’re happy to be free!” Kira replied. She set the laughing child down and smiled at Micro. “They don’t like cultivators very much, and they keep to themselves, but they’re grateful to you. Is everything going well?”

  “I was just wondering about, well…” Micro scratched his head. “The group of people you were with… Didn’t they seem more…”

  “Oh… I see what you mean.” Kira nodded. “Me and Kolt were carried away with a bunch of people from other villages before you found us, but there were no leaders left. A village without somebody in charge falls apart pretty fast. The gossip and the fighting, it’s not pleasant…”

  “A leader…” Micro said.

  “The man who spoke with Lena yesterday is the son of a pretty important elder where he’s from,” Kira explained. “People aren’t worried about the future, as long as they have him to follow.”

  “Do they have somewhere to live out west?” Micro asked. “How about jobs?”

  “They’ll definitely be busy, if that’s what you mean,” Kira replied, apparently confused. “There are lots of jobs to do. Most will probably take to hunting for the winter, and they’ll get established up north. Apparently it’s a bit safer up north these days.”

  “That’s nice.” Micro sighed. “They really know what they need to do. It almost seems simple when you say it like that.”

  “Do things work differently on your world?” Kira asked.

  “I think most people find jobs that pay by the hour these days. Less people in the village farm for a living now. The old man has been wondering if he should sell his fields and help his son start a business in town.”

  “That does sound different,” Kira said with a curious gaze. “I guess you don’t have to worry about bandits there, since you’re so strong.”

  “I’ve never seen any bandits there at all! There are some mean people who steal or break things, but the police take care of it. They have really fast cars too. I think I might have been a little jealous of the lights and sirens…”

  “Wow… what are police?” Kira asked.

  “You can call them to report a crime, and they’ll go deal with it,” Micro replied. “They’re tough on speeders, but I wish there were more of them around. You should see what some bad drivers get away with on the weekend.”

  “You call them?” Kira gasped. “They must have powerful ears…”

  “You call them on a phone. Ah, no phones here either. Right…” Micro scratched his head. “It’s a little device most humans carry around everywhere. They used to need wires, but now they make phones you can put in your pocket.”

  “A device in your pocket for reporting crimes…?” Kira gasped again.

  “It’s weird to see so many people without them here,” Micro explained with a wry smile. “You can talk to anybody in the world as long as you both have a phone, but a lot of people end up staring at them all day.”

  “I don’t know what a phone is, but I want one…!” Kira’s face was alight with excitement, but Micro’s expression soured as memories surfaced.

  “But the foolish youth who get distracted by their phones and wander into the road…” Micro grumbled. “Such a dangerous thing to do.”

  “Wow…” Kira nodded. “I wonder if I could ever live in a world like that.”

  “Sure you could,” Micro said, his eyebrows raised. “Why not?”

  “Do—do you think I could go there with you?!”

  “Why would you want to do that?” Micro asked, then looked around at the forest with a frown. “Just make your own phones here.”

  “That can’t be possible, master!” Kira whispered in disbelief. “Such an amazing world, with so many amazing things… I’ll never be powerful enough to make anything like what you’ve described. No matter how long I cultivate, I’ll never—”

  “We don’t have cultivators on my world,” Micro interrupted her. “I mentioned that before, didn’t I?”

  “Huh?” Kira blurted out. “But then how—”

  “People just… make things,” Micro said. “Strong people make big things, smart people make complicated things… Oh, some people break things for a living too!”

  “But such a magical device—”

  “They use big trucks to carry big things, boats to cross oceans, airplanes to travel around the world…” Micro continued as Kira listened so intently that she forgot to breathe for a moment. “They spend a lot of time thinking about new stuff to make too. You wouldn’t believe how fast cars are changing these days!”

  “People can do that…?” Kira whispered with a bitter tone. “I usually like your jokes, but if you’re teasing me—”

  “It’s true,” Micro said, then pointed at the miniature wooden truck driving around chaotically in the woods among exploding trees. Blue’s shouts and laughter were unsettling at times, but the children laughed and cheered from a safe distance.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “No…” Kira shook her head, tempted to run away before Micro could fill her head with any more impossible ideas, but she couldn’t look away from the little truck in the distance.

  “That truck was designed by people who have never heard of cultivation. And they probably don’t know about magic either,” Micro explained with a confident smile. “I used a crystal to power it, but on my world it is powered by a gas-burning engine. It isn’t very different from burning wood in a stove.”

  “You can move carriages with fire?” Kira said with a doubtful frown.

  “You can use electricity too. I’ve seen a lot more electric cars on the road recently,” Micro continued. “Electricity is what lightning is made of. The drivers are another matter.”

  “Carriages powered by lightning…?” Kira squinted her eyes, trying to detect a hint of dishonesty in Micro’s words. “And ordinary people made that all by themselves? Lena would die laughing if you tried to convince her that a ‘mundane’ person could do anything like that.”

  Micro felt sorry to see Kira becoming upset by his explanations, but he was also confused by her doubt. He thought for a while about how he could resolve the misunderstanding, looking around at the resting villagers. He saw one small group of mothers sitting around a small fire, boiling a pot of porridge while their children slept. As the steam rose up into the cold, winter air, he had an idea.

  “Watch this, Kira,” Micro said, patting Kira on the head gently, then he led her to the fire. “It’s not that complicated.”

  The mothers were alarmed at first, but Micro’s Charm Skill allowed him to join them at the fire without issue. He greeted them, then picked up a small piece of wood while summoning a small blade of energy. He intensified the effect of his Charm Skill when an old lady passing by gasped at the sight of the blade, then he got back to work. Soon, he had crafted a small lid for the pot, a conical lid with a small hole through which the steam escaped steadily. He picked up another piece of wood, and began carving. It took longer to carve the next object he made, but Kira and the young mothers enjoyed watching him work. Micro took a short break to carve several rounded wooden blocks to give to several of the babies they carried, and soon his craft was complete.

  “Is it a flower?” Kira asked. “It’s pretty, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to teach me.”

  “What you call it depends on how you use it,” Micro explained. In his hand, he held a propeller fan with six blades, about the size of his fist, attached loosely to another small stick. He spun the fan on the stick for a moment and was content that it rotated smoothly enough to continue his demonstration. He passed it to Kira with an excited grin. “Here, hold it above the steam.”

  “If you insist, Master Micro…” Kira was confused at first, but Micro noticed a drastic change in her aura even before she moved the fan over the steam. Though she was looking in the direction of the fan as it began to spin, her eyes seemed to be staring much farther into the distance.

  “There you have it,” Micro said. “Simple, right?”

  The young mothers around the fire all clapped happily as the fan spun, impressed by what they assumed was a toy. A baby’s hand reached out from a bundle of blankets in a mother’s arm to grab the new toy, and Kira silently released her grip on it. As the baby played with the fan, Kira turned to Micro.

  “It—it’s simple, but…” she stuttered as her thoughts raced.

  “You see?” Micro smiled. “Normal people can figure out all kinds of things. You don’t need Core Cards or magic to make things. I’ll admit it would make it easier though. The old man would really enjoy a few of the Skills I’ve found. I should bring back some Core Cards when I return to him one day.”

  “Forgive me, young master, but I believe we are ready to move,” the leader of the villagers spoke firmly, having approached Micro from the side. “If you would save your exhibitions for another time…”

  “Sure…” Micro looked around and realized that Lena was nowhere to be found, explaining why the man had approached him instead. “What is your name?”

  “My name is Gwong, young master,” the man replied courteously, but he looked at Micro with disdain. “Is that all you wish to know at this time, young master?”

  “Nice to meet you, Gwong young master,” Micro said with a small bow.

  “Call me as you wish, young master,” Gwong huffed, then retreated to address the villagers.

  “Huh…” Micro wasn’t sure whether his conversation with Gwong could be called a success, but he was content to see him doing his best to lead the villagers.

  “It’s okay, master,” Kira said, pulling on Micro’s sleeve. “He must not have understood your joke. He’s just a little… tired…?”

  “Thanks, Kira,” Micro replied and patted Kira’s head. “Not everybody likes trucks, and that’s okay. I imagine he would prefer a motorcycle.”

  “Never mind him though,” Kira said quickly as they prepared to leave. “What else have people made on your world?”

  ~

  Micro didn’t have much time to assist Blue in clearing the woods on their way back to the main road. With every question Micro answered about the technology of his world, Kira quickly asked two more. Even when children climbed on her back, she carried and played with them while continuing to inquire about Micro’s world. Several children took turns riding on Micro’s shoulders as well, though their mothers quickly retrieved them in panic.

  Kira had always been interested in Micro’s origins, but she had considered it a world of magic and fantasy during previous conversations. Having finally understood that everything in Micro’s world was achievable to a normal person like her, Kira’s demeanour changed drastically. Micro enjoyed the conversation as the sky grew darker once again, and Blue’s explosions finally ceased.

  “We’re here!” Blue shouted back. Micro approached the tiny truck and sat down beside it. Blue looked up at him with a coy smile.

  “You should really slow down, Blue,” Micro said quietly.

  “If it can move this fast, why shouldn’t it?” Blue asked, still laughing as the excitement of driving hadn’t completely left her yet.

  “Well, for safety, mostly.”

  “I’m as safe as I’ve ever been.”

  “Hmm…” Micro nodded. Thinking about it, it was clear that Blue was in no danger, and there were no signs on the brand new road to follow. Reluctantly, he tapped the top of the truck and stood back up.

  “I’m not giving this back, by the way,” Blue said with a glare, gripping the steering wheel tighter as her foot slowly lifted off the brake pedal. “But I’d welcome you trying to take it back!

  “Just avoid getting into any accidents before we can get your license sorted,” Micro conceded with a nod. “We’ll have to figure out insurance too. Ah, I remember that being a real pain in the—”

  “What in the world?!” Lena’s voice rang out as she appeared from behind a tree and beheld Blue in her new vehicle. She shook her head, and cleared her throat. “Excuse me. I apologize for my absence.”

  “Is everything alright, Lena?” Micro asked, happy to see her again.

  “Quite alright!” she replied, and a familiar face appeared beside her.

  “Feng!” Micro shouted, walking quickly over to where the old man stood.

  “It is always good to see you,” Feng said with a broad smile, raising his hands in a familiar salute, one clasped in the other. Micro mimicked the gesture, causing Feng to laugh.

  “How have you been?” Micro asked.

  “To be honest with you, I’ve been absolutely miserable,” Feng said with a dry laugh. “Getting this old body into shape again has reminded me of just how old I have become…”

  “You look stronger than ever,” Micro replied as he observed the energy flowing through Feng’s body with his Spirit Vision Skill activated.

  “As do you, young Micro,” Feng said with glowing eyes. He raised his eyebrows as he observed Micro’s core. “My goodness… Lena did warn me, but I didn’t think you could still surprise me.”

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” Micro asked.

  “We’ll be making our own way west from here!” Gwong suddenly called out from behind Micro, approaching with the same disgruntled expression he always wore around cultivators. “If you have no other business with us, we shall—”

  “Oh, take these!” Micro turned and rushed back to meet Gwong, and held out his hands, offering the disgruntled man a small pile of glowing crystals and gold coins.

  “What is your intention, young master?” Gwong growled, bowing his head with a strained air of courtesy.

  “I thought you might need some money,” Micro replied. “The coins should help, and these crystals are useful flashlights in the dark.”

  “I cannot accept, young master,” Gwong said, stepping back from Micro. “Punish me for my insolence if you will, but I will not endanger those under my care.”

  Despite Micro’s charm skill being continuously active, the rest of the villagers also quieted down and backed away from Micro. Micro looked around in confusion, and Lena’s voice followed with a familiar tone.

  “The mundane one is wise not to accept,” she said coldly. “He is a capable leader, and he is more likely to survive this winter without a treasure so grand in size that every petty thief and greedy king in the land would covet it. The scent of gold finds the nose of every dragon, or so it is said.”

  “It’s not that grand, is it?” Micro looked down at the crystals and coins in his hands in confusion.

  “Wars are fought over less riches than you hold in your hand. Gold aside, those crystals…” Lena advised him. “Let your sentiments be enough to accompany them to their destination.”

  “Well, alright then,” Micro conceded, taking the coins and crystals back from the grumpy man with a conflicted expression. “Good luck, Gwong. I hope you stay safe on the road…”

  Though it was already dark, Gwong and his party continued along the road at once, leaving Micro and his friends behind. Purple and green flashes of lightning sometimes filled the night sky, but the winter air was calm. Kolt yawned, and Trill pointed him in the direction of a good place to set up a campfire. Arbur and Kira were excited to speak with Feng, but Lena advised them to spend the evening meditating until it was time to sleep. Blue had already fallen asleep in the bed of her truck in the middle of the road. After Micro alone with Lena and Feng, he started a small fire and arranged several logs for his friends to be seated upon.

  “So, what’s new?” Micro asked. Lena and Feng looked at each other with a deep breath, and Lena gestured for Feng to speak first.

  “Well, young Micro…” Feng said, his reassuring smile fading quickly. “I certainly hope that I am mistaken, but I believe the world may be at risk of ending soon.”