"Alas! You are here oh my king, my master, oh Great Devourer!" The chieftain of the Gobolines was about to kowtow in front of Leon riding Xing Ling but he told him that he doesn't have to. That greatly touched the chieftain. Leon doesn't know what the effect of his kindness to these monsters. He has no idea.
The warriors of the gobolines assisted the chieftain up when they noticed that Leon's word is true and the shamans behind were still bowing their heads towards the benevolent Devourer waiting for him to be noticed.  
Leon scanned the surrounding and frown when his ears that he tried so hard to block was picking up again the gobolines music of pleasure. It painted a wrong idea to the gobolines and everyone that is present all kowtowed on the ground with their forehead planted flat on the surface. Leon clicked his tongue before ignoring their position and started to inquire. His ears became so sharp from intense battles that he had gone through. All of his power is the result of his fights and determination to protect Earth and yet no one knows about it. Instead of looming in the past, Leon ask the shamans instead.
"Does the portal functioning well without any errors?" His words were sharp and heavy that greatly scared the gobolines tribe. But deep within, Leon was hopeful that he would be getting that dream bath and meal he had been wanting for!  
When no one is answering, Leon went down of Xing Ling that neighed weakly. It doesn't want him to be apart but he didn't ask more. His body still remembers the heat of true flames that Leon conjured to punished him. His body can't help but tremble. Geoff went down as well with his nose sticking to the sky. He is currently in a good mood after knowing that Leon did the effort to use his skills on him just so he could be able to go with him in his trip but little Geoff knows what awaits for him in the other side were different from the picture he painted inside his head.  
Xing Ling tapped his hooves aggressively while his eyes droop like he wanted to let Leon know that he is sulking but the master couldn't tell the difference. Leon focused on inspecting the portal instead and after he is satisfied, he focused his eyes towards the shaman that is still kowtowing in front of him.  
"Raise your heads", strong and dignified, Leon waits for them after they immediately went on their feet without fixing their appearances. Leon is immuned to their dumb gestures that's why instead of reacting, he pointed at the bluish dark portal stood at the middle of their village instead. It was huge enough for an average height of a man like Leon to fit in and it was one or two people wide. The weak sparks can be terrifying to a normal human but to Leon? It was nothing but just light to brighten their place. The gobolines present at the moment were gathered around the portal and the mothers were holding their misbehaving children. Geoff went about and was inspecting the portal upclose. He couldn't let his precious friend to go inside a dangerous portal. No one can replace Leon. Which is why he study it hard. Leon raises his hand and every one went silent. He put his fingers on his chin and nodded upon completing his analyzation. Geoff did the same when the two of them got the same result. 
"I couldn't measure how much grateful I am from your accomplishment. Alas! I will be able to go venture beyond the gate that had been closed for their sake! I am impressed! You made all of this without any guidelines and or basis. I am impressed! I will forever take this as a debt to the..." But before he could even continue what he is saying, the goboline chieftain kneeled in front of him, his hands were clasp together and his face become uglier than it was before. Tears were dangling on his tiny eyes and snots were hanging on his long huge nose. If only they are not the one that research this portal, Leon would have sent him to the afterworld for being ugly.
"OH MY KING!! WE DON'T DESERVE SUCH DEBT IN YOUR HEART! OH GREAT DEVOURER!! PLEASE PULL YOURSELF AWAY FROM SUCH THINKING FOR WE ARE NOTHING BUT YOUR LOYAL SUBJECTS! WE DO WHAT YOU NEED THAT'S WHY MASTER, PLEASE! I BEG TO CHANGE YOUR MIND!" He slammed his head to the ground. It became a signal to every goboline around to do the same position and slammed their heads on the ground. The earth shook from the impact. Even the wind disrupt from the force that they exerted. Gobolines maybe the weakest monster among the food chain but their sheer number cannot be looked down. 
Leon clicked his tongue and said, "I just stated that I am indebted, why with this kind of reaction? I will say it again, I am indebted with the goboline territory. There is no need to have this kind of ---" But the chieftain cuts Leon and cry even more. It made him frown. 
"OH GREAT KING! WE WILL REMEMBER THIS DAY IN OUR LIVES! PASS IT DOWN TO EVERY GENERATION AND WILL ALWAYS ENGRAVE IN OUR HEARTS! YOU WILL BE---ACCCKK! COUGH! COUGH!" The chieftain bent down and throw a fit after Leon hit his throat with a chop of a hand. His face shows displeasure and seeing that this tribe is making it worse, Geoff clapped his hands that had caught all their attention. It produces a sound wave that made the wind shook. They may have been in a friendly atmosphere but still, Geoff is still from the tribe that hunts very well. He is more than skilled to annihilate them here and now.
"Listen now lowly creatures of the west! I, the great and mighty Geoff will accompany the great devourer and will make sure! Yes! I'll make sure that he wouldn't be harm, even just the tip of his hair that's why, lay down your ease and stop the drama before all of you get melted in my hands~" Shivers strikes to the spine of everyone that they immediately stood up and made Leon nod his head. He went closer to Geoff and patted his head before walking closer to the portal. He squealed from the praise he received before looking at Xing Ling neighing pitifully. He stared at him for a good few minutes before his brain snapped that maybe, he has something that might help the poor mount. He rushes towards him and made him chug the liquid inside the glass container the goboline shamans made for him. Geoff patted the head of the confused Xing Ling and when the liquid were all gone, he convulses before started shrinking. Geoff giggled upon watching his transformation. He couldn't help but feel proud of himself from his accomplishment before following Leon that is already inside with half of his body. Geoff looked back once more and waved to the gobolines that started to shed their tears. They cheered once more before Geoff finally followed Leon that is already inside the portal.  
---
Leon felt like he was inside a swimming pool, heavy and thick. He felt like he is at the deepest and slowly getting out of breath. He can't see anything and his eyes stings when he opens it. He is paddling in the air like a dog learning how to swim. Yet it didn't help. He felt like he is not moving from the place he is in right now.
There is a beeping noise that is tickling his ears and he felt his limbs were tied by the current of the water. It felt heavy and he felt frustrated when he couldn't use his skills. Something is interrupting him from using the skill of the system. This must be what the monster is afraid of. The feeling of powerlessness.
Leon couldn't remember how long he had been drifting but his eyes were getting heavy and no matter what fight he does, he still went to sleep. But before his final struggle failed he heard the warning from the system. 
『WARNING!!! System N-000 is being swallowed by another system. Attempt to counter attacker commencing...』 
『Attempt failed! Trying alternative solution...』 
『FAILED!!! Looking for another solution. Please wait...』 
『Solution found! Proceeding emergency auto-pilot...』 
『Triple exclusive skill barrier made! Error! Virus eating the data...commencing to emergency absorption...』  
It was getting faint and Leon couldn't understand more but the final ding after so many mechanical sounds that rang in his ears made him calmed down and drift to the place that he finds comfort everytime. His eyes went shut but his heart is still in chaos. But just like what he steeled himself, what happens, happens. He just hope that he could do what he wishes for.
-- 
Geoff went later after Leon at the portal and he immediately sense the shift in the air. The black space is different from the interspace path that the ant vaders sculpted for safety travels. This is dangerous and no protection at all! But having the sturdy skin of a horned beetle, he enhances his body and covered himself on what they called inner ki. Gritting his teeth he went on and let the current take him. It wasn't all grand like how other portal with beautiful colors spiral to one another and making a path, it was plain dark and boring. Its nothing that almost look depressing upon seeing much longer. He didn't see the end of it when Xing Ling transformed again to its orignal form and blocked his view. His head hit on its hard back and he went unconscious. Within his heart he hoped that his friend is safe.
-- 
It was a dozen chances that a wish will be granted. There is only one wish in Leon's mind. But it was too late for this lifetime, he is old enough to be able to do that and even if he wishes for a second time, that was just a foolish hope since there is no skill or miracle that could grant him that. He lived his live almost like dead for seeing his dreams but couldn't take hold of it.  
Leon had been living as if he is not existing and the only thing that keeping him afloat was the promised he had with the elites. But that stand to nothing anymore. They betrayed him. He was left alone in that world with no one to share his loneliness. Humans had been the epitome of evolution as they improved whenever time passes by. That is also the reason why Gods were desiring them so much and also scared of their potential that can greatly surpassed them. Their opinions about them were split into halves and a faction was made for those that want them to perish and those that wanted them to continue flourishing. But that is for later to be told.
Sunlight tickled his face from the heat. Leon groaned from the hot feeling in his cheeks before lifting his body up with his eyes still closed. His hands were caressing the soft layer of moisten grass that dampen his clothes and hands from contact. He doesn't know how long he had been there or is he in the right place. This greenery is different from the Gobolines territory. It's poorer unlike the abundance energy in the air of the gobolines yet it has a sense of familiarity.
"I swear if the goboline were playing tricks on me...damn." He couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. The green trees, lush in its bright colors were covering his sight and the gentle breeze of the air unlike the humid warm inside his domain. The minty fragrant of the forest and the familiar feeling of home all greeted Leon and that was the first time after a thousand years inside the gate that tears went out of his eyes. He couldn't control his emotions. He lifted his body up and was immediately confused when he noticed that his clothes became bigger than his body. He tried to put his arm down and the sleeves swallowed his hands. Leon put his arms up and his thin frail arms appeared in his eyes. It's enough for his eyes to almost pop out of his socket. 
"What the hell happened?" He  exclaimed before inspecting his surrounding. That's when a river bumped his sight. Without thinking much, he went to the side and look at his reflection that made him fall to the ground. Lines that had already stacked up in his face became smooth like a porcelain ware from China. The bags under his eyes and dark circles that made him look a madman was all gone and he couldn't be more surprise than anyone else because, he literally was a man of bones walking with one foot in the grave! But now... now, he looks like an attractive boy that will be the campus crush inside their school!
"What the actual fuck is this!" Leon touches the water and the reflection still display the same young face when it settled. He remember this face. This is the exact face he had a long time ago. Leon could not be mistaken. He had been reminiscing the past and how he has the face of one of the actor in his country. This just couldn't make sense! He tried to summon his status window but nothing appeared like it usually does when it was on strike. He tried to summon it once again but like what it was earlier, there is no window that appeared in his eyes. 
"What the---" 
"WHO COMES THERE!" Loud and panicky, Leon heard a yell behind him and after a sound of reloaded gun went into his ears, he calmy assess his situation. He didn't move and so the footsteps slowly becoming near. The surrounding felt so quiet and Leon could hear the sound of the other's heart beat. He decided to slowly put his hands up but the moment he moved, the clinking of the metal entered his ears and he stopped.  
"DON'T ACT STUPID! I AM ARMED!!" He announced and Leon wanted to suck him dry to let him know who is stronger from the both of them but after several times of failure on making his skill window appear, he got tired and let things be. This might be exciting since it has been so long before someone threatened him but Leon submits for now and slowly raise his hands on the top of his head and then announced.  
"I am innocent. I am not armed!" He got weirded by his voice that is full of vitality even the other person was surprised on how youthful his voice was. Leon took his time to turn and the other patiently waited until his eyes popped wide open.  
Twenty-one, no less than eighteen, this kid looks like he just entered highschool. The man was evidently surprised and lowered his weapon.  
The same with his reaction, Leon was even surprised just like him. This is the first time he is seeing a man from Earthex and looking at the shape of this man...he looks unusually...abnormal. 
The only thing that felt like from the old age was the long beard that reaches the floor. His clothes, weapon and hat were all stylish and on the newest trend that Leon is not familiar of. The man reaches his hands and Leon felt like he is seeing something straight out of a fantasy movie. Bony hands with lots of veins popping, he doesn't look unhealthy or malnourished but the frailty of his appearance makes Leon felt dominance against the man. But in some way, this is his old appearance back to that world! He could not be mistaken!
"I never thought I would be seeing someone like you in my entire life. Come here child, I am not a bad person." The man offered his hand and was waiting for Leon to accept it but he doesn't know what is running in his mind. The one that declares them as not bad where the villains that will bring you harm in every movie. I musn't be fooled! 
But when he sees that he is genuinely just want to look at him up a bit closer, Leon slowly went closer to the man but still put his guards up. Betrayal had been the first reason why the main character always dies that's why Leon is faking a smile and was making sure he is looking as innocent as possible like what his appearance implies. The old man smiled and Leon doesn't know if that is genuine or not. But a little more and they were right by each other's side, Leon paused upon seeing the tears that is gushing out of his eyes that being covered with layers of dark circles. Leon panics and unconsciously supported the man's collapsing frame.  
"Are you alright old man? I didn't do anything to you yet! So don't die on me like this!" Leon blurted out continuously after feeling that his old habits of being concerned to another person is coming out of him after reverting back to his young self. The old man laughed and Leon thinks he already lost it. He raises his arm to pat Leon on his shoulders and upon contact Leon realized how heavy his arms was after hearing his bone crack a little. He immediately loosen his grip and let the old man hold at him instead.
"I never once thought in my life to see someone like you. Where did you venture and you looked like a ragged kitten swam in the pool of mud without cleaning himself. Haiyaa~ this clothes were too big for you. Come, come I will provide you food and clean yourself! This won't do! I read on articles that kids were easy to catch diseases so you have to clean yourself! My house is not that far from here. A little walk won't hurt ain't it? By the way, how foolish I am! I haven't told you my name. I am Eucrid. I have been living in this forest. It was really nice to bump into you! After all, the kinds of you were already extinct a few hundred years now." Leon stopped from caressing Eucrid's back and look at him with widened eyes. The old man find it amusing and let out a hearty laugh.
"What did you say? Did I hear it right?" His hands started to tremble and the lump on his throat was too much not to swallow. Eucrid pat his shoulders again and this time Leon didn't bother to complain. He was just waiting for his answer. Eucrid notices it too and his face became serious before answering Leon.  
"New babies had been a miracle for the passed years Leon. The last batch of kids was my generation." Leon literally felt the blood in his veins left his body and he became as pale as white paper.