Aiden eventually spent the night in that alley of sorts. All he did throughout was continue to run tests on his body, and the results caused a grim expression to appear on his face for most of that night.

Not feeling the least bit tired, Aiden found that aspect normal, but the extraordinary strength wasn't something he understood.

Ever since he started the cultivation journey over 40 years ago, he had only been a bit above average, never going past that point.

But his body suddenly broke the very limits he understood, to stand at a level that felt completely ridiculous.

Having such strength would very well break the known stages of power. He risked been captured for experiments.

Something almost everyone in Cusk understood was the norm.

With a dark expression on his face, Aiden reviewed his findings on that baffling matter.

He couldn't control his mana, and could only see a black core with his mental waves. Confusion and fear couldn't help but spread inside him at that strange sight.

His soul realm remained accessible, but it felt different than he remembered.

There was something really wrong, and he couldn't lay his finger on it.historical

His dark expression remained even as he left that place during sun-rise. The streets of that area had already gotten busy, but none of its beauty fazed him anymore.

The issue at hand had siphoned any joy he could experience at the moment, and he felt the need to get something to drink. But like the other night he recalled that an incident had happened along the way, and his dimensional ring had been lost.

He had no money, but his body remained perfectly okay.

Unknown to Aiden due to the reality of his existence, he couldn't percive speed essence circulating his body constantly.

Noah's body had seemingly activated auto-mode as all important functions went on without any supervision.

It would take a long while for hunger to appear inside of him, as he couldn't even utilize the reserves in any way. He could very well stay okay for weeks.

Aiden spent most of the day travelling like an aimless existence, as he had realized that the objective he came to carry out in that city didn't seem to exist.

The thought of testing the unreal physical strength crossed his mind, but he didn't know where to go for such.

Asking around was an option, but he felt too confused to engage in any meaningful conversation.

Nothing felt right. Nothing actually was right, and amongst all his worries, he feared never being able advance in strength the most

On that note he had realized his inability to feel the energy around him.

He wondered how he had missed that important detail. Though it seemed his body had already accepted it's fate.

Not being caable of sensing the mana around him meant he couldn't cultivate. At that point did he notice the details that were missing in his life.

He recalled to have forgotten his soul cultivation manual, but now that he thought to it, such mistakes weren't like him.

He had been a diligent person in matters concerning his cultivation, as he valued power as an adventurer.

It seemed all things worked together to make sure he didn't have any of his important resources at hand, and it baffled him beyond reason.

'What exactly is going on?' Aiden found himself asking throughout the day.

That simple question had only one answer, and that was tat he didn't know.

Nothing made sense all of a sudden, and his whole being trembled violently when he doubted who he was.

Aiden experienced headaches after such thoughts, and his environment soon faded into the background.

Soon he wanted nothing more than to get his mind off the annoying matter, and only by doing something dangerous did he have a chance at that.

His chances of doing so could only appear the next day, as travelling by foot proved difficult.

Aiden found himself walking towy a small forest which had two relatively large hills on its sides, and in front of the forest was a gate.

If felt funny how different environments could fit into that city, but he didn't focus too much on that detail.

Both hills had multiple buildings constructed on their surfaces. A small street was even built to make those buildings easily accessible.

His target not being the hills but the green forest before him, Aiden reviewed his memories on what people said about that place.

Apparently that forest was a domesticated environment, as every four days; a batch of tier 3 beasts would be delivered into that forest, for people, mostly teams, to hunt down, and be given prizes for their kills.

This was as long as they had evidence of their kills; the head of the dead beasts, since no one would be watching them.

The higher the number of kills; the more rewards they would receive.

It was a way the leaders of that city allowed its people have fun amidst the growing political tension of their nation.

But was a safe way Aiden could test his power, since no one important would be watching.

Aiden sighted nothing less than thirty Individuals, all having power in the lower-stage stage of tier 3.

That number of powerful Individuals could threaten large towns, but were merely considered a bit powerful in that city.

Most had red cores, while only few boasted orange spherical cores.

The colour of one's core showed how powerful their spells would be, as the quality of mana would be outstanding, and their reserves higher.

The major hindrance for humans in the realm of tier 3 upwards was the mana core. If an individual couldn't advance their core after a significant period of time, they would find that their cultivation speed would reduce drastically, only their minds being able to improve at a steady rate.

Most Individuals believed that talent determined that aspect of their exsitence, for there were individuals who seemingly advanced their core without much effort.

They weren't totally wrong, but also equally not right.

Hardwork had an important role to play in that aspect like all other vessels of power. While a persons natural talent helped, it would only be capable of doing astoundingly well if one had the right cultivation technique. Which remained something that most non-noble or important individuals would never get their hands on.

Most of the humans Aiden sighted had already divided themselves into groups, and only waited for the gates to be opened.

From the words he recieved there would be exactly 8 tier 3 beast. Their power only in being in the lower-stage, but those beasts would feature an escort of 20 tier 2 beasts each, their power being random.

"Where is your team?," One of the four guards in front of the metal gate asked. It wasn't compulsory to have a team, but highly advised for most of the mass.

Nevertheless, there were exceptions. Though rare, there were individuals who could take-on beasts thier level, single handedly.

Individuals like that were mostly scouted into important positions at some point, but events like that remained rare.

"I don't have one," Aiden replied without removing his gaze from the ash coloured gate.

"Sorry what!," the guard exclaimed, claiming the attention of a few Individuals, who could only focus their attention on the person conversing with the guard.

"I don't have one," Aiden repeated, "Are you going to not let me in because of that," he frowned, doubting the information he had received.

His mind still remained in a mess due to his still ongoing internal strife. He would doubt the blueness of the sky if a reason for such arose.

Clearing his throat to regain his composure, the guard wore his bored face to reply.

"That's not a problem, you'll be allowed into the forest when it's time. But do take note that whatever consequence's you face will be soley bore by you alone," he explained.

Aiden nodded his head to move away from that position, but his eyes never left the gate, or rather the forest.

He felt surprised to be able to, although vaguely, sense the presences of those powerful beasts, even from that distance.

Those who had heard the guards reply shot curious gaze's at the breathtaking man, but none dared to move closer him due to his cold expression.

His gaze felt able to freeze his surroundings if not careful.

They soon noticed his lack of interest for their presences and couldn't help but look at the direction he gazed at.

Seeing nothing but the gate, they glanced at him with pitiful expressions, he seemed to have lost his mind. And truly they weren't wrong.

Although they couldn't understand his power, they figured he would be somewhere close to them in power.

A few more minutes passed, and soon the murmuring amongst the groups stopped as the giant gate slowly moved to reveal its insides.

A minute or so later and they all moved to enter the forest. The hunt had begun.

Those who had left their gaze's on Aiden's figure would notice a flicker in his cold expression, but never understand the meaning behind that action.

Only Aiden understood that within that forest; another presence had risen amongst the 8, and it moved rapidly inside that dense forest.

The planners of that small event seemed to have left a surprise for them.