Winds whipped around him as he began free-falling. As Lonzo told him earlier, he truly couldn't utilize any of his affinities while falling.
But that wasn't much of a problem. After all, aside from his powerful body, he could use attributeless mana to fortify himself.
His body remained near the trench wall as he descended, his mind focused on the moment he needed to start slowing his fall.
When he'd fallen roughly 100 meters, his arm snapped out and his hand dug into the wall. In that instant, his body jerked with momentum!
The wall couldn't handle his velocity and the grip he made shattered, but that was a given. He remained with his hand in the wall, allowing it to tear through the dirt as he descended and slow his fall.
The grating sound of his hand being torn as it broke apart the rock was gruesome. Still, his method was somewhat effective.
200 meters…400 meters…500 meters…
By the time he was a half kilometer deep in the trench, his descent slowed to a halt. He breathed out while letting his hand heal, hanging off the trench wall.
'Still no end? How deep does this go?'
Realistically, he didn't think Hidden Death Valley would be located more than a kilometer deep in the earth. However, he couldn't sense it despite his current position.
'There may be perception-blocking formations set up in the area…maybe a beguiling formation too. It would make sense considering that it's a system meant to block intruders.'
Damien furrowed his brows. He didn't think it'd be so complicated to get down to the bottom. If he knew there were multiple systems in place to prevent this type of entrance, he would've just waited with Lonzo.
But now that he was already here, he wouldn't turn back. After his hand healed from its previous damage, he let go of the wall and began dropping again.
Another 500 meters passed by rapidly with Damien still falling. By this time, he was already a kilometer deep, yet he still didn't see anything nearby.
That is, until he mysteriously felt the ground beneath his feet.
With the surrounding blackness, it was hard to distinguish between whether he was truly falling or just suspended in the air. Suddenly feeling the ground with no indication of its arrival and the disappearance of his previous momentum was more than just a little disconcerting.
"State your name and purpose or be executed."
A feminine voice rang out from behind him. When he turned around, all he saw was blackness.
'Hmm, so my senses are being limited by this formation as well. If that's the case…'
He activated the All-Seeing Eyes and quickly found a flaw in the formation. Instead of breaking it entirely, however, he merely used it as a gateway to see through to the other side.
This was an ally influence, after all. He didn't want to needlessly start trouble with the people who'd be his company for the foreseeable future.
"My name is Damien Void," he replied once he finally got visuals on the group around him. "I've come on Atticus Flamesworth's recommendation to join this academy."
The group of guards was made up of 10 men and women around the middle ranges of 4th class. The one at the head of the squad was a late-stage. When she heard his reply, her brow furrowed.
"If you're an incoming student you should be waiting for the instructor at the precipice of the trench. Why did you jump?"
"I don't know," Damien shrugged. "Someone told me I couldn't do it so I decided to see for myself."
"You have a fetish for courting death?" The woman sneered.
"If death was a woman she'd be pretty hot…"
Damien spoke without thinking.
"Pfft…!"
Damien could hear some of the guards hiding their laughter beyond the barrier. As for the woman in front, her face turned red with annoyance. Her eyes turned cold. She wasn't in the mood to play games with a cheeky intruder even if he truly was recommended to the academy by a Paragon.
"Nonsense! Show me your identification if you want entry. Since you've used Atticus Flamesworth's name, I'll have to bring an elder to verify your identity. If you aren't confident in your lies I suggest you admit it now and allow us to take you into custody."
"That's fine, go get your elder. I'll wait here." Damien said casually. He also didn't want to deal with unnecessary conflict.
The woman at the front eyed the barrier suspiciously as if she could see Damien's figure within. She sent out a messaging talisman as she did so, and roughly 5 minutes later, an old man appeared in the area.
"Sheesh, what're you calling me for? It's just a little intruder, right? Just kill him and throw his body to the Galos."
The old man crankily flew over and landed in front of the barrier. "Kid, if you want to be slick, don't use a Paragon's name. That'll only draw suspicion to you. How are you planning to infiltrate with such terrible skills?!"
"Uhh…" Damien stood speechless. He wasn't even trying to intrude. Besides, why was this old man giving intruders tips on how to sneak into the academy better?! Wasn't that counterintuitive?!
It seemed the lead guard was thinking the same thing, as she quickly slapped the old man atop the head and shut him up.
"Old Man Gao, he says he has a real recommendation. Check it for us and see if he's in the clear."
"Oh? So he's not an intruder?"
"We don't know yet."
"Then do your jobs!"
"I'm following protocol and calling you over! Do your job and stop talking nonsense, old man!"
"Haa, fine fine. I don't get why young kids these days are so motivated. Relax a little and try and enjoy life for once."
The old man glanced over at the barrier after talking. "Kid, show me some proof if you don't want to die or whatever."
Damien nodded and took out the emblem Atticus gave him, passing it through the barrier.
The old man took it and glanced over it a few times, even scanning it thoroughly with his awareness. No matter how he tried to pick fault, he couldn't deny that it was a true emblem from the Flamesworth Clan.
"Tch, and here I thought I was going to have some fun today." The old man mumbled.
"Just let him through! He's clear!"
With those words, the barrier around Damien dissipated. Finally, he could see more than just the small amount he could through the flaw.
He was currently in a space not too dissimilar from the blackness he was in previously. The only difference was that mana-powered lights were hanging from the ceiling here, granting some visibility.
"Damien Void, follow me. I'll take you to the administrations office." A nearby guard said.
Damien nodded and followed. Before he left, he glanced at the old man in the corner. He had the itch to taunt him for his attitude, but didn't let it control him.
He was learning to be civil, after all.
Nevertheless, Damien and the guard exited the black room soon after.
It was finally time for him to see Hidden Death Valley in all its glory.
