Reborn with the SSS-Rank Creator System-Chapter 18: Journey

The sun had barely risen when the village gathered once more.

Theos and Xiphos stood at the edge of the village, dressed and ready for their journey. Theos looked striking. He wore black robes adorned with red and golden embroidery. The black and red colors complemented Theos' black hair and red eyes, making him look even more formidable. The red earrings he wore swayed gently, completing his fierce appearance. His expression was resolute, yet his eyes betrayed the emotional storm within.

Samuel clasped Theos' shoulders, his grip firm though his body still bore signs of recovery.

"Be brave, son," he said, voice low. "And be wise. Use everything you have to grow strong."

Theos nodded, unable to speak. His throat tightened as he turned to Elena. She stepped forward, cupping his face with both hands. Her smile was soft, eyes shimmering with tears she fought to hold back.

"My boy," she whispered. "I'll miss you every moment. But I know... I know you'll make us proud."

Theos pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face in her shoulder. "Mumma... I'll come back stronger than anyone. I promise."

Beside them, Xiphos stood quietly, his usual stoic presence tinged with something gentler. He wore white robes, and a black blindfold covered his eyes. The contrast between his attire and Theos' gave the two boys a distinct presence—light and shadow. His long black hair flowed with the breeze, lending him an air of quiet strength and mystery. As Theos stepped back from his parents, Elena turned to Xiphos.

"Xiphos, come here."

He hesitated, surprised, but stepped forward. Elena wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you—for everything. You've protected my son, and you've become family to us."

Samuel stepped beside her and placed a hand on Xiphos' shoulder. "You're not just a companion to Theos. You're like a second son to us. Be safe out there, both of you."

Xiphos' expression didn't change much, but his voice was softer than usual. "I will. I promise."

The village fell silent as Theos and Xiphos began to walk. Every step away from the people they loved seemed heavier than the last. A few villagers reached out to offer parting blessings or small trinkets for luck. Children waved, and the elder gave them a final nod.

As Theos and Xiphos walked farther, their figures grew smaller and smaller until they finally disappeared into the distant horizon, swallowed by the rising mist of morning. The moment their silhouettes faded from view, Xiphos' master stepped forward.

"Everyone," he announced, his voice echoing through the quiet square, "you will be spending the next ten years in a safe place."

He raised his hand, forming a series of intricate symbols in the air. The space behind him shimmered like rippling water. A portal opened, wide and glowing, revealing a lush valley hidden in golden mist. It sparkled under the dawn sun, a magical contrast to the charred remnants of their former home.

The villagers stared in awe. Murmurs rippled through the crowd—gasps of disbelief, hushed prayers of gratitude, and wide eyes brimming with wonder. Some clutched their loved ones tightly, others simply stood frozen, their faces lit with awe and relief.

"This place is protected by ancient formations. Time flows slightly slower there, and no outsider can find it. You'll be safe—your children will be safe."

As he gestured, a gentle wind swept through the village, wrapping around each person like a guiding touch. The breeze seemed to carry whispers of assurance and hope.

One by one, the villagers stepped into the portal, drawn by the sense of peace it radiated. Elena and Samuel were among the last. Elena turned back one final time, eyes fixed in the direction Theos had gone.

"Be safe, my child."

With that, she and Samuel stepped through.

The master exhaled deeply, looked once more toward the road, then followed.

The portal rippled—and vanished.

And with it, the village was gone.

As Theos glanced back at the village one last time, a swirl of emotions stirred in his chest. He wondered how long it would be before he saw his parents again—or if he ever would. His fingers clenched slightly. 'This is just the beginning,' he thought. 'I'll make it all worth it.'

After a few minutes of walking, Theos glanced around to make sure no one was nearby. He turned to Xiphos, nodding slightly. "Let's get rid of the extra weight."

He removed his bags and every other item they had except their weapons. Unlike others, Theos didn't have a storage pouch—he had something even rarer. While training with Xiphos in the forest,

Theos had discovered his system had an inventory function. He still didn't understand its full depth, but it allowed him to store items in a separate space, invisible and weightless.

With a thought, the items disappeared.

Xiphos tilted his head slightly. "You have a storage pouch?"

Theos shrugged. "Something similar. Just found it a few months ago. Useful, right?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xiphos' lips. "You're full of surprises."

With their load lightened, not that it mattered much, they moved at an incredible pace.

For three days straight, they didn't rest. Each morning and night blurred together in a haze of constant movement and shifting terrain.

Their journey covered almost a thousand kilometers in those three days. The flat terrain soon gave way to rocky hills and emerging mountain ranges. They crossed streams, scaled craggy slopes, and passed remnants of old shrines long forgotten.

Occasionally, they spotted signs of old battles—swords rusting in stone, bones overgrown with moss. Slowing their pace, they navigated narrow trails and ridges.

As they felt hunger and fatigue building up, Xiphos eventually pulled out two small vials from his robe, filled with a glowing blue liquid. The vials gave off a faint hum, and the glow seemed to pulse with a rhythm almost like a heartbeat. Even through the glass, the liquid felt cool to the touch, as though it had been stored in ice.

"What's this?" Theos asked.

"My master gave them to me before we left. He said it would keep us energized during long travels."

Theos nodded and they drank it. The liquid was cool and sweet, tingling as it slid down their throats, and almost immediately a surge of energy coursed through them. It felt as if they had just woken from a full night's rest and enjoyed a hearty meal. Their limbs loosened, their fatigue vanished, and their senses sharpened as if they'd shed a heavy weight. Their bodies felt light, minds clear, and strength renewed.

That was when a group of ragged-looking bandits appeared, emerging from behind boulders. The leader—a tall man with cold, sharp eyes—stepped forward with a crooked grin.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Two travelers... carrying treasures, perhaps?"

Theos raised an eyebrow, glancing at Xiphos. "Bandits? This far out? I thought we left them behind."

Xiphos exhaled, reaching toward his sword. "Looks like they didn't get the memo."

"Hand over your belongings! Or we take them by force!" the leader barked.

Theos stepped forward casually. "Guess it's the hard way."

Xiphos moved beside him, relaxed in stance but alert.

Without warning, Theos lunged. His dagger sliced through the air, disarming the first bandit with swift precision. The bandit's blade clattered to the ground as Theos spun low, delivering a follow-up strike to the ribs that sent him tumbling. Another attacker came from behind, but Theos ducked under the blow and drove his elbow into the man's gut, flipping him over his shoulder with practiced ease.

Xiphos intercepted a second foe, parrying the incoming strike and sidestepping with grace. His sword flashed, not once, but twice, leaving twin shallow cuts on his opponent's arms that disarmed him completely. As another bandit approached from the side, Xiphos pivoted and launched a powerful crescent slash, forcing the assailant to crash into a rock outcrop. The sharp clash of steel and the sound of boots skidding over gravel echoed across the narrow trail, adding rhythm to the swift and brutal confrontation.

Another bandit tried to sneak up on Theos. Without even turning, Theos leaned back and kicked upward, knocking the weapon from the man's hands and sending him tumbling. A boulder cracked from the force of a parried blow, sending shards of stone raining down the slope.

The bandits staggered, watching in disbelief as their comrades fell.

"Come on," Theos said with a grin. "Surely you're not done yet?"

Xiphos ducked a wild swing, knocking the bandit unconscious with a sharp blow from his hilt.

"They should've picked someone else," he muttered.

Theos danced between attacks, landing a solid kick and sweeping the legs out from under the bandit leader.

Within moments, all the bandits were on the ground, groaning in pain.

Theos sheathed his dagger. "That was a nice warm-up. Ready to move?"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

"Let's go," Xiphos nodded.

Before they left, they tied up the bandits and dragged them to a path near a city outpost they had passed earlier. Once they were sure the scoundrels wouldn't bother anyone, they resumed their journey.