Primordial Expanse: I have the Strongest Talent!

"So what you're saying is that the Primordial Expanse has combined with other races now that our protection period has ended?"

Alex asked this question, even though he mentally already knew the answer.

He suspected it would be the case after the human race's first encounter with the Red Demon race, and the ending of the protection period, but now that he was actually living that situation himself, it became much more surreal.

But what confused him though, was how the different races in the Primordial Expanse weren't frantically killing each other like the ones in the outside universe do.

He naturally voiced this concern to Rothwind, who had quite a different reaction than he expected.

"Bahahahha!"

Rothwind let out a deep, hearty laugh at Alex's question, the sound reverberating through the small, soot filled smithy.

It was the kind of laugh that made Alex's brow furrow in confusion, especially since he didn't mean it as a joke.

"What's so funny?" Alex asked, crossing his arms.

Rothwind wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling as he straightened up.

"Ah, lad, you're thinkin' like someone from the outside world, that much is clear! You're worried about races clashin', killin' each other like they do in your universe, eh?"

Alex nodded.

"I've seen how things are out there first hand. Our race is embroiled in an intergalactic war as we speak. But here… it's different. Why aren't the races fighting tooth and nail against each other? This place should be a warzone."

Rothwind's laughter died down, though the smirk still remained on his face.

He leaned against his workbench, crossing his arms as he shook his head.

"Because, lad, the Primordial Expanse ain't like your universe. Why would we be killin' each other when this realm provides everything we need in the form of beasts? It's a different kind of place altogether."

Rothwind gestured around them, as if encompassing the entire world they were in.

"In the outside universe, I get it. There ain't no beasts naturally spawnin'. If you want resources to further progress, you gotta fight for 'em, take 'em from someone else. But here? In the Primordial Expanse? You've got an endless supply of what you need, right out there.

Ya just gotta look for it."

Alex blinked.

"I get that, but still…"

"Aye," Rothwind said, his tone more serious now.

"This realm is a whole different beast, lad. Quite literally. I don't know what they teach you youngins over there, but the Primordial Expanse is teeming with creatures, powerful ones at that. And they just keep comin'! The land itself provides, constantly spittin' out more beasts than we know what to do with!"

"The races here don't need to fight each other for survival — we've got enough on our hands already trying to worry about the beasts that roam the Expanse freely." Experience exclusive tales on M V L

Rothwind's smile faded, replaced by a more thoughtful expression as he leaned back against the workbench.

His eyes flicked between Alex and Mira, now that their conversation about the Primordial Expanse had settled. The silence stretched for a few moments before Rothwind cleared his throat.

"Alright, then." he spoke, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Enough about the beasts and the world out there. You two showed up here with my token, didn't ya? So tell me — what do you want from me?"

Alex blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Huh?"

Mira looked equally confused, her arms still crossed as she raised an eyebrow at Rothwind.

"What do you mean by 'what do we want'? We didn't know we could actually get anything from you. We just came here because we were curious, since the token was a reward for a mission, after all."

Rothwind stared at them both as if they'd just said the dumbest thing he'd ever heard.

"You're tellin' me… you walked into my smithy, token in hand, and didn't think it'd get you anything'? By the forge, are you kids clueless!"

Alex rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well, you weren't exactly very accommodating when we first arrived…"

"Besides, we just wanted to check out the kind of place this was. You know, see what made it special enough to be a reward for a Variant class C tier mission."

"Well—"

Rothwind's expression shifted the moment Alex mentioned the mission rank. His brow furrowed, and for the first time since they arrived, the gruff dwarf looked genuinely surprised with them.

Of course, he was much more shock when Alex presented Virtue's Edge, but that was shock! A much higher level of surprise.

This time it was milder.

"Wait… did you just say a Variant class C tier mission gave you this reward?" Rothwind muttered, his eyes narrowing as he took a second, more appraising look at Alex and Mira.

He should have known there was more to them than met the eye when Alex presented Virtue's Edge to him, but he was too focused on the fact that he was holding Mikhail's last creation rather than the person who wielded it.

The sudden change in his demeanour was easy to catch.

His gaze shifted between them, taking in every detail he had initially overlooked, from the way Alex carried that legendary sword, to the casual confidence in Mira's stance.

He had to do a double take, realising these two weren't the fresh faced rookies he had assumed them to be.

"Hold on a second," rothwind muttered again, scratching his beard with his soot covered hand.

"You two… really cleared a Variant C tier mission?"

Alex nodded, "Yeah. Though it was just Mira that cleared it. I just watched."

Rothwind stood in silence for a moment, processing the new information.

Then, without warning, he let out a loud, exasperated laugh.

"By the forge, you kids sure do like keepin' secrets' don't ya? Here I was thinkin' you were just a couple o' curious adventurers with some fancy token I had forgotten about… but a C tier Variant class mission? That's no joke!"

The smith's earlier gruffness had all but disappeared, replaced by a newfound respect for the duo.