Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Chapter 96 The storm kept closing in, while savage waves pounded against Clayton’s back. Yet he didn’t panic—not even when a massive wave surged straight at him. Splash! The wave finally slammed into the water dome he had conjured earlier. But instead of shattering, the dome held firm, remaining stable even under the crushing force of the impact. Inside, Clayton was thrown forward by the wave’s momentum. The sheer force sent the entire dome hurtling across the lake’s surface—carrying him at incredible speed. Meanwhile, the storm had already reached the shoreline he’d stood on moments before. It tore through the landscape with relentless fury, pelting the earth with marble-sized hail. Still trapped inside the water dome, Clayton continued to glide until he finally reached the opposite shore. Once there, he staggered to the side and collapsed, breathless and spent. Only then did he look back—and witness the devastation. Fortunately, a dense patch of trees had absorbed much of the impact, preventing the storm from spreading uncontrollably. Still, large swaths of the forest had been ravaged, unable to withstand its wrath. Seeing the destruction, Clayton felt a mix of relief and gratitude. If he had hesitated even a second longer, he would have been swallowed whole. This storm was far stronger than the last—and honestly, there was no guarantee his icy water dome would’ve held if it had taken a direct hit. Once again, he thanked his instincts for pushing him to act in time. After a short rest, he resumed his journey. Staying in that area was far too risky—the storm could strengthen again, and next time, he might not be so lucky. ... After enduring countless trials, Clayton finally made it home. He released all his pets from the Entry Dimension and began unpacking. Once he’d cleaned himself up and eaten, he collapsed into bed, his body too tired to remain upright. He slept straight through until noon the next day. When he finally opened his eyes and took in the familiar sight of his modest home, a deep sense of comfort washed over him. "Ahh... there’s nothing quite like being home," he sighed. For the next few days, he stayed indoors. He was thoroughly worn out by the chaos of the outside world. After tidying up, he made himself breakfast and tended to his pets. When he checked inside the Entry Dimension, something strange caught his eye—the arowana appeared to be in hibernation. At first, he thought it was merely asleep, but after several days of observing its limp, barely responsive body, he realized something was wrong. The fish looked pitiful. Its scales were faded, its body marred with wounds. If not for the steady movement of its gills, Clayton might’ve thought it was dead. Bits of mucus and shed scales had settled at the bottom of the pool. Curious, he retrieved one of the fallen scales. Clang! Clang! He tapped it with his finger and was surprised by its durability. It was incredibly tough—easily capable of withstanding attacks from a mid-tier Apprentice Mage. The discovery sparked an idea. These scales could be used as crafting materials—for armor or even a shield. He quickly gathered the rest, then checked on the arowana once more. Seeing it was still breathing, he sighed in relief. Next, he visited Gemma and the twin fawns. He groomed Gemma and gently began milking her, then cleaned and cared for the two healthy, energetic babies. He couldn’t help but smile as he petted their soft fur and played with them. They were clever, affectionate, and endlessly entertaining. The more time he spent with them, the deeper his affection grew. Then it hit him—he hadn’t named them yet. Finally, he decided: Nocturne for the black fawn, Aurora for the white one. The two seemed to love their names. They perked up every time he called, their little tails flicking excitedly. Even Gemma looked pleased. Yet, beneath the joy, Clayton felt a twinge of unease. The timing and circumstances of the fawns’ birth felt... too perfect. As if it had all been orchestrated for him. He tried to see it objectively. The whole situation seemed suspiciously convenient. Was some unseen force behind it? Then again, who could’ve known he had the ability to heal a deer? Maybe it really was coincidence. Perhaps the illness was caused by a rare disease, or triggered by the sudden appearance of a dungeon. Maybe it was just a fluke—a natural mutation. Still, the suspicion lingered as he sat quietly, stroking the heads of his new companions. ... Suddenly, a security alert from the perimeter array blared. Clayton jumped to his feet and rushed outside. As he stepped out, two familiar figures greeted him. "Ah! Brother Arthur! Uncle Lorenzo! Come on in!" Without hesitation, the two men entered, following him into the house. "Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Milk? Maybe milk tea?" Arthur and Lorenzo exchanged smiles and waved him off. "No need—we won’t stay long," Arthur said kindly. "Yeah, don’t go to the trouble," Lorenzo added. But Clayton insisted. As the host, he wouldn’t allow guests to leave without proper hospitality. "No worries. It’s really no trouble—just give me a second." He disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with two glasses of warm milk. "Here you go." Arthur and Lorenzo took the glasses, clearly puzzled—but too polite to refuse. They each took a sip... Their eyes widened in surprise. The milk was rich, creamy, and incredibly smooth. Warmth spread through their bodies, followed by a noticeable boost of energy. They both downed the glasses quickly. Clayton grinned. "So? You like it?" "It’s amazing!" Arthur exclaimed. "This milk is something else. Liora would love this," Lorenzo added. "I’ll pour you another," Clayton said, already heading back to the kitchen. Arthur and Lorenzo tried to stop him. "No, seriously—we’re good!" "Yeah, don’t bother—" But Clayton called over his shoulder, "It’s fine. I’ve got plenty." The two guests exchanged helpless smiles and surrendered to his generosity. Moments later, Clayton returned with two more steaming glasses. This time, they drank more slowly, savoring every drop. With the mood relaxed, Clayton finally asked, "So, what brings you here on a day this cold? Something up?" Arthur shook his head. "Nothing urgent. We just wanted to check in on you. We came by a few days ago, but your place was empty." Clayton blinked. "You did? Sorry about that—I must’ve been caught up in the storm." "No problem," Arthur said. "We should’ve called first anyway," Lorenzo added. Clayton tilted his head. "But wait, weren’t you two raiding a dungeon?" Arthur and Lorenzo exchanged proud grins—clearly in high spirits. Clayton could tell they’d returned with a haul. "Yep! We got out earlier than expected—and made some decent gains," Arthur said cheerfully. Clayton raised an eyebrow. "That’s great to hear." "And we owe it all to that magic scroll you gave us. It helped a ton," Lorenzo added. Clayton chuckled. "Come on, that scroll wasn’t anything special. But I appreciate it, Uncle Lorenzo." Arthur and Lorenzo both shook their heads. "No," Arthur said seriously. "To us, it was more than just a scroll." Clayton gave a modest shrug, brushing off the praise with a sheepish smile. Then, Arthur reached into his bag and pulled out a small box. He handed it to Clayton and said, "As a token of our appreciation... this is for you. We hope you’ll like it." Clayton froze. "Wait... What is this?"