Ian and Mia set off on the road to the Aurora Council, with Storm City fading behind them into a blurry point on the horizon.
On the first dusk of the journey, when the two of them took a short break in a wooded area, Ian took the initiative to break the silence, "Mia, we're going to face the Aurora Council's trial together next, so it might be better to get to know more about each other's abilities, don't you think so?"
Mia smiled and nodded, and said with a slight hesitation, "Actually, my ability is not innate, when I was ten years old, I once mistakenly entered a marvelous space."
Ian was instantly curious, "A marvelous space?"
"Yes," Mia had a hint of memories in her eyes, "At that time, I had absolutely no idea why I appeared in that space, and a mysterious and warm voice told me that I was good by nature, and hoped that I could carry on his legacy of bringing freedom and hope to the world. Since then, I felt an extra strange power in my body, I just couldn't really use it at the time, except that I was still young, so when I told my parents about the experience, they didn't believe me, they just said that I might have dreamed it."
"And then?" Ian asked patiently.
Mia's eyes dimmed a bit, "Two years later, my parents were executed by the council on an excuse because they openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the Storm Council's rule. I witnessed that scene and was greatly stimulated, completely awakening my abilities. After the awakening, that mysterious voice echoed clearly in my mind, telling me that I must use this power to bring freedom and hope to humanity."
Ian nodded slightly in understanding, "The feeling I get from your ability seems to be very special."
Mia revealed a small smile, "That's right, my ability is like the incarnation of an angel, and whenever I enter a new level, I grow a new pair of wings. Every time I advance in my ability, I automatically gain a new battle skill, but I can't learn any other battle skills by any means."
Ian revealed a surprised look, "I see, this is indeed very special."
Mia smiled slightly and turned her head to look at Ian, "Your turn, Ian. I'm also curious, your abilities seem to be very diverse."
After a slight hesitation, Ian chose to conceal the existence of the system and just cautiously explained, "My ability is rather special, I can acquire my opponent's abilities through battle, and I can have up to ten different abilities at the same time."
After hearing this, Mia couldn't help but marvel, "Your ability is actually this powerful? Human's psychic abilities are really strange."
Ian smiled, "It also means that I have to constantly adapt and adjust to my newly acquired abilities in battle, which requires a very high level of combat skill."
Mia nodded thoughtfully, "But it also makes you more flexible and difficult to deal with. The two of us working together can really make up for each other."
The journey continued as the two moved forward, passing through several different cities. Each city was like an isolated island with a completely different look and culture.
The first city was called White Dove City, and its inhabitants were peaceful and leisurely, with people releasing white doves everywhere on the streets. They seemed to be isolated from the world, not realizing the threat of war in the outside world, and lived a quiet life with ease. But when Ian met the city's administrator as they passed by, he was not as peaceful as he seemed.
The second city was called the City of Rocks, and the buildings were all made of hard black rocks, filled with a rich industrial atmosphere. The residents' expressions were cold and stoic, as if they had long been accustomed to the harsh living environment.
And the third city was called Water Mirror City, where the environment was exceptionally beautiful, with clear mirror-like lakes surrounding both sides of the streets, and the residents lived in peace and comfort, but at the same time, they also appeared to be exceptionally detached, as they politely and detachedly kept their distance from the outsiders.
Every time they passed through a city, Mia and Ian would lament the diversity and adaptability that humans had shown in the end times. Although each of these cities had their own unique characteristics, they were all limited in some way by their isolated environments, with little contact with the outside world, truly like an isolated island.
In the process of moving forward, Ian kept completing the daily quests every day, and after a few tentative draws, he still got nothing, so he didn't dare to try it easily, he'd better wait for the talent enhancement points in his hand to be rich before he draws them again, and first raise all the practical abilities to the Luminary level.
A month's time passed quietly, Ian and Mia also became companions who understood each other, traveling to the last part of the journey, the two stood on a small hill, looking at the huge city that gradually showed its outline in front of them.
"Ahead, is the Aurora Council's outlying city, the Iron Fortress!" Ian said softly.
Mia took a deep breath, her gaze firm, "I hope we can successfully pass this trial and live up to everyone's expectations."
Ian turned his head to look at her and smiled encouragingly, "It will be, we've been through so much, as long as we face it together, we'll definitely succeed."
Mia returned a gentle smile, and the two of them continued forward shoulder to shoulder.
Upon reaching the city gates, the guard reached out and stopped the two, "Show your identities, what are you doing here." Ian and Mia simultaneously pulled out maps engraved with their respective city logos, "City of Ashes - Ian, here for the trials." "City of Storms - Mia, attending the trial."
While the guards verified the information of the two people, Ian observed the situation of the city gates, a common guard here has Flare level, to know, once the high level of the Brotherhood of Steel's Reynolds is only Flare level, and the city gates are also covered with all kinds of various devices that Ian has never seen before, among them there are both detecting and attacking types, Ian has no doubt that if he wants to break through the gate hard, the Luminary level Ian had no doubt that if he wanted to break through, the Luminary level would not even be able to pass through the city gates, not to mention that there were many more powerful aliens in the city.
After confirming the identity of the two, the guards released them, "After you go in, go straight and you'll see the sign for the trial site, remind you, don't wander off, inside are people you can't afford to mess with." Although Ian and Mia were stronger than the guard, the guard's words were filled with disdain for the people of the lower world.