Trial of Secret Realm, Begin

Ryker and the new group he found himself in was busy searching for treasures when he sense a powerful aura coming towards him.

A look up showed the person who just come was the Captain.

"Young master Ryker," the man gave him a light bow, to the shock of the young master and mistress of the Great Families.

"The Baron require your assistance. It is probably something you can do," it did not take long before Ryker realize what the man meant.

"Let the way, and bring them with us," them being his new group. The man nodded as he covered them with his qi before flying towards the direction he came from.

Behind him, Mashia took flight, as she could fly and did not want to be carried. Though she did not carry anyone this time, as her speed could not contend with a Genesis Source expert.

-x-

"Young master Ryker, you are here," the Baron greeted the young man, Ryker returning it.

The one who did not know of him began to whisper with one another.

"How does the Baron know him?"

"Maybe he is his secret love child?"

"Might be true. After all, he is so strong despite his young age"

The two ignore the whispers of the gossipers and went straight to business.

"Do you think you can open the barrier?" the Baron asked.

Ryker raised his right arm before looking at the back of his hand, "I'm not sure," he confessed, "But it's worth the try,"

He walked to the barrier before showing the back of his hand to the barrier. When nothing happened, he place the back of his hand on the barrier.

He was about to pull out when nothing happen for few mire minutes when the ground shook, causing the surrounding people to lost their balance.

Ryker leap backwards, as a small pillar rise from where he stood. After the ground stop shaking, Ryker walked towards the pillar before putting the back of his hand on it.

The pillar shine before it soon covered everyone in the area.

[Two potential successors are found. Please enter the trial area]

A sound come out of the pillar, before it shine to both Ryker and Shuri, the latter looked awestruck for being chosen.

"W-why me?" she said, stuttering.

Ryker ponder it before asking, "Do you practice any types of Cultivation Art with Metal Attributes?" he asked.

The white haired young woman's eyes widened at the mention before nodding.

"Is it..." she trailed off, unsure how to continue.

"The owner of the Secret Realm should be a master who comprehend the Law of Metal. Since only both of us comprehend the Law of Metal, one we are allowed to enter," he answered.

"I'm not sure if passing the trial will result in the barrier disappearing, but we will try," Ryker promised the Baron.

The man sighed and nodded, "Understood. Do your best," as the two about to embark on the trial of the Secret Realm, Ryker was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Ryker," Shuri's father loomed over him as he said, "please keep an eye on her," he pleaded.

"Of course. You have my words on it as well," promising to watch over the young woman, the two soon entered the trial area, the entrance being the stone pillar itself.

The rest could only watch as the two people entered the place with some envy.

"Everyone," the Baron called out, "go to the outskirts and collect all the resources that can be find. As for the barrier, only 2 people keep watch over it," the rest nodded at the order of the leader of the expedition.

They soon left, leaving the Elder of Hal Family and the Branch Leader of Mariz Capital City Adventure Guild to keep watch.

-x-

Both Ryker and Shuri find themselves spinning as they enter the portal, before they find themselves on top of one another, with their position will gave some people ideas of their relationship.

Shuri quickly rolled away from Ryker before standing up, cleaning the dirt on her dress.

"So, how does the trial work?" she asked, looking expectantly at Ryker. When Ryker gave her a confused gaze, she said, "You have enter a Secret Realm related to this Secret Realm, right? Then you should have an idea of what the trial is,"

Ryker looked surprised, as he had never thought the white-haired girl to be so sharp. Since it is their best bet, he answered,

"The trial I took is about absorbing and surviving a wave of Metal energy coming out of a tower. Or that is what I do but I think it is about entering the tower instead," he told his experience as well as his doubt over his way of dealing with the trial.

"In that case, maybe it is about surviving another wave of Metal energy or something far harder. We can't really tell. The only way we knew is by doing this trial," she exclaimed, leading the way.

Ryker let her, knowing it will help her growth, not to mention she seem excited and he did not want to ruin it by trying to butt in and be the one in charge. He is not that heartless.

-x-

The two walked in the stiffling silence, none of them knew what to talk about to lift the silence. Their have very few interaction with one another.

Shuri mostly spend time with Ryker's lovers for some girl's time, while he talked with Solance mostly, and maybe even the elder and his sons, but rarely with the white-haired girl.

Though the blame for that can be laid on him and her father, as he did not want to bring her to his harem unless she wanted to and her father did not want her to have a close contact with no doubt, a womanizer, a rude but accurate description of himself.

Thankfully, Shuri seem to find a topic to talk about.

"Why does your lovers always bring up me joining your harem? And why do they accept you having so many women?" nevermind, apparently Shuri choose the conversation with topics that bug her, even if the answer is embarrassing.

"One, they think you are interested in me, so unless you prove otherwise, then they will always pester you.

For the second question, let just say even when they team up in the bed, I always outlast them and could still go for few more rounds, even after they lose consciousness, which is why they wanted more women to join my harem. It is their best bet for survival,"