Skyler, now inhabiting the body of a 19-year-old, stood before a mirror, contemplating his current situation. His gaze fell on the attribute panel before him, where a staggering 5067 Spirit Energy Points were listed. This was a pleasant surprise because, based on his prior calculations, the total should have been closer to 4600, and it appeared that the Spirit Energy Points he had spent on "Armament Haki" had been temporarily refunded.
After a moment's thought, Skyler made up his mind. He wasn't here to linger; he had business to attend to.
He stepped out of the shop, leaving the mirror behind, and walked towards the bustling streets. His destination was a barber's stall located nearby. It seemed that his new body, although sturdy and well-built, had a major flaw — it sported a long braid.
In this era, the imperial court, although decadent and corrupt, still cast a long shadow over its subjects, and the braid, though common, annoyed Skyler. His intention was clear: he wanted to be free of it.
At the barber's stall, a man in his forties, the barber, greeted him with a warm smile. "Young man, do you want a haircut?" the barber asked.
"Yes," Skyler responded. "How much does it cost to shave my head?"
The barber raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You want to shave your head?" he asked, clearly taken aback. At this time, it was considered a rather extreme choice, as many still believed in old superstitions about the significance of body, hair, and skin, which were seen as gifts from one's parents. People who shaved their heads were often assumed to belong to unsavory groups, such as the Sand River Gang.
Skyler simply asked, "Is there a problem?"
"No..." The barber quickly recovered. "If you want to shave it all off and leave the hair with me, I won't charge you a fee. In fact, I'll pay you for the hair."
"Alright," Skyler said without hesitation, eager to rid himself of the unwanted braid. The barber set to work with his scissors, cutting off the braid first and then trimming the remaining hair down to the scalp. Skyler's new look was now complete: bald and free of the bothersome braid.
Looking at his reflection in a bronze mirror the barber handed him, Skyler was momentarily taken aback. The bald head, while unusual, was certainly better than the long braid.
After taking the ten copper coins handed to him by the barber, Skyler left the stall, feeling a sense of liberation. Now, it was time to do something far more important.
As Skyler walked through the street, his bald head drew attention, and people looked at him curiously, some avoiding him, assuming he was a gang member. Despite the attention, Skyler paid it no mind and continued on his path, knowing that there was more to focus on.
The body he inhabited—Skyler—had been a porter in a rice shop, a profession with little future. But Skyler had no intention of continuing in that line of work. He was on a mission, heading towards a more promising venture. He was seeking Leo, a teammate he could feel nearby.
Once a transcendent enters the Spirit Realm, they become attuned to their teammates, able to sense each other's presence and stay within close proximity when teleported. And Leo was not far from him now. Skyler couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He wasn't sure what had become of Leo after entering the Spirit Realm, but he was eager to find out.
A few moments later, Skyler reached an alleyway where several guards and servants were stationed, guarding a carriage. He could sense that Leo was inside. This was a bit of a surprise, as Skyler knew that most transcendent consciousnesses would descend on ordinary people after entering the Spirit Realm. Only those with extraordinary luck would find themselves within wealthy families.
Leo, it seemed, had been one of the lucky ones.
Skyler approached the guards, who immediately took notice of his bald head and gave him disdainful looks. "Go away, don't linger here," one of them ordered.
"Is there a problem?" Skyler asked, unfazed by their rudeness.
"Do you want trouble?" another guard sneered, drawing a saber in warning.
But before the situation could escalate, a clear voice rang out from the carriage. "Let him come over."
The guards were momentarily stunned, but quickly parted ways, allowing Skyler to approach. He smiled and walked confidently toward the carriage.
As Skyler neared the carriage, the maid guarding it called out, "Hey! What do you think you're doing? You think you're worthy of being in our young lady's carriage?"
Skyler looked at her, puzzled by the harsh tone. The maid was clearly upset, as men and women traditionally didn't share such close spaces in public, for fear of rumors spreading and damaging reputations. It was an old custom, but still relevant in some circles.
Just as Skyler was about to respond, a voice from inside the carriage interrupted. "Let him in."
Everyone outside fell silent in surprise. The guards looked at one another, unsure of what to make of the order, but without further protest, they allowed Skyler entry.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was tense, yet Skyler could feel Leo's presence nearby. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
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