Kalzara
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Chapter 15: Level Up!
🕑 Added 2023-09-29 20:32:30 +0000 UTCCaelum readied himself, inhaling deeply. With determination burning in his eyes, he activated his most potent technique. "Bloodthorn Feast," he whispered, his voice barely audible. At his command, an eerie, elongated tongue sprouted from the blade of Bloodthorn.
Without any hesitation, Caelum plunged the sword deep into Hughie's belly, who, caught in the midst of his transformation, couldn't dodge in time. The grotesque tongue wiggled its way into Hughie, hungrily devouring the rampant demonic energy coursing through him.
Hughie’s screams echoed throughout the training grounds. His eyes, filled with agony, watched his monstrous form revert. As the transformation receded, his body grew smaller, and the color of his skin started to normalize. With fleeting clarity returning to his gaze, Hughie mustered enough strength to look at Caelum. "Senior Brother...beat me again," he murmured weakly, before collapsing into unconsciousness.
Caelum caught Hughie before he could hit the ground. "It's not befitting for a Senior Brother to lose to his Junior," he softly remarked, gently cradling the defeated disciple in his arms. To expedite Hughie’s recovery, Caelum placed a few rejuvenating pills in his mouth.
Slifer, standing at a distance, let out a concealed sigh of relief. I'm just glad I didn’t have to waste any cards, he thought. And I was lucky Hughie targeted only Caelum, not me.
Caelum turned to his master, a hint of anticipation in his eyes, hoping for some insights or pointers on his sword technique.
Slifer caught his disciple's expectant gaze, quickly racking his brain for a profound yet sufficiently vague piece of advice.
"Your technique, 'Bloodthorn Feast', carries the essence of both purification and devastation," Slifer remarked, weaving words that seem intricate yet were vague. "Remember, the blade is an extension of the self. Its potential is bound only by your own comprehension of the truth within the sword's essence."
Caelum’s eyes widened in revelation. "Thank you, Master, for your invaluable guidance!" he said, clasping his hands together in gratitude.
Slifer gave a small nod, pleased that he was able to get away with his nonsense. His mind then focused on the new technique he had acquired. I need to get them out of here so I can practice, he thought. But then the missions he assigned to his disciples came to mind. “Caelum, have you completed your mission?”
He navigated to the system panel, clicking on Caelum's name.
Mission Status: In Progress, 8/10 Completed.
Caelum sighed, looking downcast. “This disciple has yet to complete the mission. There were two left, but then I was summoned here.”
Slifer nodded in understanding, “Complete them and then return here. I will require your assistance for a little trip outside the sect.”
Caelum's eyes widened momentarily, hope flickering within them. Perhaps Master will provide more personal guidance, he thought. But Slifer’s next words dashed that hope as he addressed Fenlock.
“Fenlock, stabilize your cultivation and await my call. You will also be joining me,” Slifer instructed.
Slifer’s gaze then landed on Amelia. "And young lady, didn't you claim your mission was complete?"
Amelia bobbed her head enthusiastically. "Yes, Master! You can ask around at the medicine hall. They’ll vouch for me!"
Slifer's lips tightened as a system message blinked before him.
Mission Status for Amelia - Incomplete: 0/10 tasks done.
Slifer sighed deeply, his patience thinning with Amelia's deceit. The girl had claimed no prior experience, yet here she was, claiming to have completed the mission within a day. It was obvious to Slifer that she was lying. The previous Slifer’s leniency had unfortunately bred a sense of entitlement in the girl.
"Foolish girl, do you think you can lie to me? I know you haven't saved a single life at the medicine hall," Slifer said sternly, his face hardened by disappointment.
Amelia's eyes widened, and panic swirled in them as she stammered to find an excuse. Who betrayed me at the medicine hall? she thought bitterly, plotting revenge on the yet unknown perpetrator. Outwardly though, she pouted, "I... I apologize, Master..."
Displeased with her response, Slifer's voice grew colder, "I should send you to Thunderclap Peak for your insolence."
The name of the dreaded mountain sent shivers down Amelia's spine. It was where the original sent the disciples for punishment. The danger that lurked there was well-known, especially to Core Formation cultivators. While no disciple had died, they surely returned battered and bruised.
Although the original found the Thunderclap Peak useful for Hughie’s special technique, Slifer found it barbaric. He only intended to bluff, but the terror in Amelia’s eyes told him it worked.
Amelia's face paled considerably, recalling the state Hughie returned in from that cursed place. Her voice quivered, "No, Master, I... I'll complete the mission. I promise."
Just then, a System notification appeared before Slifer:
Discipline Administered Correctly: 5 Karmic Credits Awarded
Slifer felt a spark of pride. Doing my job right, he thought, not surprised by the Karmic credit gain. It was the System's way to nurture righteousness within disciples. He would have been more taken aback had he not received any credits.
He looked at his disciples one last time before dismissing them.
***
With his disciples gone, Slifer's full attention was focused on the System screen that floated before him.
Righteous Version: Sunrise Slash - This technique harnesses the pure essence of light qi, allowing the user to teleport instantly to their target's shadow to deliver a strike.
Slifer's eyes widened. The righteous version was indeed different from the original, no longer tainted by the use of blood essence.
The cost of the Righteous version is 100 credits.
However, due to Caelum's loyalty rating exceeding 80%, you receive a 20% discount.
A 20% discount, not bad at all, Slifer thought, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. It seems having disciples with high loyalty does come with its own advantages.
Deciding to buy the technique, Slifer mentally tapped the 'Purchase' option on the System screen.
As he confirmed his choice, the System promptly responded.
Sunrise Slash (Level 1) Added.
80 Credits Deducted.
As the technique was added, Slifer felt a peculiar sensation, a gentle pulse of energy that seemed to ripple through his mind. His vision blurred momentarily as knowledge and details about the Sunrise Slash technique flowed into his consciousness. When his sight cleared and the transfer of information ceased, he had a basic understanding of the technique.
It's time to put this technique to the test, Slifer smirked. However, to truly practice, he needed a blade in his hand. The System's outrageous prices for treasures made it impractical to purchase one. So, he'd previously asked Morvran to fetch a sword from the Armoury.
Not long after, Morvran arrived, holding a carefully wrapped item. As the wrapping came off, a sword was revealed. Slifer carefully took hold of the sword, his eyes drawn to its unique orange hilt. I've not seen that before, he mused. As he unsheathed the blade, its polished surface revealed its quality -- a peak Foundation Establishment treasure.
The sword required the qi of a Foundation Establishment cultivator to unleash its full potential, but with his Qi Refining stage qi, Slifer would have to channel more energy to compensate for the lack of quality. This excessive channeling could drain his qi swiftly and may potentially impair his physique. However, he wasn’t worried, with the Sunrise Slash technique and a Foundation Establishment sword, he should be able to end the battle in one strike.
Slowly he swung the sword around, trying to get the feel of it. The imbalance and awkwardness in his form were glaringly obvious, even to his untrained eyes.
Morvran, who stood there watching, found his master's interest in such a mundane weapon surprising, yet he knew better than to comment. The sight of Slifer swinging the sword with such atrocious form was almost painful to watch, but Morvran consoled himself thinking that his master must be onto creating a new technique. After all, someone capable of killing an Origin Realm expert with a single blow of sword qi couldn't possibly be inept with a sword.
Catching Morvran's lingering presence, Slifer cleared his throat, a hint of embarrassment in his tone. "Morvran, I'd appreciate some privacy for now."
"Understood, Master," Morvran nodded, adding, "I'll stand guard outside to ensure no disturbances."
Once Morvran departed, Slifer's focus shifted to a new System notification that appeared before him.
Sword Mastery: 0%
The swing of the sword felt more alien with each movement. He was sure the System would have a function to boost his mastery or levels using credits, yet such a feature seemed locked at the moment. And even if it was accessible, he mused, the cost would likely be astronomical.
Slifer spent a good amount of time familiarizing himself with the sword, feeling its weight, and growing accustomed to its length. He would be lying if he said that the sword seemed to have become an extension of himself already. But after about an hour, he felt it was time to practice the technique.
His eyes glanced over the dummies Morvran had arranged around the courtyard. He positioned himself a reasonable distance from one, thinking back to how Caelum activated his shadowstep technique.
He took a deep breath, channeled qi into his sword, and closed his eyes. With a soft murmur, he whispered, "Sunrise Slash."
Upon opening his eyes, a bright light glowed within them. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his spot, reappearing far from his intended target, stumbling a bit before tumbling to the ground.
Brushing off the dirt and twigs from his robes, Slifer chuckled lightly. "Not bad," he commented aloud, "It’d probably get me killed in battle, but not a bad first attempt."
He eyed the dummy again. Alright, once I get this right, I'll treat myself to a bowl of Celestial Lotus Soup, he thought.
The technique demanded a precise control of qi, which he unfortunately did not have, causing each failed attempt to drain him bit by bit. However, with every new attempt, Slifer noted the minute improvements. His teleportation distance became more accurate, the flash of light during his transitions less blinding, and his landing sturdier.
However, it wasn't long before exhaustion finally caught up with him. Slifer collapsed onto a stone bench, his body slick with sweat and his breathing heavy.
He felt a warm satisfaction in his chest as he looked up to see a System message:
Sword Mastery: 1%
Sunrise Slash Levelled Up
A weary smile stretched across his face. "Looks like Level 2 means I've got the basics down. But there's still a long road ahead if I want to use it in battle."
***
At the far end of a cave sat a throne, enveloped in shadows. Upon it, a hooded figure sat, its presence a cold void that repelled the meagre light attempting to infiltrate the dark lair.
The soft patter of hurried footsteps broke the silence, growing louder as they approached the chamber.
A figure, visibly anxious, made its entrance and quickly knelt before the hooded entity. "Master," he gasped, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and urgency, "My Lord, I have news."
The hooded figure shifted ever so slightly, and for a brief moment, a pair of eyes beneath the hood glowed a deep, menacing red. "Speak," it commanded, its voice chillingly calm.
Swallowing hard, the kneeling man began, "Grand Elder Olakin from the Black Heart Sect... he's been killed."
A shadow of a frown creased the hooded figure's concealed face. "And how does this concern me?"
The young man hesitated momentarily, gathering his courage. "It is said... Elder Slifer is the one responsible." Taking a shaky breath, he added, "The Grand Elder was killed in a single strike."
A tense silence settled in the chamber. Suddenly, the hooded figure's eyes flashed red again, this time more intensely. Its fingers tightened around the throne's armrests, the stone beneath its grip groaning in protest. "Impossible," it hissed. "I killed him myself. I made certain his Nascent Soul was annihilated."
As the words left its mouth, an overwhelming aura surged from the hooded figure, pressing down on the already trembling man before it. Gasping for breath, his eyes widened in realization. "Origin Realm..." he whispered, awe and fear evident in his voice, before succumbing to the pressure and collapsing on the cavern floor.
The sudden thud snapped the hooded figure out of its revelry. Quickly, it reined in its aura. I must contact the others, it thought. We can’t delay any longer.
Without a moment's hesitation, the figure vanished in a burst of demonic energy, leaving the unconscious messenger lying on the cold, hard floor, the cave once again swallowed by silence.
