He needed combat experience more this time as he had newly gained skills and he also needed to get rid of his hybrid mana. If he was to do it in one go, then he must battle against strong magic beasts.
But as he was now, he wasn't match for those hideous magic beasts and even if he had strength, he wasn't too confident about it because of his lack of experience regarding combat as compared to those magic beasts which started killing from the moment they opened their eyes.
He had gained strength as compared to his previous self, yes, but he still had weak heart.
So what he needed the most right now was confidence with some battle experiences as well. If he couldn't even master his own skill then how was he going to keep on being an adventurer?
The Windmill village wasn't very far as he was going to arrive there in four hours. So while running straight to the village which laid within Nagar forest, he also tried to grasp much about the voice that rung inside his head and about the marks his body had which was deemed as Soul Marks by the voice.
As the trees were getting more and more sense with every passing step, he said in his mind.
"Describe Soul Mark!"
The female voice again sang inside his head giving him a vague description about the Soul Mark he possessed.
"Soul Mark is the mark left by magic beasts upon the consumption of their soul essence in physical form. It contains their will, skill, abilities as well as their entire soul. Soul Mark is also the link between two souls i.e, Magic beasts' and the owner's."
"If the Soul Mark were to be nurtured and evolved, one would be able to manifest the soul residing in the Soul Mark in physical form which would be just like a living entity. Evolution and nurturing could be avoided if two souls were to form a soul pact."
So, if soul residing inside the mark and the soul of the wielder came to an agreement then he too could manifest the soul of the magic beast? It was a heck of an ability which made him excited as well as depressed.
From what he knew, the Soul Mark of the dragon was moody, arrogant and filled with pride, and it was less likely that it would form a pact with him.
"So, it's just like magic beast aura manifestation." Oslo sighed. After one killed a magic beast, there was a chance that they could acquire the magic beast aura, which on manifestation would from a shadow of the beast behind the wielder making them even more powerful and it could also attack by itself leaving the shadow of master as if it possessed it's own intelligence and could also amplify strength of attacks.
Compared to summons, aura were rare, stronger and better in every possible way and only one out of fifty who killed the magic beast would have a chance to acquire it.
Till now, Oslo had killed many magic beasts but he still hasn't acquire any aura. Maybe because their rank were far too low or maybe he just had bad luck helping him in every corner. He then went again and said,
"Describe the effect of Soul Mark: Divine Dragon King."
Ring~
[Soul Mark: Divine Dragon King
- The mark would enable one to have absolute authority over the flames. It would also enable one to gather Mana from the surrounding very efficiently.]
"Absolute control over flame?" He halted his step upon hearing it. He was very curious to know if what the voice said was indeed true. Slowly he gathered his Mana efficiently converting it into a flame.
He didn't know and haven't practiced till now how to convert his Mana into flames but when he tried now, he felt as if it was natural. Was this also caused by the mark?
If what the voice said was indeed the truth then there was no way that he wasn't going to try it out. He manipulated his Mana and a ball of fire rested on his palm which was abnormal compared to other fires. It was green in color.
Was it because of my mana? He only thought about it for a second before manipulating his Mana to control the flame. And much to his surprise, the flame obeyed his every command. It flew if he wanted it to fly, it disappeared if he wanted it to disappear. It was very handy and when he was fiddling with it, he heard another voice ring in his mind just as he was having fun.
[Obtained Title: Flame Emperor
- The ruler of Majestic Undying Divine Flames
Title Phase: 1/3 (Flame Warrior) ]
The more he listened, the more his lips curled up. He was now more curious about the title. If he was just a flame warrior and could already control the fire to this degree, then what would happen if the title was to evolve and reach its limit. He was too happy just by thinking about it.
He then again started heading towards the destination and like before, he inquired about his another soul mark.
"Describe Soul Mark: Mystic White Crane"
Ring~
[ Soul Mark: Mystic White Crane
- The soul mark left by the holy crane which is popular for it's healing power.
Effects: Holy body (Obtained), Healing magic and abilities amplifications ]
Holy body, huh?
...
After hours of travel, his eyes finally laid upon the end of the valley. Below the cliff, there was a village with houses like cottages where sages used to live in the past.
In the middle of the village, there was an old, barely functioning windmill which was about to fall any moment. He could also see the board indicating that it was indeed the village he was supposed to arrive at.
The Windmill Village!
But...
"How am I going down there?" He shouted as his voice echoed far and across from the edge of the cliff.
Finally after half an hour of search, he found a way leading to the entrance of the village.
"How did the village even found a way here to get build like this in such damned place?" He sighed as it took him much time just find a way. But now that he had found a way, he immediately ran towards the village with some idiotic and weird hand movements.
"Hah... Finally the entrance." He reached in front of the signboard and gasped, although he wasn't out of breath. It was to show that Old man beside the entrance that how hard and mind eating it was to find a way.
The old man with bald head and face with wrinkles said without much concern about Oslo.
"Young hero, follow me!"
The old man didn't stand on ceremony and directly started leading Oslo inside the village without much concern for Oslo's breath. He meant business and nothing more. Even without any wane supporting his body, the old man could walk just fine.
The elder led him to his house where there was another man sitting idly, leaning on the wall with a sword by his side and his eyes closed. The man was covered in armor which shone in a reddish golden light when elder opened the door. The man also had a glint of an adult spark on him.
Seeing Oslo enter the room, one of his eyes partially opened as his mouth yawned. Licking his lips, he said lazily,
"Is this my companion for the quest?"
The old man nodded and pulled a cushion for Oslo to rest his legs. Oslo slowly sat on the cushion as he asked with a confused expression,
"Do I need to complete the quest with another person as a team?"
Hearing him, the man in armor opened his eyes wide as his mouth shouted at Oslo,
"You didn't know? Have you even checked the quest paper? First read the quest paper from up to down before taking it. Newbie adventurers! Always making the same mistakes!"
"No, no. don't say that." The old man immediately said in a low voice, "Maybe he forgot to read it properly."
Oslo was confused. Was that thing even mentioned? He had no problem completing the quest with another guy but he didn't know if it was mentioned in the quest paper. He then took out the quest paper from his pocket to confirm it and indeed it was written that two adventurers were required for the quest but...
Why the hell are the letters so small? It's no wonder I missed it and... why the heck the information written in the back of the paper?
Oslo was raged but he admitted that he had made a mistake. If he knew he had made a mistake then he would admit it and this time it was his fault for not paying too much attention.
"It seems that it was indeed my fault for not reading it throughly. I admit my mistake." He
accepted it without much.
"Ha!" The man snorted, "You need to be careful as a newbie. Tell me what your rank is?"
Oslo didn't take his shouting to heart and said politely, "It's D."
"Too weak!" The man said.
"You'll follow me for the whole quest. I don't want you to slow me down!"