Following behind Kairo, tapping his system notification, the previously chiming notifications once again appeared in his vision.
[System: Holy Trinity Cultivation has been altered. The effects have been changed slightly. View the skill to assess the changes.]
Tapping his skill window, Kaiden searched for the icon, the immediate difference he found was that it no longer remained under passive and was instead grouped with Sword Force.
[Holy Trinity Cultivation Method] (Active-Passive) – Lv.2/12. This is a passive that must now be actively trained to increase the skill level. However, effects have been bolstered to compensate. Instead of a complete level up, increasing a stage will fill proficiency by 60%.
Trains the Mind, Body, and Soul to the pinnacle leaving you to breakthrough all secular boundaries starting your mystical journey. Increases All Basic Attributes by 50. Fortitude and Concentration must be actively trained.
Skill Proficiency: (10,250/50,000). No Cooldown.
*Note: Skill Points can not be added into this skill. It must be actively practiced.
(Attributes 25 -> 50)
"Hmm, not sure if I lost or gained with this? But if the attribute gain is doubled then perhaps I gained even though it requires more physical attention."
Now, not only did Kaiden have to cultivate to increase his profession but now he needed to do so with this skill. It was beginning to feel more like a mirror life than a game, but Kaiden would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it.
This presented a feeling you couldn't currently achieve in real life. Moreover, what was achieved through hard work was to be appreciated more thoroughly.
[System: You have incompletely refined your physique, progress may be picked up however, in this type of refinement stats are awarded upon completion. However, that doesn't stop you from feeling the unnoted benefits of your actions.]
'Hmm...so I won't see them appear in the status screen but I can assume there is some type of minute changes following each session of refinement.'
Closing the window, Kaiden now understood more about his profession—it was meant to complement and possibly surpass the benefits of his tier. However, even then it required immense amounts of dedication.
….
Inside a residence yard in Crescent Wake Town…
Inside the training yard…
A solemn and slightly cold Snow Bunny stood with her hood down.
"Are you women dedicated enough to grasp your true selves in adversity? Do you have faith in yourselves to remain true to yourselves? How many of you have faced torment from your past?" exclaimed Snow Bunny.
Before Snow Bunny stood a gathering of approximately 200 women of many different statures. However, they all had a fragile look to them as if the speech Snow Bunny was making resonated with their pain.
Stepping forth, a golden-haired beauty with a beauty mark under her fierce ruby eyes remarked. "I wish to prove myself! I have been time and time again belittled for being a woman even though I proved myself time and time again to be comparable to our male counterparts!"
This lady gave the aura of a soldier—although in this ear wars died down to a certain extent—they would always be prevalent. For when a new piece of land was discovered there was bound to be bouts over who will own it.
"What is your name?"
"BattleSeraph, ma'am." exclaimed the golden haired beauty.
As she inspected her, Snow Bunny noticed her fine qualities.
"A soldier?"
"A Lieutenant ma'am!"
"Why have you not joined the Doomsday Dominion?" questioned Snow Bunny.
The "Doomsday Dominion" was the 2nd ranked guild of the Eight Insurmountable Titans and in the real world, it was spearheaded by the Brigadier General of the army who was also the Guild Leader.
"They...they…" she struggled to speak her piece as she trembled. Snow Bunny noticed this and raised her hand.
"Don't speak on it, I understand. Here you will be reborn. Do you wish to be my Vice Guild Leader? Snow Bunny felt a hidden strength in this woman—one she felt would be catastrophic if she missed out on.
"I wholeheartedly accept it! I will not disappoint."
Waving her hand, Snow Bunny summoned a contract even more restrictive than the one Kaiden used. However, this was a contract Kaiden also designed. But it wouldn't be implemented at this time as the guild was too fresh.
On the other hand, this army woman understood the weight of contracts and loyalty—as a result, she didn't hesitate to sign.
"The rest of you—you have been meticulously picked to join this guild. While I don't impose any unneeded worries on you...I expect a lot from you. You will be my personal legion. We will take to the sky and reclaim the honor we deserve.
"DO YOU ACCEPT THIS FAITH?!" exclaimed Snow Bunny emotionally.
"WE ACCEPT!" exclaimed the other ladies.
Snow Bunny had accomplished her first mission, and following that a smile graced her appearance as she thought of a certain person. That smile was so enrapturing that even the present women were captivated.
….
Walking with his hands held interlocked in his sleeves behind his back, Kairo spoke.
"Young lad, this will be our last moments spent together."
"..."
A silence happened as Kaiden paused looking at Kairo with a bit of hurt in his eyes.
"Uh, isn't it too early Master?"
"I have been holding on for a long time now, this is inevitable. However, don't be sad young lad. For my immortal spirit shall always embrace you. Even if my physical may be gone, don't doubt that you are without guidance." said Kairo as he turned.
There was a gentle and doting smile on his face. Although the time spent together wasn't long—it was worthwhile. He had lived his last years in solitude so the company of another being who looked up to his tugged his heartstrings.
"Living in solitude makes one yearn for the presence of interaction. A void ensues without that. However, you...young lad—you solved that problem for me.
"I appreciate your presence, young lad. I see you as more than a pupil—you are a harbinger of solace. So for this demonstration, I will show you the process instead. The repercussions for me at this point is fleeting. If I can serve to solidify your path, my sacrifice is nothing but a triviality."
Holding his head down, Kaiden closed his eyes as he held back the tears by clenching his fist. He too felt he built a relationship with Kairo who watched over him for the past few weeks. However, he felt it was too short. Deep down, he wanted Kairo to witness his ascension and the realization of his prior dreams.
"I will not let you down…"
"And I believe in you. Watch closely—this is how you passively augment yourself."
Spreading his arms, tendrils incomparably thicker than Kaiden's spread from Kairo's arms. For a moment—his countenance regained its youth and his thin body swelled with a sturdy physique.
However, in contrast, a trickle of vibrant blood streamed down the corner of his lips. But he didn't cease his actions, a monstrous aura exuded from his body that seemed to encompass the entire area. That same aura coating those tendrils, which caused them to wrap inwardly becoming one with his physique.
With his eyes gleaming, Kaiden looked intently without blinking as he soaked in the entire process etching the events into his mind.
"This is the passive form of Augmentation—your Will must be constantly used to bolster your abilities. Now...
As he spoke, a piercing screech could be heard from Kairo; to the point, it seemed as if the atmosphere was crying in protest.
"Think of this as a forbidden technique. As it can harm you, and hinder you for some time—never use it lightly."
Drawing in his arms and placing his hands together—an open space formed between Kairo's palms. However, it seemed as if his body was vibrating at the frequency of the piercing screech.
No, the Energy he contained was roiling as a burst wave happened. Following that burst, Kairo's physique swelled completely to an obscene level. However, his body was devoid of any feeling of Energy.
"This technique may increase your prowess fivefold, however it expels all your energy as a result."
*KEUK*
A blot of turbid blood was coughed up by Kairo. However, he didn't falter as his aura wavered.
"Have you absorbed this young lad?" asked Kairo. Because of his transformation, his words felt imperious.
"I have…" Dropping to one knee, something Kaiden had never done before; he bowed his head. At this moment, he genuinely appreciated the actions Kairo took for him. HE sympathized with his loneliness.
"I thank you, it is because of you that I am able to walk down the path of my dreams. For this day forth I won't be the same. I look forward to the future with a welcoming gaze.
Approaching Kaiden, his steps grew slower in pace and the stability of his steps worsened. However, Kairo continued forward with a purpose.
"Young lad, always look forward. Even in adversity, never hold your head down. For there is no opponent in this world that is worth you yielding to. You will become a legacy that you are unaware of. My time is fleeting…
"I shall never, but you Master, you deserve my heartfelt gratitude, and so on this day, I bow my head to you. A gesture that will never be repeated in the same fashion. The level I hold you to shall be unable to be breached again." exclaim Kaiden as he knelt.
"Thank you, lad. But, I still have time to perform one more action. Although...I'm sorry young lad, this is all I can muster to give you. Take out the bloodline crystal lad. " uttered Kairo.
Waving his hand, Kaiden removed the crystal bloodline from the ring.
Raising his left index finger, Kairo's appearance continuously withered as the crystal floated before his finger. Additionally, next to the crystal, an orb similar to Kaiden's Energy formed.
Flicking his finger, the crystal dissolved turning into a pure black drop of viscous blood. The aura emanating from the bloodline was tyrannic but only for a moment as it was stripped by Kairo and placed into the ball of energy.
Flicking his finger once again, the drop of blood flew into Kaiden's chest as the ball of energy flew into the pit of his stomach. Immediately he was assaulted by both pain and system messages.
[System: Foreign objects have been placed inside your body for assimilation. Benefits now being instilled.]
[System: Profession Experience increased by 1,000,000.]
[System: Profession Experience increased by 1,000,000.]
[System: Profession Experience increased by 1,000,000.]
[System: Profession Experience …]
*DING!*
The message continuously repeated until a ding was heard as a sort of chain inside Kaiden's body felt as if it had been broken.
[System: Congratulations, you have achieved the 3rd Stage of your Profession - Core Origination Realm. Certain skills have experienced upgrades.
[Energy Capacity increased. Inner Energy conversion ratio increased. 1 Strength, 1 Intelligence, 1 Vitality, 1 Spirit = 12 Inner Energy. Base Energy Value increased.]
(1,000 -> 10,000)
[System: Due to the change of your body, your physique now solely functions on your Inner Energy self sufficiently.]
'What does that mean? I always used my Inner Energy?'
Shrugging, Kaiden pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he continued to check the state of his skills.
[Auspicious Presence] (Growth Passive) – Lv.2/5. Increases Luck by 45.
[Firmament Piercing Eyes] (Growth Passive) – Lv.2/5. Grants the ability to identify unidentified items, (Up to Epic Rank items currently.), see hidden player information and increase eyesight range and intensity. Additional effects to be explored.
(Platinum -> Epic Rank.)
[Eidetic Memory – Enlightened Comprehension] (Growth) – Lv.3/10. Lowers the threshold of learning created skill from the hundreds to simply 10. 5% chance to create a skill in one attempt. It allows you to learn from certain NPCs. Enables you to learn Natural and Abstract concepts—increases Comprehension by 20 points.
Closing the menu, Kaiden didn't have time to prepare himself.
[System: . ...]