'Did they leave?!'
[Yes, they have. Looks like they were some reinforcements. Their cultivations were a step into the Soul Manifestation realm.]
Lee watched those two women hurriedly fleeing, through the Map. He could only sigh as his heart drummed inside.
'I don't think it's safe to stay here long. Others may come pouring in. D, suggest a safe route.'
[We are about 40 kilometres north to the capital city. The city of Lorin is situated 16 kilometres south to the city of Yeuvis. At the east, Mo family is situated. Our only hope is to go around the city and directly enter Lorin.]
'What do you suggest?!'
[I have marked a route in the Map. It will help you reach the city safely.]
A blue line appeared in the Map. Lee pondered on the Map for a while and began walking. The proposed way was through a hilly area. Lee had no other way than the route.
[Let's keep moving. The journey will take a day to complete. If you're fast enough, it'll only take half a day.]
'D, how many Essence points are left?'
[21461.]
'Search for the skill 'Flight'.
[Search found.]
=====
Skill: Flight
Description: A skill that allows the user to fly and hover in the air. Mental strength is the key to skill proficiency. No wings needed. 10% increase in Agility.
Cost: 21000 Essence.
=====
'How conveniently coincidental! Buy it.'
The Essence points were reduced to 461. Instead, a new skill was added to the 'Innate Skills' bar.
'Activate Flight.'
[Simply activating the skill won't make you fly. You need to control the skill with your mind.]
'So I need to imagine myself flying to fly?!'
[Harder than said. Your Resolve is a crucial element. Stack it with Intelligence to see results quicker and better.]
Lee halted his pace and crouched on one knee as his head lowered and eyes closed. The shadows of trees gave him abundant space to hide. D anxiously sat tight as he observed Lee's mind computing and calculating. Within seconds, the process vanished and he opened his eyes. With an esprit mind and smile, Lee sprang up on his legs. Moments later, his body began to float. D was in awe as the grass began to wobble..
[Did you just figure it out now?! How?]
'Yes, but it was not easy. To fly, you need to float. To levitate, you need something to counter gravity. Right now, I do not have anything of such ability. As a result, I had to consider my own body as a weapon in order to channel the Air element affinity. As soon as wind was released through my foot, Flight accreted its ability by itself!'
[.....so, it was a lucky shot.]
'Yup.'
[Then let's see how successful your method is.]
Lee leaned forward and his vertically levitating body moved along. It was comparatively slow, but was steady. D was slightly disappointed.
[So, you are moving with this speed?! Is that all your plan?!]
Lee smirked as his whole being instantly accelerated. The sloth pace became swiftness. Through the shadows of the trees, Lee flashed like a flickering flame.
[Were you waiting for me to question you, in order to accelerate?! Grow up, boy!]
'Yes and no. The concept of 'Air Swimming' was something that I came up with moments ago. I was familiarizing with floating up when I finally decided to couple it with the psychic remote control.'
D didn't enquire further as he can say that Lee's thoughts are weirder for him to understand. He beheld Lee flying like a falcon through the air, though only meters high from the ground. Lee picked up velocity as his body became almost horizontal.
The aforementioned blue path in the Map disappeared and was replaced with a straight blue line connecting his position to the city of Lorin in a straight line. An attempt to raise his altitude was fruitful, as D noticed the ground moving away from them. There was a grin on Lee's face that D simply could not comprehend.
[Why are you smiling?! Have you gone crazy from such a simple feat?! Your skill mastery is still in a newbie range.]
'Hey, want to get surprised?! Check the affinity and immunity tab.'
D didn't voice his doubts further as he checked the tabs promptly. As he expected, the Air element affinity was increasing steadily. But what he did not anticipate was an immunity tab for the Air element. It too was progressing.
'Let me explain. You told me that I cannot use my affinity to create it's immunity. So I gave additional acceleration to Flight by releasing the Air element from my sole, before I completely mastered the skill. Due to this, I am experiencing air resistance which simply builds up my Air element immunity. Also, the nimbleness increases.'
[I applaud your smartness. Keep it up, we'll need it to fight some amortals.]
Lee didn't speak up anything in response. His attention was completely on the flight. There were some moments where he lost his controls as he went distracted by thoughts. Luckily, D would smack his head from the inside.
---------------------------
=====
3 P.M.
1700 Essence harvested.
=====
Anyone can see Lee flying wobbly from a distance. His accumulated fatigue has taken its toll on him. As soon as the city of Lorin was in the sight, Lee was dropped to the ground with a thud and dust dispersing. The plain grassy land that extended about a mile in front of him was a refreshing sight to behold. Without wasting a moment, Lee slowly walked towards the city. His face was not something that the guards would not forget that easily.
The intense hunger along with the tiresome flight made Lee chew down a Honey Bread loaf and finish the previously left bottle of Horned-Mow milk. He walked upright, but was dying to get some sleep inside.
After locating An in his room in the July's Inn, he hurriedly walked towards the inn. July saw him approaching tiredly. All the tables were occupied, that she could not spare time for him. He saw her struggle and signalled that he is okay. Lee went straight to his room. As he opened, what he saw was the beautiful figure of An sitting in front of the table with her hands on her chin. She was very concerned about Lee that she forgot his presence. Her face reflected her thoughts and wishes. She can be seen smiling and blushing from time to time. Lee stood there observing her reactions and guessing her thoughts. D called Lee a blessed husband, as his wife is perfect and truthful to him in all ways. He did not forget to advise not to cheat on her.
*ahem ahem*
Lee made the typical noise to distract her. She immediately looked over and saw Lee standing there with a smile. An sprang up on her feet and a delightful smile bloomed on her face. He watched her like a loving husband while she cared for him like a devoted wife. Their bond was deep and intense.
Seeing Lee, An came to him and hugged him. As she sat basking in the sunrays, her hug was warm and comfortable to him. She hugged her back with intense care and affection.
"Did you miss me?!"
An did not reply, but raised her head. Her cheeks were blushing. She lowered her head in embarrassment and nodded in agreement.
"Then why don't we rest a bit?! I am feeling tired."
An nodded and sat on the bed as she was still clinging onto Lee's hand. Lee laid down and his tiredness took effect immediately. As he slipped into his comfort state, he brought An right next to him, into his arms and covered both of them with a blanket. She felt cozy in her arms as she fell into deep slumber. This comfortness blanked out her mind as she forgot what she was preparing to tell Lee. She didn't attempt to remember it, and went with the flow. As she laid in Lee's arms, hugged tight to his body, she raised her head and looked at Lee's peaceful face. Never in her life had she expected to be in the hands of a comfortable and capable man, let alone marry one. The surprise doubled as the bridegroom was 8 years younger than her.
--------------------------------
Almost 5.40 P.M.
The city of Lorin was dipped in the blissful radiance of the setting stars. The evening crowd in the city never disappointed the street vendors and shop owners. No one wished for a catastrophe that can harm this serene bustling.
*dhumm...*
A loud bass voice startled the city. The whole of Lorin heard it. People of Festa and Crogh heard it. Great King Aizil and his capital city Yeuvis felt it. The people of these cities thought that it was something to do with other cities and carried on their tasks. But the truth was on a much larger scale than that.
*RUMBLE*
Moments later, a faint earthquake followed the sound. The quaking was initially too small to notice, but began to gradually increase in magnitude. Within a matter of minutes, the whole of Planet Utopia was trembling like a lost deer in darkness.
*THUD*
*BOOM*
*CRAAAAACCKKKKK...*
Many proud and beautiful architectural amazements began to cracken. Buildings began to develop intense web-like fractures all along the wall. Some of those buildings hugged the ground. Thin cracks that span over tens of miles began to form on the ground. Unrest and chaos rose from the darkening streets. Screams and cries accompanied laments of the dear and near of those that died!
Lee had already jumped out of the room through the window. An was safe and secure in his arms. She was completely wonderstruck as these incidents happen. Luckily, July's Inn only suffered a few major cracks along the wall. But this was enough to scare the hell out of people.
City Mayor had to give the people an answer regarding these situations. He announced that the same earthquake has been reported in all the cities through out the kingdom. Mayor's initial assumption was a large scale earthquake. But D informed Lee that the cause was even more unanticipated. His heart skipped a beat when D stuttered.
........................
==========
Name: Lee
Age: 20
Title: Grim-reaper, Soul Liberator
Fame: 1938
Essence: 8960 (6 PM)
Money: 953 Gold, 0 Silver, 31 Copper
----------
Partner: An
----------
Health: 320
Strength: 320
Vitality: 320
Agility: 320
Defense: 320
Endurance: 320
Sense: 320
Intelligence: 320
Resolve: 320
----------
Immunity:-
• Greater Poison Immunity (191/1000000)
• Medium Lightning Immunity (3229/10000)
• Medium Air Immunity (273/10000)
Affinity:-
• Greater Poison Affinity (11884/1000000)
• Greater Lightning Affinity (12385/1000000)
• Lesser Fire Affinity (0/100)
• Lesser Water Affinity (0/100)
• Lesser Ice Affinity (0/100)
• Greater Rock Affinity (11975/1000000)
• Greater Metal Affinity (11974/1000000)
• Lesser Sand Affinity (0/100)
• Greater Nature Affinity (11984/1000000)
• Medium Air Affinity (1045/10000)
• Greater Sound Affinity (11985/1000000)
• Greater Dark Affinity (11797/1000000)
• Lesser Light Affinity (0/100)
----------
Mastery:-
• Absolute Blade Mastery
• Absolute Nunchuck Mastery
• Medium Bow Mastery (778/10000)
----------
Cultivation: Peak stage Core Formation realm
Qi: 0/1100
Mana: 0
----------
Innate Skills:-
• View
• Foresight
• EsGen
• EsConv
• Curse Remover
• Flight
----------
INVENTORY:-
QUESTS:-
MAP:-
SHOP:-
RE-MODEL:-
==========