With my entry into the night owls' group, I finally have a fixed group to explore the dungeons. With a group of this level reaching floor thirty it is a reality and not a hope, but the group limit should be floor forty, with the group's current power we must start on the tenth floor.
Tomorrow's expedition with an incomplete group, starting on the fifth floor, which is a good thing having more floors to cover will help me make more money and with that my new tailor-made maturation is closer to becoming real.
When I get it, my combat ability will reach the peak of my current level, after that I'll only have to advance my core stage in order to reach the destructive power of a green core warrior.
With an entire tier three, compatible, and quality equipment, I'll be able to risk a lot more in the dungeons and missions that showed up at the institute next month.
Only mind after improving my defense and strengthening my body, I will be confident enough to explore the emerald forest by myself so that I can earn as many points as possible, so that I can use the institute's advanced facilities without having to worry about running out of points to sustain my cultivation and Wulfgar's, which by the way is consuming more and more food, every week that goes by the amount I have to spend on it increases.
Upon my arrival at the institute after passing my test I found Hilda playing with Wulfgar in my room, and when I use the word joking, I mean Hilda bullying poor Wulfgar. She's having a great time, but Wulfgar looks like he's suffering as he tries to escape Hilda's cruel clutches.
She's obviously not hurting him; she's bothering him while he probably wants to be sleeping peacefully. As Wulfgar's size has increased, his daily routine has changed, he has been exercising by running through the training compound, but when he stays in my room he tends to sleep on top of my bed, but now he's being the target of Hilda's affection.
"I thought it would take you longer to get back."
"Today's test was short, but tomorrow morning I have to enter the dungeon with Raziel and three other members of the night owls."
"I never doubted you, I may have doubted that Raziel was capable of joining a group of high-ranking adventurers like this, but they must have accepted you to fulfill a quota."
If it weren't for the playful smile on Hilda's face, I would believe she thinks Raziel is weak and incompetent, but even though I know she's joking her words are still cruel, I don't know whether to feel sorry for or enjoy the suffering of Katarina she has been the main target in recent weeks of Hilda's vicious and venomous tongue.
That's why I wasn't too shocked when my presence was denied and banned on the expeditions led by Katarina.
"He does well in today's test, Captain Raven has tested her ability to control her shadow element. He is Serbian as an assistant to create a shadow dome, and as we were in an open aria the difficulty is greatly increased because of the sun."
"What is the strength level of this Captain Raven? To create a shadow element dome under the sun she must be a green core mage."
"Well, first of all she's a warrior and not a mage, and she has a yellow core in the middle stage. And the dome was not very solid because its function was not to strengthen the dark element but to create a dark environment like that of the night dungeons, I fought with a warrior from the team, Vera and the main objective was to show that I can fight in an environment without even a light."
"Ultimately, a warrior without the shadow element wants to join a group that specializes in fighting in the dark, and naturally I have to prove that I can, I wasn't surprised when they didn't believe me when I said I managed to fight in the dark. It's dark, but I was surprised when Captain Raven arrived and not only didn't hesitate, she called me a tracker type without a single hesitation."
"Only an idiot would lie to be a warrior with sensory abilities like his, and basically impossible to fake them. And even if you had a magical tool capable of simulating sensory talent, you couldn't fool an orange core warrior, only a suicidal idiot varies that."
After telling about my fight with Vera, it was my turn to ask Hilda a question.
"Have you ever heard of a club for warriors who fight unarmed?"
"Actually yes, my mother even tried to teach me how to fight with my fists when I awakened my core, but my mom said this was a waste of time and I should focus on my aura and elemental energy. My mother believes that physical abilities are secondary to a warrior, the aura should be the warrior's main focus."
"This is the first time I dare anyone to say that combat skill is secondary to a warrior, I was taught that only the union of aura strength with the ability to fight a warrior can have the ability to exert all the strength of his body. But your aunt wanted to teach you to fight unarmed, so does that mean your aunt is part of that club?"
"I don't think you're wrong Ulric, but in my opinion every warrior or warrior must find their own way, if we stay focused on interpreting the numerous differing opinions, I don't think we can understand our aura. The aura is something that is born from the warrior, even if there are similarities between them, only knowing their aura will we be able to awaken and control it completely."
"My aunt is part of this group, I myself went to one of the tournaments last month, but why are you interested in this group?"
"Stop Captain Raven was one of the founders of the club and she wants me to join the club, and when I say she wants me to join she hasn't given me the option to refuse, and it's quite possible that she coaches me a little earlier to take me to the club so as not to embarrass her."
"You cannot reveal your name in this Ulric club!"
I didn't expect this, even Wulfgar, who had fallen asleep in Hilda's arms, woke with a start when she screamed.
"Why can't I reveal my name at the club?"
"I said my aunt is part of the club, if she finds out you are you, she will hit you so hard I won't recognize you anymore. Maybe she even tries to permanently incapacitate you, you can't let her find out her name."
"What do you mean she finds out you're you?"
"She knows about us, and she's not exactly happy which is weird I expected my mom to have this posture, but she does it in a very calm way when Ingredi talks about us. But my aunt wanted to break into the institute to have a conversation with you, Ulric, and I doubt you would have left in one piece if my mother hadn't stopped her."
"Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
"Well, like I didn't mean to scare you, you're a little paranoid. So, I was a little scared if I told you that you're being the target of my aunt's fury that can easily kill you, but I even thought you'd be happy to know that my mom basically approved of our possible dating, but I decided in the end to avoid to give more reason to worry about being targeted by assassins. "
"Possible dating?"
"Yes! Possible dating! If I had said we're in love you would have already been hunted down and incapacitated by my father or aunt. Strangely my mom seems to like you, even though she hasn't met you yet and weird, I even pressed Ingredi once because I thought she told my mom what you are like, but this time Ingredi managed to keep it a secret."
"But if you want to blame someone else blame her, she was the one who told my aunt her name. So, you must be angry with her and blame her if you are attacked by my aunt."
"Like if she finds out my name and Ulric will she really attack me?"
"I'm not sure, but I wouldn't risk my life hoping my aunt would be able to control herself."
"So should I use a fake name to join the club, or do I just hide my name?"
"Well, blame your mother for not giving you a more common and normal name."
"Is my name weird?"
"No, he's just unique, very handsome."
Hilda lies very badly when she doesn't have time to prepare, but I really think it's silly that I have to use a false name, and it will mess up my life more than it helps. I think I'll just risk Captain Raven will be there to protect me if I'm attacked by someone much stronger than me.
"How about going training, hadn't we left our morning free to train? Let's go!"
Hilda runs off still carrying Wulfgar, the poor man even gave me a look full of anguish begging my help, to free himself from the clutches of this crazy woman. I really have to take him hunting in the woods he doesn't even have an ounce of murderous intent, if this keeps up, he'll become Hilda's stuffed animal permanently.