"Grandpa, are we there yet?"
Feng asked Levi as they and the others trudged up a steep hill. They are now in the middle ring and were looking for [Blue Rank] beasts for the children's star cores. And they are completely exhausted because of the journey.
"Just a little bit more, children. I can see the top now."
Levi encouraged the children behind him and Hector, they ordered the children not to use gracia while climbing the hill to strengthen their stamina and body.
The potential for growth of children increases as they turn teenagers and the time of that potential growth will run out as they become adults. Wasting something like training your body properly is a detrimental mistake for a teacher.
'Endure it kids, this is all for your sake anyway.'
Levi thought as he watched his grandchildren step up to reach the top of the hill. He praised them in his mind because, he can't become biased to his grandchildren unlike Hector that always praises his daughter.
Mizu and the other girls literally lay on the hot surface of the hill. Their clothes are wet from their sweat and it felt disgusting for the girls.
On the boys' side though, Jed and Earl clasped their sweaty arms together, depicting a moment of brotherhood and comradery. While Feng sat on the ground and circulated his gracia immediately.
"This is the best way to let a sweat! Right, Earl?!"
Jed looked at Earl's eyes, his head tilted a little because Earl's height is much higher than his age.
"That's right, Jed! Now, let's show them what a true man will do after an exercise like this!", Earl nodded at Jed, his narrow eyes shown a happy mood. They never seen Earl without a smile on his face the moment they first saw him.
Jed and Earl faced the horizon with both arms on their shoulders and laughed with glee.
"Ugh, idiots.", Mimi said with disgust, watching the sweaty boys laugh at the horizon in front of them.
The scene of the children being close with each other put a smile on Levi's face. Being at his age, it's very rare to see kids like this relaxing at the top of a danger spot in the middle ring.
Levi watched Hector yawn while having an arm wrestling match with Jed that was completely frustrated because he can't even tilt his master's arms, the girls giggled as they watch the exhibition match.
The old man then stepped forward on the ledge of a cliff then sat beside the Sixth Elder who was sitting on the edge, swinging his left leg on the stone wall. Levi knew that the Sixth Elder always liked seeing the view of the horizon, during at night and morning.
"What are you thinking about?", Levi asked the Sixth Elder while he reached for his smoking tube under his grey robes but, there was nothing there.
"Nothing... I'm just wondering what the queen is doing right now. The queen's guard is with her too but, who knows what will happen.", The Sixth Elder let out a sigh, pushing away his worries.
"Nothing will happen to them, I promise you that. Minerva's duty is to queen the queen and the prince so she is only needed when someone needs a heal. She won't be in danger unless someone that can break the Queen's defense shows up.", Levi reassured him.
The Sixth Elder may be fostering Aidan, but his age was just eighteen when his adopted son was entrusted to him by Lilith. Him and Minerva are a married couple even before Aidan came to their lives. So, his worries about them are true, but the Sixth Elder is just a shy man and can't express it well behind his mask.
"Well, rest time is over. We shall go get the children a beast core.", Levi stood up and patted the Sixth Elder's shadow beast to wake up.
Levi then nodded at Hector, indicating that it is time to fight star beasts. Hector also gave a nod and then clapped his hands with a loud sound. The clap echoed throughout the hill and their surrounding terrain.
It definitely caught the attention of the children as well as the star beasts below the rocky hill. The group was settled on top of the hill with three [Saint Rank] warriors, there's no way star beasts at the middle ring can hurt the children here.
"We will begin searching for star beasts to kill for your star cores in a little while. But first, I will lecture the ranks of the star beasts, their behaviors and how to analyze their ranks."
The three Elders stood in front of the children, Levi one step closer to them.
"But, didn't we studied about that in school. How come we're being lectured again?", Jed asked Levi, with a confused face.
"That's for you to always remember what to do when you hunt for a star beast on your own."
Quickly answering, Levi took a glance at the six children, guessing that they will hunt on their own a few years from now.
"This will be your last lesson about star beasts just so we could focus on your fighting abilities later on."
That brought a smile on Jed but, Feng looked quite down as he heard it. Levi also noticed the girls looking a little sad, hearing that this lesson was the last time.
"But, of course. You can ask me or the other Elders anytime you want to know about something. I will always be in our library, there's no need for you to be lonely, right.", Levi comforted them a little, this time it was Jed that looked sad.
Levi didn't know why Jed always wanted to fight and not care about anything but, this feisty kid had always been an excellent student, not just fighting, but also in learning about formations and techniques on how to kill star beasts.
"Now then...Can anyone tell me what are the ranks of the star beasts?", Levi asked the children who were seating on a bubble made by Levi, it is to make them learn more comfortably.
Feng raised his right hand first, as always.
"Yes, Feng. Go ahead."
"The star beasts' ranks are based on their strength and intelligence. They are classified from weakest to strongest as: [Yellow Rank], [Green Rank], [Blue Rank], [Black Rank] and the last, [Red Rank]. They can be classified based on the aura that their core is generating."
Feng's explanation was splendid, as always. And the children clapped their hands as he sat down on his bubble.
"Very good, Feng... Then, can anyone tell me how the star beasts increase their ranks again."
Jed raised his right hand, with stars on his eyes. He raised his hand faster than Feng this time.
'Damn, it. If I wasn't picking my nose earlier, I would have answered first!", Jed thought as he stood up.
"Go ahead, Jed. Enlighten us."
"Thanks, First Elder. *Ahem*! Then... Star beasts raises their ranks as they grow up, or more appropriately, circulate gracia on their bodies. Unlike the sapient races of the land, star beasts can gather gracia infinitely as long as their body can withstand the pressure.
"Absorbing enormous amounts of gracia can harm your core and can eventually lead to death, so the star beasts instead uses the excess amount of gracia to strengthen their bodies and circulate the much larger amount into their cores. It takes ten years for a [Yellow Rank] star beast to have one circulation on their core.
"Their rank will change to [Green Rank] if they completed ten circulations while being a [Yellow Rank] and then extend the time of circulation gracia inside their cores and body to one hundred years.
"Every time their cores change color, the amount of years needed to make one circulation for them, increases by ten times. That means, a one-circled [Yellow Rank] is ten years old, one- circled [Green Rank] is hundred years old, one-circled [Blue Rank] is a thousand years old and so on."
Jed bowed and sat on his bubble seat, not expecting any claps but, instead looked at the faces of his companions.
They are surprised that Jed answered so well. Jed just waved his left hand at them with a smug face.
"Excellent answer, Jed! Incredible!", Levi praised Jed making a satisfied face, his scarf floated heroically.
"Thanks for the nice explanation, Jed. I'll add some points for your final grades. Well then... How much power can a [Level 30] star warrior can absorb?"
Mimi raised her right hand, the others were satisfied with what Jed said earlier, they don't want to ruin his moment.
"Yes, Mimi."
"[Level 30] Warriors can absorb a [Blue Rank] star beast core with two circles at most. If you absorbed a star beast core with more power than that limit when you're [Level 30], your body won't take handle the pressure and your formed third star core will explode, permanently damaging it and you won't be able to level up anymore."
Mimi's explanation was seriously delivered, despite her previous joyful self, her attitude was becoming of a proper lady just like the other girls.
'This girl, she has changed so much after a few lessons in etiquette. It makes me happy to see all of the girls grow up into a proper lady.', Levi thought, with a little smile in his face as he looked at Mimi, with her white skirt coupled with a black jacket and boots, her blueberry hair was tied by a ribbon in a ponytail.
"Very good, you can sit down now, Mimi.", Levi said, satisfied by the answers the three gave.
"We will search for a one-circled [Blue Rank] star beasts suitable for each one of you. We will make sure that's they are capable of taking down, considering that you six will fight it and the last hit will go to the one that needed that star beast, okay?"
Levi talked as he expanded the bubble chairs that the children were using to make them stand up, now that their quick quiz is done, it's time to hunt.
"Form up, kids! Go with the formations I taught you the other day. We will not help you now, make sure your formation is solid to keep your center safe!"
Hector ordered the children with a drill captain's tone, Levi stepping backwards. The Sixth Elder and Levi nodded at each other as they watched the children established an appropriate formation.
[6TH STAR CORE - DRAGON'S CLAIRVOYANCE]
As soon as Levi see the children get into their formation, he activated his sixth star core to get a full view of what's below the hill.
His vision saw all the things that cannot be perceived by anyone easily. Levi saw the living beings as warm red and material things as grey. The flow of gracia is like ripples of water, filling everything of the Levi can only see amongst them.
"Where to, old man?", Hector asked behind Levi, with arms crossed.
Levi then looked for a star beast that seems to be qualified to absorb and has the certain characteristics that they needed; two-circled [Blue Rank], and has no herd.
"...There.", Levi pointed to the left, he was staring at a tiger with a enlarged canines called [Sabertooth Tiger].
"Wow, that's gonna be hard to take down.", Hector said, shading his eyes to see the star beast that Levi found.
"Well then... Let's go!", Jed rushed past them, heading downhill towards the star beast.
"Hey, wait! Ugh! That idiot... Dad, we'll go ahead, please watch us!"
Mir said a quick goodbye while running, the others are also ran downward.
"Should we help them?", the Sixth Elder asked Levi.
"Let them go. We'll intervene if they can't defeat it."
Levi then also ran downwards, the other two behind him. Sounds of battle can be heard below them, they couldn't clearly see what's happening but, Mir's orders rang out.
'This place is full of cliffs and canyons. The wanderers called this as the 'Stone Maze'. You can easily get lost here if you were careless and much worse, [Blue Rank] star beasts treat this as their home.'
Levi thought as he quickly turned left to see a gorge, wide enough to have a battle against a big star beast. Levi saw Earl and Jed on the front while Mimi and Mir are on beast's flanks.
Feng and Mizu are their ranged attackers and supports.
"Be careful! That canines are dangerous!", Feng shouted.
Earl and Jed launched an attack together. Jed wields his golden staff while Earl is transformed into something different than a turtle. Earl has black scales all-over his body and a mark of a silver snowflake can be seen in his scaly forehead.
Seeing the two kids approaching it's attack range, the [Sabertooth Tiger] crouched, then launched into the air towards Earl, hoping to kill him in a single attack.
"Ugh! It's heavy! Hurry!", Earl struggled as he caught the two front paws of the beast while keeping his head low.
"Nice catch, Earl! Now, eat this!"
Jed released his two star cores and activated it.
[MONKEY KING'S PATH - DOUBLE GRAND CROSS]
Jed slammed his weapon soul, vertically on the head of the beast, the slammed the staff again with more velocity and power, horizontally.
The beast struggled to move as it was hit by a sneak attack and became dizzy. Earl felt that the pressure is now gone saw he pinned the beast down on the ground.
"That was a three times stack and it still looked at me ferociously. So, this is a [Blue Rank] beast.", Jed pondered.
"Don't be so excited. It's just stunned right now...", Feng said as he walk closely.
'That's not the right thing to do, children. This is not over yet.', Levi thought. He watched the children surround the beast to get a closer look at it, Earl is still pinning it down.
"Mir, come closer. You will be finishing this this beast.", Feng gestured at Mir.
Mir walked towards it, but all of a sudden, the beast regained consciousness and Earl heard a strange sound that came out of its paws.
'Not good!', Earl thought, as he saw what the beast is doing.
"Move away, guys! That thing is serious now!"
Earl shouted, getting away from the beast that was now shaking it's head, and saw the others also moved backwards immediately when they heard the sound.
"Damn it! How come I didn't remember the [Sabertooth Tiger] has an ability to enlarge it's claws!", Feng exclaimed out loud.
"No time for hating yourself, Feng! Quickly block it's vision!", Mir ordered.
[SECOND STAR CORE - PILLAR OF FLAMES]
Feng released all of his star cores just like the others and controlled his gracia towards the beast.
Feng's star core then enhanced it's heat and size, and a second after, a flame pillar ranging from three meters in height and five meters in length covered the beast.
"Jed, don't get too close to it. The beast will definitely target you.", Mir waved at Jed.
"The claws were dangerous, guys. I'll make sure to get it's attention so just take it down for me."
Jed then readied his weapon soul in front of the flames that was subsiding. Feng really helped them to get into position again using his ability.
"Wait, Jed! That will be dange-"
"Here, kitty cat! I'm the one who made you dizzy!"
Mir tried to stop Jed but, he immediately run towards the beast as soon as the flames vanished.
The beast roared in anger when it saw Jed, it's claws and canines are definitely going to Jed's body if he gets caught.
"Argh! That monkey!", Mir exclaimed in irritation.
"Mir, let's go help Jed. He won't last long if this goes on.", Mimi patted Mir's shoulders.
"I'll go to the front. You and Mimi will attack it's flanks just as planned... Mizu, please heal us if we get injured."
Earl walked towards the battle while watching Jed struggle to fend off the beast's attacks.
"I'll do my best, Brother Earl.", Mizu nodded, her veil swayed as she moved her head.
"Thanks, Mizu. Now then..."
Earl looked at Mir and Mimi at both sides, then released his two star cores.
[FIRST STAR CORE - OBSIDIAN SCALES]
Earl transformed back to his black, scaly form and nodded at Mir. They quickly ran fast towards the beast, this time with an intention to kill it.
"Mir, transform now! Mimi, you go help Jed! I'll taunt it..."
[SECOND STAR CORE - BLACK TORTOISE PRESENCE]
As soon as Earl activated his second star core, a red barrier formed around his body, with a radius of two metres.
It's unlikely for the beast to let of Jed but, it turned its head towards Earl, it felt like it was oppressed by the barrier and it's taunting the beast.
'That's right, come here!', Earl smile with his red eyes showing a little glim.
The tiger then swiped it's claws on the red barrier three times but, the beast saw that it was unscathed and became more angry. And so, the tiger opened its mouth and bit the barrier using its massive canines.
'It's our chance now!', Mimi thought as she activated her star cores.
[TRIBULATION'S PATH - THUNDER NEEDLE]
Mimi's body was immediately covered with purple lightning while she posed into low crouch, ready to pierce the beast.
[FIRST STAR CORE - GOLDEN LION'S BLESSING]
Mir also activated her star core and transformed into her partial golden lion body.
Mimi and Mir both attacked, Mimi pierced the beast's left ribcage, all the way to its lungs while Mir tried to snatch the beast's core, inside its body.
Even though both girls attacked at the same time, there's still a difference in the speed of their attacks. When Mimi's weapon soul reached the lungs of the tiger, Earl's red barrier shattered and was faced with a massive pair of canines.
Victory is in the hands of the [Sabertooth Tiger] as soon as it's canines kill the kid with a hard shield. But then, a huge piece of ice came at the direction of the beast's mouth and pushed it's head upwards due to the force of the attack.
When it was hit by an ice spear right at its forehead, the beast knew that it was it's lost. The attack of Mir came at that moment and that was the last beat of beast's heart inside its body.
The last second of the battle felt like ten breaths in Earl's perspective. He would have died if it wasn't for the ice spear that was launched at the last moment of the battle.
Earl then looked behind to see the siblings that was exhausted due to the external manipulation of their gracia. Feng had it worse as he held his ability that was supposed to last for five seconds to half a minute.
Mizu's star cores were both glowing green as she approached the four at the front to heal them.
"Whew...That was exhausting, wouldn't you say so, Mizu. But, it would have been nice if Luke was here with us, well...for you, I guess. Argh!"
Jed tried to tease Mizu that was healing him and got healing choke instead.
"But the last attack you did at the end was amazing, Mizu! It was fast and powerful! And you saved Earl's life there.", Mimi said, while embracing Mizu's left arms.
"Yeah, if it weren't for you, I would have suffered a fatal injury or worse, died. Thank you, Mizu, for saving my life."
Earl stood up, and bowed at Mizu, there's a water bubble attached at his stomach so it looked funny instead of a touching moment.
"I'm just doing my job, Brother Earl... I can't be with him if I can't do this much"
Mizu waved her hands under her veiled hat, but the last sentence she said was a mumble so, everyone barely heard it.
"What did you say, Mizu? You "can't be with him"? Who is 'him'?"
Mimi who was close to Mizu, teased her a little and made her blush. Her white dress wriggled as Mizu get away from her naughty elder sister.
"Good job, children! Very good! This is your first time killing a star beast on your own and you did it well! There's still some major improvements to change but, overall, you did great!"
Levi clapped his hands as he floated down the ledge where he was watching. And that brought awe into the children's eyes as they saw him float down.
"How can you do that, First Elder?! Is it your ability?! I wanna have it!", Jed said as he watched Levi landed on the ground.
"Hoho. No, it's not my ability. In fact, even your master can do it."
Levi felt happy as he saw all the children's eyes all focused on him.
"What?! That stinky Master of mine, he should have at least tell me about it like, "Hey Jed, I can fly", or something! Ow!"
Jed spoke out loud as he complained about his master and was suddenly hit on the head using a pebble.
"Your so noisy, kid. Can't you see Mir is absorbing a core right now?", Hector's voice was heard, he is actually seating beside his daughter as he let down his right arm, he is the one who flicked the pebble.
"I'm sorry, Master. I'll behave myself from now onwards.", Jed bowed apologetically.
Mir was now sitting cross legged while two flowing cores are floating above her lap, the colorless one was hers and the blue core was from the [Sabertooth Tiger].
"This will take a while. You guys go ahead and hunt for your cores. I'll protect my daughter here."
Hector stood up to talk with Levi and the Sixth Elder. He then brushed Jed's chestnut hair to make it ruffled.
"Take this kid, too. He has to absorb a beast core, too."
"You don't have to remind me. This is a lesson for the children anyway."
Levi and the other children separated from Hector and Mir, together with the Sixth Elder. Jed was seen looking back, all throughout their departure but, Levi didn't mind it. He knew that Jed was just worried about the two, their strong bond will never waver.
Half an hour later, the Elders and the children rested outside of a huge cave, the star beast living inside cannot be seen because of the darkness. But, nothing can escape the eyes Levi, he saw this star beast a mile away, starting from the gorge they came from.
They tried to keep their pace slow for Hector and Mir to catch up with them easily. And now that the children had enough rest, they must defeat this star beast without Mir.
"What kind of beast as inside, Grandpa?"
Mizu politely asked Levi, the way she spoke was ladylike. She then stood beside her Grandpa and they both stared at the dark cave.
"That's a secret.", Levi patted Mizu's hat and turned to walk back to their resting spot.
"That's so unfair of you, Grandpa.", Mizu pouted as she followed her grandpa.
That made Levi happy and let out a chuckle then brushed his beard using his right hand. It is rare for his grandchildren to show such a childish expression as they were both raised to be matured and intelligent. Both Feng and Mizu rarely showed their emotions just like their father when he was still a child.
Levi just sighed when he remembered his dead son, and looked at Mizu as she walked while pouting her face.
"How was it, First Elder? Can it be killed?", the Sixth Elder asked Levi, his shadow pet is with him again, being used as a cushion for the children.
"Of course it can be killed. But it will be challenging without Mir."
Levi answered but, this time, he spoke while facing the children. He was testing them on what to do, based on the situation they were in. Levi felt like this kind of tests can make them decide quickly and hone their minds.
"Well, if you ask me, I will say not to wait for Mir anymore and just get on with it. I like taking up a challenge.", Jed said.
"I am with Jed. We won't know our limits if we don't push our selves to the test.", Mimi quickly added, giving Jed a thumbs up.
"But, she's an offensive type, we can't battle without her.", Feng argued, he looked at Jed with serious eyes.
"Huh, what are you saying 'offensive type'? We all are offensive type.", Jed said, getting closer to Feng.
The others watched the two argued, Earl was eating a dried meat as his eyes followed Jed.
"Mizu is a healer, Earl is a vanguard, Mimi is the swordsman, and you...", Feng said as he stood up pointed his fingers at his brothers and sisters one by one, Jed was the last."
"What am I, Feng?", Jed stared at Feng's eyes, daring to finish what he has to say.
"You're the maniac who always puts himself into danger!", Feng raised his voice.
The others felt like the tension of the word battle is increasing, but they did nothing. Even Levi and the Sixth Elder never stopped them.
"So what if I am? It's better to fight like a maniac in every battle rather than fighting while hiding behind someone's back like a coward!"
Jed and Feng stood face to face, Jed was taller by an inch but, that never matter on Feng's eyes. Jed's tone only raised when he said his last word.
"You are melee fighter, I am a caster... Do you really think that I can match the star beasts like you and the others do?! I'm not going to do something that can risk my life-"
"So, you put friends' lives, your sibling's life, just so you are safe, right? Humph, what a coward.", Jed looked away from Feng, he thought that the argument was over when he said his point.
"In a war, a strategic retreat is a wise decision on the retreating side but, cowardice in the other side. I am using my brain just so we can defeat the opponent. I'm not as stupid as you are.", Feng continued.
"There... you said it! Are you satisfied now? I'm just telling you guys to get this over with quickly but, you called it an idiotic decision.", Jed said out loud.
"And I'm just telling you to wait for Mir before we go fight the star beast inside that cave...", Feng pointed his left finger to the cave.
"Don't you get it? We will have a smooth battle if we fight together with Mir. She's stronger now that she has her third star core.", Feng looked at the others to convince them.
"And then what... Give her all the glory of beating it while all we do is watch?!", Jed exclaimed angrily, looking not convinced.
"This is not about 'who gets to defeat it's or 'who dealt the most damage', I'm talking about cooperation.", Feng said, not looking at Jed.
"But, that criteria won't matter if you have somebody far stronger than us. Mir will be having a core in [Heroic Rank], she can defeat every [Blue Rank] beast that has five circles or below, we can't do nothing if we mix her up in our current team."
"You're being stupid again, Jed! Not everyone is having a battle with you-"
"And not everyone will fight alongside you, Feng. What if they won't here, huh? What are you going to do... call this off?! You always wanted someone who can help you."
"You are being pessimistic and stupid, they will come here, I know that."
"And you're being a coward again, Feng! My god, grow some balls, Feng!", Jed said it with a mocking tone that made Feng irritated.
The last argument of the two boys had now caught the attention of the others. They immediately stopped them from arguing before they fight.
"That's enough... Jed, Feng. You are all brothers and sisters, you must always remember that. Feng has a point by waiting for Mir but, that's just hoping for a helper that you wouldn't know will come.
"What Jed is quite right for this situation. You must accept the things that you currently have and make adjustments if needed. Being a battle maniac must be an inappropriate attitude but, it is also a way to prove yourself that you have what it takes to face off anyone who blocks your path."
Levi cooled down the tension by lecturing them. The Sixth Elder called his shadow pet back to his shadow so that the children will stand up.
'Having an argument can strengthen their bonds so, I won't stop their little squabbles. Fighting is a way to let out your feelings, and that's the one thing that I and my brother must've done.'
Levi pondered for a second before sighing. He then put gracia on his spirit ring on his right hand, then a red war fan came out of it.
'I hope this will make Feng happy.'