It took both Nile and Darren about a month to clear the area around the cave. In this past month, all they focused on was to slay the monsters around their cave, they had slain around 400 monsters in total in this past month, out of which 30 were initial warrior-ranked monsters. Nile's fighting techniques and execution of skill were getting smoother and better with each passing minute on the battlefield. Each day Nile would show some new trick up his sleeves leaving Darren amazed every single day, by Nile's potential and vast knowledge.
"Darren, I am planning to stay in the cave to raise my cultivation level and to memorize my Skill scroll." Nile said. In this previous month, he had not cultivated at all and neither spent any time memorized his skill further. When facing the monsters he had to rely on his techniques and experience of his previous life to win the battles rather than strength. A few days back when Nile was facing a mid-rank hog monster, a sly fox concealed its presence and pounced at him from behind. He could not even sense the sudden movements of the warrior-1 fox until it was too close to slashing him with its claws, if Darren would have not intervened, Nile would have been severely injured. This incident made Nile realize he had been neglecting his cultivation level too much. So he had decided to focus solely on increasing his cultivation level and memorizing his skill. In this past month, they have collected 16 human-rank monster core and 2 warrior-rank monster cores so it was the best opportunity to use them to raise their cultivation level.
"It seems quite like a plan. Even I was planning to cultivate, I have been stuck at Warrior-6 for almost 18 months. As we had already cleared most of the surrounding area we won't be bothered much, we have even gathered enough food to last for a year." Darren agreed to Nile's decision. In these past years, Darren spent most of his time in the wild due to his interest in monsters, he had barely invested any time in raising his cultivation level. It took an average cultivator around 16 months to raise its cultivation level in the warrior realm, the time only increases with the rise in ranks.
Nile sat down in meditating position and entered cestation (state of mind) to check his energy pool and skill stone.
'This feels so refreshing, It will take time for me to get used to this view.'
Nile was floating, below him was his energy pool with a light blue colour, the size of his energy pool had increased as compared to when he had just awakened.
Nile looked above, a huge stone was floating above him on which his skill was engraved.
Asura's did not have any cest gland nor did they increase their strength by cultivation, even though they could, they considered consuming energy from the environment a slow process for increasing their strength. Only Asura babies below the age of 5 cultivated (absorbed energy.)
Nile then left the Cestation and held a monster core and started to consume it.
(Royal Castle of Ablon Empire)
"Son you have made me and the whole Ablon Family proud. Awakening at an age of 9 with a tri-nature is a great feat, even your Great-Grandfather awakened at the same age. You will bring honor to our nation in the future, I am sure of it. Is there anything you wish for as a gift?" a tall man with bright black hair and sharp eyes spoke with proud expressions. He was none other than the King of Ablon Thomas.
"Father I want to have the best grade weapon and skill present in our nation, only then I would be able to bring out my full potential, I might even surpass Great-Grand Father Agustus" the young boy said with a smug on his face.
"Father you sound so happy, what is the occasion ?" a pretty, faired skin young girl with golden-brown hair and fiery brown eyes entered the room. She was passing by when she heard her father speak in a merry tone. Soon the young girl was followed by a tall beautiful woman, who walked in gracefully. The woman had dark black hair which complimented her deep black eyes perfectly, her gorgeous figure could entice any mortal. She was the Queen of Ablon, and the elder daughter of a Prestigious family Alinac. Alinac was among the strongest Prestigious families, almost everyone from this family had a lightning nature, therefore, giving themselves the family name Alinac which meant light.
"You called for me Thomas?" the woman said while patting the young girl's head and continued "Even our young Pearl is here, this must be something important."
"Yes Cynthia, our son Jamine has just awakened with tri-nature." Thomas spoke proudly.
Cynthia's eyes widened with astonishment- "At an age of just 9 and tri-nature?" She then regained her composure and spoke "Congratulation son, make us all proud."
"Thank you, Mother. I will make you all proud just as I did today." Jamine said with a wide smile.
"Congratula-"
Pearl had not even completed her word when Jamine interrupted her-"Don't you Jinx my cultivator journey" He said with narrowed eyes.
"HUHHHH....I was just congratulating you, don't act so insolent. " Pearl said almost shouting.
"INSOLENT, Who gives you the right to call me that. You are 5 already and don't even know how to absorb energy, a talentless piece of trash like you call me 'insolent'." Jamine roared.
"Jamine watch your words. You cannot treat your younger sister so poorly." Cynthia stepped in the conversation and spoke,
But Jamine was not yet finished, he spoke again with fuming anger.-"She is not my sister and she is just capable of bringing bad luck, just like she did to her moth-"
"JAMINEEE DON'T YOU DARE." Pearl shouted with misty eyes trying hard to hold back her tears.
"HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA. Why getting so mad? Just spilling out the truth for you. " Jamine laughed out loud and said.
"STOP YOU BOTH, Pearl go back to your room." Thomas shouted.
"BUT FATHE-" Pearl tried resisting but was cut short by Thomas.
"NOOOWWWWWWW" Thomas yelled bringing shivers down Pearl's small body. Tears rolled down her cheeks which she had been trying to hold back. She rushed out of the room. Cynthia followed Pearl to console her.
Even though Cynthia wasn't Pearl's biological mother, but she treated her the same as she would have had treated her own daughter. Lilly, Pearl's late mother belonged to a small size Noble family. Lilly's dazzling beauty and fierce nature had charmed Thomas the very moment he laid his eyes on her, later Thomas married her. A misfortune soon struck them, when Lilly was giving birth to her first child she caught a mysterious and fatal illness. No medic was able to diagnose the disease and the only conclusion they could draw was that the child's birth led to the illness. Within just a few days Lilly succumbed to her illness.
Since then Cynthia had looked after Pearl, she even loved her just like her own child.
'Why mother had to leave? It is all because of that trash Pearl, she always ruins everything.' Jamine thought while stomping his foot with rage.
After a few seconds, an Elderly man with white hair and beard walked in calmly but with steady steps, even though he had concealed his cultivation energy still he had a powerful aura surrounding him.
As soon as he walked in, both Thomas and Jamine bowed, showing respect to the elderly man.
"Congratulation Jamine, I hope you bring Fame and Glory to our nation." The elderly man spoke.
"Thank-You Great-Grand Father." Jamine replied while having an ear-to-ear smile, all the rage he had felt earlier had disappeared.
"Jamine, I would like to have a conversation with your Father in private."
As soon as heard the elder he left.