[Sword technique acquired. Swordsman skills have evolved from two to three]
[Acquired sword skill: Sword Kinesis- locked]
[Ability acquired: Festival of Blades- locked]
[Meditation technique acquired: Inner Form breathing]
[Your status has risen]
[Your status has risen]
[…]
[Congratulations host]
Felix blinked a few times as he tried to come to terms with the notifications.
Curiosity got the better of him as he immediately cleared the notifications before calling up his status window.
__________________
[Battle God interface]
_________________________________
Name: Felix Anderson
Species: Human
Age: 21
Sex: Male
Designation: Disciple
Title: Gladiator (Unequipped)
Abilities: Festival of Blades
Skills: Unique Skill [Analyst], Unique Skill [Weapons Vault], Swordsman skills [Vertical slash, Horizontal slash, Sword Kinesis], Unique Skill [Inner Form breathing], GunSlinger skills [Vital point shot, Rapid fire, Trick Shot]
Resistance: Pain resistance, Fear inducement
____________________________________
There were a few notable changes to the status window, a clear sign of growth.
Of course, it only meant that he had his work cut out for him.
After all, it was just as Aya had said once upon a time.
What the system did was give him the skills on a platter of gold, how he used it was up to him.
Which meant he had to train.
Steeling his resolve, he suddenly realized something causing him to glance at Nathan.
The latter was currently staring blankly at the book in his hand.
"Can you use it?" Felix asked, jolting him from his thoughts.
Nathan took a second to recover before he shook his head. "That was intense."
"What was?"
"I tried to pick up a pointer or two but the knowledge in those pages is a bit too much for me to bare."
Felix put up a brow, unsure of how to respond.
Even though Aya said the Manual was complex, she still computed the necessary information after a few minutes.
Nathan was Awakened and from all indications, higher on the stratum than him.
So how come he wasn't able to grasp anything?
"Are you saying you didn't get a skill?" Felix asked for confirmation.
Nathan shook his head. "It's a bad fit for me since my attribute is different and apart from that, it's too complex to decipher."
Felix pursed his lips.
Indeed, something was fishy.
He just wasn't sure if it had to do with Nathan or Aya.
In any case, it's not like he could do anything about it so he shrugged it off regardless.
"So what now?" Felix asked.
Nathan quickly answered. "First, we destroy the book. That's contraband so we shouldn't keep it with us so we don't get in trouble."
"Then?"
"We still have a few days before the dungeon opens, so we can take our time traveling to its calculated location while training along the way."
"That's good, I require training anyway," Felix casually said causing Nathan to put up a brow.
"You benefited from it?"
Felix nodded in response leaving Nathan flabbergasted for a moment before regaining his composure.
"Haha, It would seem your claim that your attribute is cultivation is no joke, you managed to comprehend what I couldn't."
It was Felix's turn to put up a brow. "You didn't believe me?"
"I had my doubts."
Felix sighed as he realized that Nathan was more cautious than he thought him to be.
Maybe it was more like Nathan had been elevated back to the position he had in Felix's mind the first day they met.
Having spent some time with him, Felix ignored the fact that the one before him was still an accomplished Awakened that somehow managed to become the personal butler of a high-ranking Demir.
"Alright then." Nathan suddenly sprang to his feet. "Let's go!"
With that, he went ahead with Felix following behind.
At some point, Nathan started running as he remarked. "It doesn't hurt to start training now so let's start with endurance."
"Huh." Felix was taken aback by the sudden development.
"Keep up!" Nathan didn't entertain any questions as he accelerated, leaving Felix in his dust.
Gritting his teeth, Felix quickly followed behind him.
***
"They are all dead, Sir." A muscular black man with a prosthetic arm and right eye said as he approached a fat man dressed in combat gear, consisting of an expandable leather suit and leather boots.
It was Charlie!
Charlie frowned as he inspected the area briefly before speaking up. "I sense minute traces of Ordena. It's a bit chaotic and without form but it's still there."
"Which means the attacker was most likely an Awakened." His subordinate quickly picked up on the uptake.
It was public knowledge to those living in the floating cities that only Awakened and a few Demirs were capable of using the energy known as Ordena.
Charlie nodded before making his way to the body of the redhead with a Mohawk.
He scanned it briefly before sighing. "The treasure... Did you find anything?"
"None whatsoever. But there are traces of residual Qi on the redhead…"
"Which means the attacker took the treasure." Charlie chuckled but it wasn't out of joy as his expression turned fierce. "Someone is trying to mess with me and I'm not having any of it."
Under normal circumstances, he would have already lost his cool but he was currently under surveillance and couldn't afford to show such a side.
It was hard to do so though, considering his losses.
He had singlehandedly financed the Scavenger team for so long, providing them with food, weapons, and bionic attachments only to watch his investments go to waste just like that.
It was unacceptable!
Especially considering the treasures they had provided him with helped clear up his debt.
So not only were his investments ruined but his source of income was also destroyed.
It was enough to make him curse the perpetrator inwardly.
"Go to the nearest District and source for information. We need to find that treasure." Charlie remarked after collecting his thoughts.
"But then the mission…"
"We don't need to rush. It won't open for another four weeks anyway so let's try to find the treasure within that period."
"Understood."
Just as his subordinate was about to leave, Charlie stopped him. "Take some supplies with you. Those Enforcers don't give information freely."
The man nodded. "I am quite familiar with these parts, Sir. You don't have to worry."
"Mn." Charlie nodded. "Just reminding you."
With that, the subordinate quickly left leaving Charlie to brood.
"If it turns out to be some bastard without a backing, I'll make you pay for stressing me, and even if they do have backing, best be prepared to pay for damages!"