Aran sat down on his bed in a meditating position and temporarily unsealed his cultivation.
As the seal got unsealed, he started to feel the rapid breakthrough to the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, tier of the beginning stage and finally, his demonic cultivation broke through to the first tier of the intermediate stage. He realised that the dark ark had worked perfectly.
Although he had broken through, his mana points still hasn't completely healed. As he slowly started to shift his demonic mana through all the mana points, it was still slightly painful but he had to do it for a while to fully heal the mana points. Looking at that, Arrax realised why aran did what he did.
" So, isn't this rapid cultivation going to be dangerous for your body? " Arrax asked. For that aran replied without stopping his mana flow and shifting.
" No. I used dark art for my cultivation. So it doesn't affect my physical body. As long as I maintain strong soul cultivation, there is no problem. "
" Well, that's good news. If it's like this, then you can get to the higher realm in no time. But, Unlike you, the pills have almost lost their effect on me. At first, one pill would have been enough for a minor stage breakthrough, but now, even five or more pills are not enough. Looks like you are going to win the contract. "
" About your breakthrough, it gets much more difficult from now on. But don't worry, the pills you were having were just low-tier pills. I will make stronger pills for you, once you finish all the remaining pills! "
" What? You can do that? "
Arrax was surprised to hear that, also he was happy about that.
" Yes. and also, I had to kill twelve people just to break through to the intermediate stage. It's also going to get more and more difficult for me. To reach the higher realm, I will at least need the life force of ten thousand cultivators, it won't be easy as you think. "
When aran said that, a feeling of horror entered arrax's mind. Although he had never cared about the life of lower beings, aran had killed his own kind just for his cultivation. When he thought about that, arrax was sure that, he couldn't have done something like that if he was in aran's place. For that, arrax decided to ask what he feels about that.
" About that, I saw it when they died. You didn't have a single guilt on your face. I never thought you do something like that!"
Arrax thought aran might feel something to hear that, but he didn't even flinch from his meditational position and answered with a cold reply.
" I need to do what's necessary to move forward. That's all I care about! "
" But, why? Why do you do something so risky, with your life at stake? Why can't you just take your time and learn all the books that you have copied from the library? Why can't you focus on getting stronger and then do what you want, without endangering your life? "
" Hahahhaa, if only it was that easy! "
" What do you mean? "
" Do you think I would have won if I mastered all the books I had copied from the library? "
" Why can't you? I thought the books might be something great, since you humans protect them with all your best defences, like in the library. "
"It's a simple thing. Not every great thing is powerful. And quality always wins against quantity. If I just learned a dozen fifth-ranked techniques and fought someone same level as me, who mastered a sixth-ranked technique, he will most likely win. That's just how it is.
So, why should I waste my time learning all these lower-ranked techniques? "
THearing this made arrax furious. When he thought about copying hundreds of books for nothing, he couldn't maintain a cool head about that. He immediately shouted
" If that's the case, then why the fuck did you make me write all those books? "
But Aran remained silent and answered without losing his cool.
" Because I can achieve a lot with those techniques without even learning them. People who think the fourth-ranked techniques are something big are those who can't get stronger techniques. Unlike others, I don't have to waste my time learning low-ranked techniques and start from small and get experience. Because learning is the easiest part for me. I can just ignore most parts and go for the final part! "
" What does that even mean? "
" It means, one day, I will become stronger than anyone else, without much effort! And what I am doing now is just a part of that goal."
" Yeah? last time you almost died because of that. Remember? "
" No. That wasn't because I was weak. But because I wasn't smart enough. I have spent many years of my life, hated by most of my family members. So, I almost lost touch with human emotions.
I should have taken that girl's emotional state into account before planning the attack. I should have remembered how stupid humans can get because of their emotions. Even I risked my life to help her.
Stupid me! But that's fine now. Because of that, I got something that I can never get without risking my life. Experience! A chance to learn from my mistakes. I will make sure that there won't be a next time! "
" Why are you doing all this? People always have many reasons for their actions. They always have a final goal. So what's your final goal? "
"Haha. My final goal!
Let's put it this way. There was a time when all I wanted was a chance to prove myself among others. Live a great life for my family's sake and die an honourable death like my ancestors!
But I couldn't get it. Not even after doing everything I can.
When my father sent me to die, I lost all my hopes and accepted my limitations. But then, everything changed.
I met someone who proved to me that I have no limitations and that I can be whatever I want. And now, I want to prove to myself, that he was right.
I don't want to lead my family or the nation or this lower realm. No!
I want all nine realms for myself. I don't want to rule them. I want to own them. And one day, I will stand on top of all the nine realms and feel that
' Throughout the nine realms, I alone am the honoured one! "
Arrax, hearing that with a dumb-founded look, thinking 'What is he even talking about?' said,
" I didn't understand half of that. What does that even mean.? "
" You will understand. When the day comes "
" You are stupid! "
" Haahh, maybe. " Aran said with a smile and continued his meditation until the next morning.
****
On the next day, Aran left his room and headed out for the breakfast. There he met his teammates. Since they were also heading to the dining area, he also went with them.
As they were having breakfast, out of nowhere Elissa arrived there. She suddenly gave a residential card to aran and invited him to her residence during lunchtime to meet her teammates and left that place immediately.
Seeing that, his teammates got confused with the thought 'what just happened here?'
Alexia instantly asked aran if there was something between them that she didn't know about, and for that aran replied
" What are talking about? I am also surprised as you are. But now that I think about that, she must be expecting something in return, for her help in the city and want to talk about that! "
Aran said to all his teammates who were looking at him with suspicion.
" I told you something like this will happen. Couldn't you have gotten anyone else to look around the city? Owing something to that crazy woman! she will definitely ask for something crazy! " Alexia said. For that aran replied immediately.
" I told you already, I didn't ask her for help and she offered help on her own and I couldn't just reject her! "
" Ahh, whatever. So we are also coming with you to meet her! "
" What? "
" What? "
" What? "
Aran, Rollo and the captain asked respectively with surprise as they stared at Alexia.
" Why that fuck would, we have to go to that crazy woman's residence? " Rollo immediately asked.
"Because aran is our teammate and we can't leave him alone with her! "
" They won't be alone. She just said, there will be her teammates! " Rollo replied.
" And you believe her? "
" Guys, guys, let's not make this a huge deal. It's just lunch. I can handle myself. " aran intertwined but it seemed like Alexia had already made up her mind.
" No, you can't, you don't know her," she said.
" Do we have to do this? " Aran asked.
" Yes. What's wrong with that? She will introduce her friends and you can introduce yours! "
" Well, if you say so! "
" Great. Everyone wear your best clothes and we all meet at our residence hall and go together! "
But still, rollo wasn't okay with that and he continued his ranting.
" Why do you always act like you are the team captain bitch. Captain, why do you always stay silent? it is because of that she acts like this! " Rollo said with a loud tone and it was enough to make Alexia angry.
" What the fuck did you just say? " Alexia shouted as she tried to grab some empty plates. But the captain stopped them before it turns a fight,
" If this went on, this time you will be losing a thousand points! "
The captain said with the same terrifying tone. Hearing that, they both became silent and continued with the breakfast.
After breakfast, everyone except aran headed to the training room.
After leaving some food for arrax, aran also followed them to see how their private training room looks.