Bas was already sixteen this year. He could have formulated using his father's arte since the moment he awakened in this body two years ago, but he didn't think it was good enough.
Bas took a deep breath and looked at his father's arte, resting peacefully on its stand. His fingers twitched with Sebastian's latent impulse to touch it, to channel its power into his veins and become the best hunter he could be. But Bas knew that his dad in this life's arte would only take him so far, up to bronze level, maybe silver if he trained hard enough. He wanted more than that, something that could change the course of history. Bas closed his eyes and focused on the Rym Production technique, letting its knowledge fill him until he was ready to face the world.
"The Death Sovereign Record emphasizes conquering death with the soul to produce a deadly form of hunt ryms called death ryms. The death rym is highly corrosive and dangerous to vital ryms. Practicing this recklessly could lead to someone destroying their lifespan. Overcourse, with my everflame, I'd never have that problem.
"This record is a mere double-layered arcane circle with four runic imprints. It should be easy to draw, but the hard part will be resonating with the Death Sovereign Constellation," Bas closed his eyes and used his hunt ryms to slowly form the Death Sovereign rym record's arcane circle in his rym pool.
The arcane circle looked like a circular framed picture of a menacing War Sovereign in spiked armor. To create a rym record, one had to make their own soul power resonate with the specific constellation for their arte. They would use their soul as the paint and their spirit as the brush. Alternatively, one could absorb the rym core of a rym beast to formulate a rym record.
The second option seemed to be the most common one in this era. Most people went hunting for rym beasts when they needed to break through a formulation hurdle.
Twelve hours later, the sun had long since vanished as Bas' forehead was thick with beads of sweat, filthy impurities covering his skin. His younger sister had called out several times from the other side of the door, but he hadn't noticed. Right as the sun started to peak through his window once more, the sound of thick glass breaking came from Bas' body, and rym momentum shot up in a huge storm all around him, throwing his bedroom immediately into heavy disarray.
"WOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Bas' eyes glowed with a mysterious light as origin ryms swarmed into his body in tides from the rym array beneath himself. His hunter rank, dormant for years, was now climbing at a terrifying pace. Using his spiritual senses, he could see the Death Sovereign Record in his rym pool, shining brightly as it circulated. His rym pool was like a starving dragon, and Bas almost felt like a power bar was rapidly filling up with energy until it reached the top, and then, BINK!
Third Step Hunt Foundation!
Soul power level 6!
Vrrrrmmmmmm...
BINK!
Fourth step Hunt Foundation!
Soul power level 7!
Vrrrrmmmmmm...
BINK!
Fifth step Hunt Foundation!
Soul power level 8!
Vrrrrmmmmmm...
BINK!
Sixth Step Hunt Foundation!
Soul power level 9!
Vrrrrmmmmmm...
Bas King's foundational level increased by three in one sitting! He was in the middle of the Hunt Foundation rank, also known as the Earthen Foundation. The rym pool rapidly filled up with hunt ryms activated through his soul power again, but this time, it could not reach the limit. Bas tried to push it forward several more times before he relaxed and meditated to consolidate his progress.
"Awesome, too awesome!" Bas was elated after he stood up and completed his training. Thanks to mastering the Death Sovereign record, he had made great progress! "Three levels in one night, who else could do this with a mere wood class record in their rym pool? I haven't even mixed it to the bronze class yet, and my results are already outstanding. It turns out this brat whose life I stole was truly very talented. I wouldn't have awakened for quite some time if he weren't."
Bas suddenly felt that his would-be descendant, Sebastian, was actually robbed of his good fortune. He felt pangs of pain and discontent somewhere in the depths of his soul, making him feel a wave of guilt in his consciousness. This should be the remnant will left behind by the youth Sebastian King.
Since this was the case, Bas intended to live enough for both of them. He gazed towards the heavens, saying, "My poor pathetic descendant, do not worry. I have inherited your memories and your ambitions. I will not let you down. I will not let my mother in this life suffer any longer. I will not let my uncle and cousins get away with their betrayal. I will not let that irresponsible father off easily for abandoning his children and wife. Although I understand the circumstances may have forced him, he could have at least accompanied us if he were a man. A letter would be nice, maybe a birthday present. Seriously, what a jerk. It is time for our glory to be manifested. The name Sebastian King will be known all over the world!"
At this moment, Bas no longer considers himself and Sebastian to be separate entities. This was his path now.
Bas first went into the bathroom to take a quick shower. After all, he was filthy, covered in the dregs of impurities and contaminants pushed out from his meridians when his hunt ryms ascended. After walking out of the bathroom in his robe, feeling completely refreshed, Bas took a moment to bask in the changes in his body. His senses were about ten times more active than yesterday, and his rym pool had also quadrupled in size. His muscles were tighter and more robust. He practiced regular martial arts briefly to stretch his body before walking out to find his mother.
Upon cautiously walking into her bedroom, Bas saw that his mother was still sleeping soundly next to his younger sister, Ebony. She had likely worn herself out and didn't even notice Bas breaking through. Ebony looked up from her phone and smiled at her big brother, holding a finger over her lips to signal silence.
"Big brother, you're finally up," Ebony crept out of bed and pulled her brother to the side. "Mommy will be really mad if we miss school, let's go~."
"Holy crap, school!" Bas' eyes went wide at his sister's reminder.
He had almost forgotten that school was even a thing.
His sister wore a pout and looked wronged. Ultimately, Bas decided not to wake up his mother for now. He needed to drop off Daz and Ebony before heading to school himself. Bas decided he would surprise her with his new strength after returning home from school.
Today, he had school all morning and work all afternoon. The school alone was ninety miles away from his home. Sebastian had originally believed this to be some petty and sick joke of his father. However, Bas knew better. There was obviously only one reason his father would set such an obstacle for him. Training! Even if his son couldn't become a powerhouse, Nuru King refused to let him be a silk-pants young master. Bas was expected to earn his keep and take care of his mother! He had no time to dally.