"Hahh…"
Instead of undergoing training for just one week, an additional week was required to achieve a satisfactory outcome that both the figure and I found agreeable.
My profession on these three weapons increased to a nearly significant portion of seventy percent.
It's not fast nor too slow, adding the fact that it became harder each time I trained and engrained the movements of the formless arts to these weapons. However, the figure said it was obviously natural for the arts to take a halt.
While my monstrous progress may be astonishing to him, there are still certain challenges that even with my current strength, I would not be able to surpass.
"Good, good! You did well."
The figure enthusiastically clapped his hands, clearly pleased with the successful outcome of his theory regarding my adaptability skill.
The more I'm able to adapt to the formless arts, the more refined my movements which as a result, get higher adaptability rates.
There was no better result than this.
"Thank you for your guidance!"
"Haha! I know, I know. I'm just that good."
Well, I guess he deserved to praise himself. He did a lot in those two weeks, especially watching my training to see if there were any clear improvements.
But we can confidently say that there are and we're on the right track.
"I'll train for a few more minutes, sir. I still have a few minutes till we move to soul class, right?"
"Hmm, yes. I'll prepare the materials next for the upcoming lesson since it's important. You better stop after those minutes are gone."
Nodding once with my respect, the figure turned around and continued walking to his hut.
On the contrary, as I attempted to retrieve the chained dagger, I abruptly halted just before grasping it, alerted by a sound emanating from one of the trees situated at the distant edge of the training field.
Rustle—!
My eyes widened in alarm as I swiftly pinpointed the source of the noise, my body instinctively moving to neutralize the perceived threat. However, I abruptly halted mid-action, realizing that the figure was quicker to react than I was.
"Hoh? What do we have here? Looks like we have a guest."
The figure muttered as he lifted a familiar-looking revolver, presenting it in my direction.
The intricate revolver, which appeared to have slipped from my grasp during the battle with Lupire, had now reappeared. However, this reappearance fueled my suspicion, as this weapon was not contracted to me but to both Ariana and Oliver.
Crackle—!
The revolver trembled in its place before its barrel aligned in my direction. Anticipating potential danger, I swiftly readied myself, only to be met with an eerie silence in the end.
The revolver didn't shoot on its own.
"It seems it is asking for your audience. Well, I couldn't care less. Let's just make this guy disappear."
As if terrified by the figure's threatening words, the revolver shook once more and looked at me as if pleading for my help to stop him.
'The revolver… is it that contracted Horror where Oliver didn't mention its name? Must be. Still, it's very afraid of the figure.'
Well, everyone would be afraid of this figure, especially if they were intruding on his home. Already expecting the words he would utter in his mouth, I kept my silence and let him do the interrogation.
"Who sent you? you are very skilled for me not to notice you," The figure let out chilly words, "Hmm, my guess is that you are a higher Horror ranking than me. Though I felt something else… You are just weak."
Crackle—!
The revolver trembled once more, attempting to shift away from the figure. Despite its futile efforts, the figure simply frowned and seized the handle, preventing the revolver from escaping.
Once he saw that the revolver didn't leave its gaze at mine, the figure looked in my direction and his frown deepened.
"Yours?"
"Absolutely not."
"It seems this is attached to you. I will give it to you first to see the result. This gun appears to be docile for a moment but I will guarantee you that I can save you one more time if this shoots you."
'Why give it to me in the first place…'
Making a dreary expression, not wanting to feel the excruciating pain of being shot all around my body, I nodded and the figure started walking toward me before giving me the revolver.
"Delicious…"
It talked... just right after I received it.
And did it say delicious, right?
"Give me more… delicious souls."
'Huh? Delicious souls?'
If I hadn't studied or have been enlightened when it comes to soul, I would've about zero knowledge when it comes to this revolver's words.
But now, I'm starting to have a gist of what he is saying.
"Delicious souls… you mean Horror souls?"
"Yes…" The revolver uttered, "The King of Familiars only had a refined soul with one unrefined core. Though… he was at the point where he could have two unrefined souls but that's… not really—"
Before the revolver could continue speaking, the figure on the side interjected as if his thoughts were becoming more sense.
"Not really normal, isn't it?" The figure laughed, "Now it makes sense why you survived that battle when is deemed to be a 'King' that was even recognized that bestowed you the power /Upcoming moment/"
Tilting my head to the side, I replied, "Why?"
The figure then revealed after he thought about his explanation, "His soul core is unrefined, and he had only one."
Thinking that the discussion was going to take longer, I sat down on the floor and listened attentively.
"Soul cores are very important for someone's growth, whether they were humans or Horrors. It doesn't matter if you have five god-like abilities if you only have one soul or two cores." He paused, "Soul cores are like extensions of your powers. Something that adds firepower to your abilities. And each soul core varies from its users."
"Your complete soul and soul cores are different, but they are connected, remember that. The more your soul cores, the better your output and input of your essence hence advancing more of your abilities. You can say that your now complete soul is the engine while the soul cores are the support."
Guh, I knew the topic of souls is more complicated than I thought but this is another level of topic which I needed to remember no matter what.
'So that's why this figure insisted on repairing my undeveloped soul… Well, I would've listened to him even if he didn't tell this to me anyway since he was my benefactor. Thankfully, I made the right decision to stay here for a moment.'
Thinking my encounter with the figure brought me good results, not misfortunes, even though my luck was zero was the best thing I could ask for.
"What are soul cores anyway, sir?"
"Right, before I discuss this and that, I should inform you about it to start." The figure sighed, thinking about the prepared lessons he was supposed to say inside the hut was coming out here.
Then, he started introducing himself.
"Soul cores. To give you a meaning, it is a sphere-shaped soul, compromising of soul essence. It's something that you need to fill up manually or automatically. Well, your complete soul is also filled with soul essence but if you are going to fight smart, you have to empty your soul cores since the soul essence in your complete soul is the most lethal.
"What's the point of building soul cores then? Well, not only your soul essence had increased, your output and input, the amplification of your powers, and your reserves regarding soul essence will also be added. Those were just three things, but there are a lot of advantages to acquiring a soul core. No disadvantage."
Ohhh, no disadvantages? If that's the case, why is the king of familiars being undermined by this figure?
As if the answer my question, the figure continued, "Do you know it takes a lot of time on just building a soul core? Because of the refinement. Soul refinement, in a simple sense."
"Ohhhh, what is this soul refinement?"
The figure answered, "Soul refinement is the act of purifying your soul core to the point that it becomes like your complete soul where the purest essence is only stored. That's why I said it is the most lethal right? It's because of this.
"Soul refinement had many methods to deal with, but it just takes a lot of time, especially on us Horrors. Yet one method has proven to be faster than anything else and it's taking the soul cores of other Horrors and using it as a catalyst for the refinement."
The figure looked coldly at the revolver which continued shivering, "That's why this revolver is hellbent on saying he liked delicious soul. The soul he was talking about is probably the complete soul of the Horror you fought with, and speaking of your opponent that time, he's weak."
He paused, "If I was in my prime, I can kill him with just one punch. Though my refined soul cores are all stolen so my words are just an old Horror who are reminiscing about his past."
Then he pointed his finger at me, "This is the next thing we'll be doing. We don't need to get the refined soul core right away. Just get an unrefined one."
Looks like there will be no resting.
Though I liked it very much since I got to learn new things every day, adding it to my current skill set will create a lot of possibilities for my growth.
"Yes sir!"