As Arion and Seraphina rode through the forest, the dappling sunlight filtering through the canopy above played with the curls of Seraphina's black hair, creating an ethereal halo around her head.
Her eyes, a warm shade of brown, sparkled with a quiet intensity as she surveyed their surroundings with a serene expression.
The forest seemed to come alive around them, the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds filling the air with a symphony of sound.
Seraphina's gaze swept over the towering trees, her eyes alight with curiosity and wonder as she took in the natural beauty that surrounded them.
Arion couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he looked at his mother, her presence commanding respect and admiration amidst the untamed wilderness of the forest.
Her hair, caught in the gentle breeze, danced like tendrils of shadow in the shifting light, adding to her mystique and grace.
As they rode deeper into the heart of the forest, Seraphina's eyes seemed to gleam with newfound energy, her spirit soaring with the thrill of adventure.
Her laughter mingled with the rustle of leaves and the soft hoofbeats of their horses, creating a symphony of joy and excitement that echoed through the trees.
Arion watched his mother with a mixture of awe and admiration, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for her guidance and wisdom.
Her presence was a constant source of strength and inspiration, reminding him of the power of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Together, mother and son navigated the winding paths of the forest, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment.
As they rode on, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world, Arion couldn't help but feel a deep sense of connection to his mother and the land that they called home.
Seraphina looked off into the distance ahead of them noticing approaching signatures heading towards them.
"Arion looks like we've got guests incoming, they seem to have the strength of Tier 0 and the leader being early Tier 1 aura stage." Seraphina said with an unbothered look on her face"Be careful there are about 10 of them and they are of the kobold race.
" Giving Arion advice like she didn't plan on helping in the fight at all
The horses came to a halt, with Arion and Seraphina hopping off.
Arion Furrowed his brows in confusion and peeked out towards the front road, where he saw nothing in front of them heading their way.
Noticing Arion confusion about her words and why they stopped she chimed in again
"Close your eyes, Arion, and clear your mind," Seraphina instructed, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. "Focus on your breath, and let go of any distractions.
Feel the pulse of your own Ki, like a steady flame burning within."
Arion followed his mother's guidance, letting his awareness sink deep into the core of his being. He felt the rhythm of his breath, slow and steady, anchoring him to the present moment.
Gradually, he became aware of the subtle energy that coursed through his veins, a warm glow that pulsed in time with his heartbeat.
"Now, extend your senses outward," Seraphina continued, her voice a soothing presence in the stillness of the forest.
"Feel for the life force that surrounds us, the essence of all living things. Let your Ki reach out like tendrils of light, seeking out the connections that bind us to the natural world."
Arion focused his mind, his consciousness expanding beyond the confines of his body. He felt a shift in the air around him, a subtle ripple of energy that whispered of life and vitality.
With each passing moment, his perception sharpened, the boundaries between himself and the world around him blurring into a seamless tapestry of energy.
As he reached out with his Ki, Arion sensed the vibrant pulse of life that surrounded them, from the towering trees to the smallest insects that flitted among the leaves.
He felt the ebb and flow of energy, the subtle currents that wove through the fabric of existence, connecting all living things in a delicate dance of harmony and balance.
[Unlocked Ki sense added to abilities Tab]
[+5 points]
Once Arion got the hang of the skill Seraphina taught him, he noticed 10 creatures hiding in the forest.
"Good job Arion"
Seraphina said congratulating her son on figuring out the skill rather quickly.
"I can feel them hiding in the bushes and the trees, what do we do to get them out."
" Don't worry if we stand here long enough they will come out themselves noticing we notice their presence."
After a few seconds just like Seraphina stated, the Kobold came out of hiding with their leader standing in the back.
Slowly a smile formed on Arion's lips ready for an actual battle to test his medal.
"Will you be okay Arion? It's your first fight with a magical beast and a group of them at that, I can take care of them if you want"
Shaking his head, Arion surrounded his mana around his body prepared to fight.
"It's fine, I can use them to stretch a little."
His bold words made Seraphina smile at her son.
Arion was analyzing closely at the bunch of monsters that were looking at him.
The kobolds were a monster race a bit similar to goblins in shape and size just that they were reddish-brown in color instead and had two small horns on their head
There were 10 kobolds in the group ahead, with each of them wielding a thick wooden stick and low-quality shield.
'So they are kobolds huh, well here I go...'
As all of them rushed to Arion, he activated his skill Dash which increased his by double, and ran past all the kobolds before arriving at their rear.
The Kobolds were a bit confused at the sudden disappearance of their enemy when a quiet yelp from behind their group alerted them.
Arion now behind the Kobold leader had given the leader a quick chop at its neck boosted by his Mana and Ki, and had separated its head from its body in one fell swoop.
[Killed Tier 1 Beast +5 points]
*whistle*
Seraphina couldn't help but whistle at son's display of skill and speed
Hearing the sweet him from the system, Arion stared at the shocked kobolds with his brown eye and dashed forward with a mischievous smile.
'More points!!'
The kobolds felt the primal instinct of a prey facing its predator, sending shivers down their spines.
Suddenly, Arion flashed in the middle of their weak formation and started sending each kobold flying with a gut-wrenching punch to the stomach.
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
Within seconds of the fight starting Arion had already killed 5 kobolds, the leader included, and sending the other five away with a powerful punch leaving them immobile.
Arion stared at the five Kobolds who were still hanging on to their lives.
He looked at them without any emotions on his face for killing their kind, knowing they would have done the same to him if he was weaker or his mother wasn't here to protect him.
Arion started walking towards one of them.
Arion's eyes narrowed as he regarded the fallen Kobolds with cold determination. Without a word, he drew his sword from its sheath, the blade gleaming in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.
With swift and decisive strokes, Arion dispatched each of the remaining Kobolds, his movements fluid and precise. There was no mercy in his actions, no hesitation as he ended their lives one by one.
As the last Kobold fell, Arion stood among the carnage, his chest heaving with exertion. Blood stained his sword and spattered his clothes, a grim reminder of the brutality of their encounter.
With each fallen foe, Seraphina's confidence in her son's abilities grew, knowing that he had the strength and skill to protect himself and those he cared about.
She had trained him well, instilling in him the importance of discipline and focus, and she was proud to see him putting those lessons into practice on the battlefield.
As the last Kobold fell beneath Arion's blade, Seraphina felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her.
She knew that her son's willingness to fight without hesitation would serve him well in the trials to come, and she couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at the thought of the adventures that lay ahead.
With a nod of approval, Seraphina turned to her son, a proud smile on her lips. "Well done, Arion," she said, her voice filled with admiration.
"You fought with bravery and skill, and you emerged victorious. I have no doubt that you will continue to do great things in the days to come."
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
[Killed Tier 0 Beast +1 points]
Arion had returned the smile to his mother.
Seraphina turned around to grab a few things from the horse's pouch.
Noticing his mother's distraction Arion had activated Ki Absorption to absorb Ki from the trees and hopefully from the corpses of the Kobolds.
Arion had asked the system earlier if anyone would notice his Ki Absorption skill, and it had assured him that no one would notice the Ki being absorbed, but his body would glow for a split second while he activated his skill.
So he waited till his mother was looking away to activate the skill, cause he was itching to do it with so many different plant life in this forest, but never got the opportunity till now to do so.
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
[0.1 Ki absorbed]
.....
Just like last time Arion had gotten over a hundred notifications from the amount of ki he just absorbed, feeling like his Ki nearly doubled from its previous state.
Arion knew that even if his Ki grew in capacity his strength of it hadn't changed and he would still need to understand Ki better to make it stronger. The Ki he felt Thaddeus using felt a lot denser than his Ki and he knew it had nothing to do with the amount his father had.
Seraphina approached Arion with a small vial in her hand, filled with a sparkling blue liquid that shimmered in the sunlight.
"Here, Arion," she said, her voice gentle yet firm as she offered him the potion. "Drink this. It will help replenish your strength."
Arion glanced at the vial, his brow furrowing slightly as he shook his head. "I don't need it, Mother," he replied, his voice resolute. "I can handle this on my own."
Seraphina's expression softened as she regarded her son, her eyes filled with concern. "Arion, you've been pushing yourself too hard," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "You need to take care of yourself, especially after a battle like that. Let me help you."
But Arion remained steadfast, his determination unwavering as he refused his mother's offer. "I appreciate the concern, Mother, but I need to do this on my own," he said, his voice firm.
"I need to prove to myself that I can handle whatever comes my way, without relying on potions."
Seraphina sighed softly, knowing that her son was as stubborn as he was brave. She respected his independence and his desire to prove himself, but she couldn't help but worry about him. "Very well, Arion," she said, her voice tinged with resignation.
"But promise me that you'll take care of yourself. I don't want to see you get hurt."
'I'll be fine in a couple of minutes with my recovery skill' Arion thought to himself before heading back to the horse to continue the journey.
Before Arion could get back on his horse Seraphina started to explain something to him.
"Didn't you forget to do something, like I don't know extract the cores from the kobolds body."
Arion looked at his mother with a puzzled look, before a shock of realization formed on his face noticing he hadn't gathered the monster cores from the Kobold bodies.
"Yes, I completely forgot, but I don't know how to extract their cores or where to look for it."
Arion admitted, feeling a flush of embarrassment at his oversight.
Seraphina smiled reassuringly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't worry, Arion. I'll show you how it's done," she said, stepping closer to the nearest fallen Kobold.
Arion watched intently as Seraphina knelt beside the creature, her movements graceful and deliberate.
With practiced ease, she reached into the Kobold's chest cavity and extracted a small, glowing orb from within.
"This is the monster core," Seraphina explained, holding up the shimmering orb for Arion to see. "It contains the essence of the creature's strength and abilities.
By harvesting these cores, you can gain valuable resources and insights."
Arion nodded, his curiosity piqued by the sight of the glowing orb. "But how do you extract it?" he asked, eager to learn the process.
Seraphina smiled, her expression patient and encouraging. "It's simple, really," she said, demonstrating the technique for Arion.
"You just need to focus your Ki or Mana, and then reach into the creature's body to locate the core. Once you've found it, you can use your energy to extract it safely."
Arion watched closely as Seraphina repeated the process with the remaining Kobolds, extracting each core with precision and skill.
With each successful extraction, he felt a growing sense of confidence and excitement at the prospect of mastering this new skill.
Once all the cores had been harvested, Seraphina handed them to Arion with a proud smile. "Well done, Arion," she said, her voice filled with pride. "You've learned quickly, and I have no doubt that you'll become a master at harvesting monster cores in no time."
The monster cores extracted from the Kobolds' bodies shimmered with an otherworldly glow, casting a soft, iridescent light that danced across their smooth surfaces.
Each core was roughly the size of a small marble, its surface adorned with intricate patterns and pulsating with energy.
The cores emitted a faint hum, like the thrumming of a distant heartbeat, as if they were alive with a power all their own.
Their colors varied depending on the strength and type of monster from which they were harvested. Some glowed with a vibrant crimson hue, while others shimmered with a cool, azure light.
As Arion held the cores in his hands, he could feel the raw energy contained within, a potent force that pulsed and surged with life. It was a mesmerizing sight, one that filled him with a sense of wonder and awe at the mysteries of the natural world.
Seraphina watched with a smile as Arion examined the cores
Arion took the cores into his pocket and secretly placed them into his system inventory, something he hadn't had a reason to use till now.
Arion remembered from one of his previous lessons that the monster cores could be used for many different things depending on what kind of beast it came from. Mainly have a few functionalities every core had.
First was the fact the cores could be used for energy to power almost anything in this world, second would be combining them with equipment to give it a boost, and if it was a rarer and stronger type of Monster core it could have even special effects, and lastly was the reason everyone hoarded higher Tier monster cores was the absorbing the mana with the slight chance of obtaining a talent the beast had from that core.
That last one chance was extremely low and also depended on one compatibility with the core itself but this aspect is what helped keep Humans from being wiped out in this world since it was the only one who could absorb cores and the possibility to take the monster's skill.
'Let me check my system to see how many points I have maybe I can create a skill to better my chance of extracting a skill from the cores'
'system'
Arion Ravenheart
Talents: Blacksmith
Points:19
Mana Core Stage: Middle Tier 1
Strength: 17
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 11
Mana: 20
Aura: 20
Ki: 40
Abilities: [PASSIVE COLLECT, AURA CONCEALMENT, RAPID RECOVERY, Dash, Ki Absorption, Ki sense]
Titles:[Blacksmith apprentice]