Chapter 43: The Oceanic Trial
Kalki led Ember, Rook, and Alex back to his room after their intense battle simulation. Rook had suggested they find a place to call their group office, and Kalki's room seemed like the perfect spot—mainly because Rook loved to get under Kalki's skin.
As they stepped inside, their eyes landed on a white, four-tailed baby fox, Seraph, sleeping peacefully on the bed. Ember's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh my goodness, is that a Seraph?" she exclaimed, moving towards the fox.
But before she could reach Seraph, Rook shoved her aside and lunged for the little creature. "Move over, Ember! This fox is mine!" he declared, hugging Seraph tightly with a crazed grin.
Seraph, abruptly awoken and uncomfortable, wriggled in Rook's grasp. The fox's eyes narrowed, and with a swift flick of its tails, it sent out wind blades that shredded Rook's clothes.
"Hey!" Rook yelped, suddenly very self-conscious as he tried to cover himself. "Kalki, what kind of crap training did you give this fox?"
"Seraph just has good taste," Kalki retorted, handing Rook one of his spare outfits. The others laughed at Rook's embarrassment, and even he couldn't help but chuckle a bit, though he shot Kalki a mock glare.
Ember, more cautious this time, approached Seraph slowly. To her delight, Seraph allowed her to pick it up, nestling comfortably in her arms. Alex gently rubbed Seraph's head, earning a contented look from the fox.
"Why does this fox show you guys such cute faces and I get my clothes shredded?" Rook grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Maybe because you were too rough," Kalki replied with a smirk. "Seraph likes a gentle touch."
As the laughter subsided, Kalki asked, "So, what's the plan now?"
Alex, always the voice of reason, spoke up. "There's a big mech designing and making competition coming up for third and fourth years, as well as noble students from all years. It's a crucial event because noble students already have experience building mechs. It's one of the ways we fight beasts."
"What about you, Ember?" Kalki inquired.
"I didn't join the competition because I didn't know how to make a mech," Ember admitted, a hint of regret in her voice. "But I want to join this year." Alex said.
Kalki nodded thoughtfully. "Count me in."
Everyone's faces showed shock. "Wait, you're joining too?" Rook asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Kalki said with a mischievous grin. "I may not know much about mech-building yet, but I want to learn. Besides, it's more fun when there's a challenge." But Kalki have other thoughts as he can make any mech easily as he has a system.
Alex nodded approvingly. Rook just shook his head, muttering something about how Kalki was full of surprises.
"Alright then," Rook said, a competitive glint in his eye. "Let's see what you've got, Monarch."
As they all sat down to discuss their strategy, Kalki felt a surge of excitement. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was part of something bigger than himself, a team with a shared goal. And with Seraph curled up contentedly in Ember's lap, he knew they had a special bond that would see them through whatever challenges lay ahead.
-------------------
Chapter 43: The Oceanic Trial
After a long and eventful day, Ember, Rook, and Alex made their way back to their rooms, which were conveniently located in the same building as Kalki's. Kalki saw them off, feeling a sense of camaraderie that was new yet welcome.
Back in his room, Kalki sat down and opened his system panel. He needed to acquire ores for his mech, Tempest Inferno, and the hints suggested that these ores could be obtained through lucky draws in the battle simulation. To earn more lucky draw opportunities, he had to face powerful beasts.
He navigated to the battle simulation skill and clicked on the second slot. The screen shimmered, and Kalki found himself transported to an aquatic world, an expansive ocean stretching endlessly in all directions.
The sudden immersion left him gasping for air. Thinking quickly, Kalki used his wind essence to create a breathable bubble around his head. As he adjusted to his surroundings, he noticed the shimmering forms of aquatic beasts moving through the water.
Beast Name: Aquafina Leviathan [epic tier]
Affinity: Water
Attributes:
Attack: 280
Agility: 270
Endurance: 290
Skills:
Epic Skill: Tidal Wave – Summons massive waves to crush opponents.
Epic Skill: Ice Spear – Launches deadly ice spears with pinpoint accuracy.
Rare+ Skill: Hydro Shield – Creates a water barrier for defense.
Rare+ Skill: Frost Armor – Envelops in ice for added protection.
Rare+ Skill: Aqua Jet – Propels at high speeds through water.
Rare+ Skill: Water Manipulation – Controls water currents.
Rare+ Skill: Ice Shards – Scatters sharp ice fragments.
Special Skill:
Oceanic Regeneration – Rapidly heals using water essence.
The Aquafina Leviathan was an enormous beast, its body formed of water and ice essences. It resembled a giant serpent with shimmering blue scales that glinted like diamonds. Its eyes, a piercing shade of azure, radiated intelligence and malice.
Kalki marveled at the beast's appearance and the power it emanated as it was more powerful than last beast. He knew this would be a tough battle. The Leviathan moved with grace, its serpentine body cutting through the water effortlessly.
"Alright, time to get serious," Kalki muttered to himself, focusing his wind essence to enhance his agility.
Kalki took a deep breath and activated his Apex Mode. Immediately, he felt a surge of power coursing through his veins, doubling his attributes and skills. His senses heightened, and his body felt lighter and more agile.
The Aquafina Leviathan, sensing the increase in Kalki's power, launched a barrage of ice spheres at him. In response, Kalki summoned meteorites, their fiery cores blazing through the water. Although fire was typically weak against water and ice, the intensity of Kalki's attributes overpowered the beast's attacks. As the meteorites collided with the ice spheres, the water around them turned into steam blasts.
The rapid conversion of water to steam created an explosive release of energy, a phenomenon caused by the sudden expansion of water molecules as they transition to steam.
Kalki propelled himself forward using Inferno Stride, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. The small steam blasts behind his legs provided additional momentum, allowing him to close the distance to the Leviathan with incredible speed. He unleashed an Inferno Tempest Fist on the beast, shredding a third of its massive body. But the Leviathan quickly used its special skill, Oceanic Regeneration, to recover within seconds.
Kalki's eyes glinted with a devilish smile as he said, "Interesting," in a dark tone. The aura around him shifted to a light black as he prepared for his next move. He attacked the Leviathan with rapid Inferno Tempest Fists, using the steam blasts for momentum. Despite the speed and ferocity of his attacks, the Leviathan's regeneration kept up.
Realizing his current strategy was ineffective, Kalki retreated. He created a massive fireball, 50 meters in radius, within the ocean. The intense heat from the fireball caused the surrounding water to boil, generating extreme steam pressure.
Kalki then used his epic skill, Tempest's Embrace:
Summoning: A colossal vortex of wind formed, capable of uprooting gigantic trees and tearing through the toughest defenses.
Control: Kalki manipulated the vortex's movement and intensity, directing it towards the Leviathan.
Enhancement: The skill boosted Kalki's speed and agility, allowing him to move with the swiftness of the wind, dodging attacks and striking with lightning-fast precision.
Duration: The vortex lasted several minutes, sustained by Kalki's wind essence and concentration.
The vortex trapped the steam, guiding it towards the Leviathan. The intense heat of the steam melted the beast's form, even as it tried to regenerate. The Leviathan let out guttural roars of pain, the sounds echoing through the water.
Despite its rapid healing, the Leviathan couldn't withstand the relentless assault. The steam melted its body faster than it could regenerate, and with a final, anguished cry, the beast was obliterated. Kalki floated in the calm waters, victorious, and ready for whatever challenge awaited him next.
Kalki emerged from the battle simulation pod, a triumphant grin on his face. The notification from the system chimed pleasantly in his mind: he had earned a chance to draw from the basic lucky draw. Eagerly, he opened the system panel, his fingers tingling with anticipation.
The lucky draw panel appeared before him, an intricate holographic display filled with swirling colors and shimmering lights. The animation began with a large, ornate wheel covered in symbols representing different rewards. It started spinning, each segment lighting up as it passed.
As the wheel spun faster, the symbols blurred into a kaleidoscope of possibilities. Kalki's heart pounded with excitement. The wheel gradually slowed, the symbols coming back into focus one by one. Finally, it clicked to a stop, and a dazzling light exploded from the chosen segment.
The display then transformed, revealing a treasure chest. Kalki reached out and tapped the chest, which opened with a burst of golden light. Inside, glowing with an ethereal blue hue, were Arcane Crystals.
A notification appeared: "Congratulations! You have received 500 units of Arcane Crystals: Crystals that store and channel magical energy, integrated into various systems for power distribution."
Kalki's eyes widened in delight as he inspected the crystals. "This is perfect," he muttered to himself, envisioning how these powerful crystals would enhance his future mech. He couldn't wait to start integrating them into his designs. So, Kalki started to complete another slot.