The first time Kent saw Lark awake was the next morning.
Kent had to admit, like Water Stream, she possessed a distinctive appearance and aura.
This unique blend of outward beauty and inner strength was completely different from the women of the Highland Alliance, let alone the emaciated native women of Spear Valley.
Lark and Water Stream were entirely different types. If Water Stream, burdened with the survival pressures of Blood Rose, was like an icy mountain concealing past sorrows and inner fire, then Lark was more akin to an unpolished gem, her gaze radiating nothing but pure innocence.
Perhaps it was a characteristic of women from the grasslands—they exuded a unique charm. Kent remembered that, back in the Highlands, many tribal nobles kept maids or dancers from the Grassland Alliance for this distinct allure, unlike anything he'd ever encountered among Highland women.
"I heard from Water Stream that you broke through while unconscious?" A few meals of Kent's cooking had already turned Lark into a loyal fan of his culinary skills. Her gaze was so fervent that Kent, unable to withstand her innocent yet beautiful eyes, shifted the topic.
"Really? I had no idea..." Lark froze in surprise, then took a moment to sense her body carefully. Her expression quickly turned to one of joy. "I did break through, Water Stream!"
"Show me your ability," Water Stream smiled.
Strictly speaking, the tribes and clans of the Highland Alliance, Forest Alliance, and Grassland Alliance shared similar ancestors. However, the focus on different abilities over time had significantly altered their appearances. For example, in the Forest Alliance, the lithe and striking Hunter Kings were a stark contrast to the burly, tusked Tiger Tribe.
Despite these differences, the standards for advancing levels remained the same across all tribes. Levels 1–5 represented ordinary warriors; levels 5–10 signified elite warriors. For most people, level 10 was the ceiling of their abilities. The armies of all alliances predominantly consisted of warriors in this range.
Only a select few could surpass the level 10 barrier and unlock Void Power, entering a higher echelon. These individuals became highly sought after by alliance forces and tribal territories, often serving as team leaders or commanders.
Water Stream had broken through level 10 and unlocked her Void at the tender age of fifteen.
For assassins, advancing past level 5 meant transitioning from ordinary assassins to seasoned killers. For example, Crow, specializing in speed, became a Swift Killer after reaching level 6. Upon surpassing level 10 and evolving into a Hunter, he would unlock his unique Void, gaining specialized assassin abilities.
Unlike Crow, who would evolve into a Hunter, Water Stream advanced into a Shadow Slayer at level 10—a rare and exceptional path.
Within her Void was a radiant moon amidst chaos, the Seven-string Moon.
It corresponded to seven Shadow Slayer dances.
Their former mentor once explained that Voids could be categorized into three tiers:
Primary Voids: Basic and finite, bordered by the sky.Advanced Voids: Boundless potential, extending into the infinite void of chaos.Supreme Voids: Breaking through the void, recreating vastness—akin to a tangible, limitless cosmos.
What a Supreme Void truly entailed was unknown, even to their mentor.
As Kent listened to Water Stream's explanation of Voids, his expression grew peculiar.
A cosmos-like Void...
The system within his own body resembled a vast cosmos.
Could it be that this was a Supreme Void?
But he hadn't even reached level 10 yet. According to the system, he was merely a level 9 Mage.
Among his guard squad, the highest level was Splitting Blade, who had reached level 9 after the battle at the Blood Hammer camp. The others were at levels 7 and 8.
Yet purely in terms of combat ability, the magic unlocked through his system and the enhancements of magic-patterned armor far exceeded level 10. Even Splitting Blade, equipped with his dual-rune-enhanced magic armor, could reach a combat potential of at least level 12 or 13 when going all out.
Looking at Lark, immersed in the joy of her breakthrough, Kent couldn't help but sigh. The Creator must indeed be partial, granting beauty to girls like Water Stream and Lark while also bestowing them with extraordinary talent. At just 15 or 16, Lark had already surpassed his guards, breaking through to level 10.
Like the other high-level warriors of Blood Rose, Lark's breakthrough unlocked a dark Void, marked by a crescent moon hanging in the skies.
Shadow Slayer power, unique to the Grassland Alliance, granted skills tied to the phases of the moon.
In other words, it was a simplified version of Water Stream's Shadow Slayer dances.
Water Stream's Void was the dynamic Seven-string Moon, capable of seven phases, each corresponding to a unique technique.
In contrast, Shadow Slayers only unlocked one random technique from the seven phases.
The young girl stood at the center of the room, her movements as fluid as a dancer's. With fingers forming a sword gesture, she struck a few swift blows. Though her attacks weren't forceful, their angles were sharp and unpredictable, exuding an unusual elegance.
Kent's heart skipped a beat as he recalled Water Stream's lethal, dance-like techniques when she had charged into the fishmen's ranks.
His gaze met Water Stream's. For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked before they both quickly looked away.
Before he could dwell on the thought, Lark's movements shifted. Her posture transformed into something elusive, mimicking a predator weaving through enemy lines. In an instant, she leapt into the air, her body curling tightly as she spun rapidly, unleashing a series of fierce slashes.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, thin scratches adorned the walls and floor. Had she not restrained her power, the entire room might have been sliced apart.
She came to a graceful halt, bowing slightly with a delighted smile she couldn't hide.
"Annihilation?" Water Stream's voice brimmed with astonishment. "Little Lark, you're the first among the Blood Rose sisters to awaken the Azure Moon."
"I can protect you now, Water Stream," Lark declared with determination, her small fists clenched tightly. It was hard to imagine that these delicate hands had just come close to cleaving the room in two.
The Azure Moon, the fourth phase of the Seven-string Moon—a Shadow Slayer's secret annihilation technique.