Cleo smiled, but her smile was full of sarcasm as she crossed her arms. Her voice came out sharp and full of determination.
"Do you really think I have feelings for you? I don't want a relationship with you, after all, I never did."
My patience vanished at that moment. Moved by a dark impulse, I took a step forward and pushed her against the wall. My hand covered her mouth before she could scream or attract the attention of other acolytes. "So why is your body getting hot and your face turning red?" I asked, smiling with the arrogance that only someone in a position of control could display.
For a moment, his eyes showed resistance, but something in his expression softened. With the same confident smile, I removed my hand and kissed her deeply, taking the moment as my own.
I pulled down my pants and lifted Cleo's panties to the side, then lifted one of her legs.
"pAH~~"
"pAH~~"
"pAH~~"
.
.
Some time later...
Satisfied, I adjusted my clothes, ready to leave the room. Cleo remained unconscious on the floor, a smile on her lips that seemed to echo a mixture of surprise and surrender. "Surely," I thought, "I have left my mark on her forever. Even after decades or centuries, Cleo will not forget me."
Without looking back, I left the room and returned to the back of the tent of Mount Sun Tower. When I arrived, I noticed that all the acolytes had already gathered, waiting patiently. Marcelina entered through the door with her usual aura of authority and said in a firm tone, "Follow me!"
As we walked, the camp was being dismantled. Tents were taken down, and the ground was littered with remnants left behind. An organized chaos unfolded around us, but I was lost in my own thoughts.
"Every year, hundreds, maybe thousands of acolytes risk their lives to come here, embarking on the path to becoming Mages. Today, this is only my starting point. Where will I be a year from now, or ten? Who knows."
As I pondered, I heard a familiar voice behind me. It was Wallace, one of the few people I had formed some bond with. He greeted me enthusiastically: "Hey, Eclivel! You're back? Liam was looking for you earlier."
I forced a smile and approached him. "Sorry! I got a little lost and ended up losing track of time. Did Liam need something important?" I tried to sound nonchalant, but there was a slight tone of irritation in my voice. Liam was insufferably meticulous.
Wallace shook his head, laughing. "Nothing major. Marcelina asked him to do a headcount, so just let her know later. But you know how he is... already acting like he's the commander of the group."
I rolled my eyes and changed the subject. "We're leaving by airship, right?"
Wallace shrugged. "Not sure. I just know it might take more than half a year to get to the other continent."
I sighed, annoyed at the idea. "Transport in ancient times is really lagging in technology. An entire year just to travel to school? It's a waste of precious time. That time should be used for studying, training, evolving."
As I spoke, my hand unconsciously touched the three magical crystals I had taken from Charles. They were stored in a leather pouch strapped to my belt.
"An airship?" A cold voice cut through the air, dripping with disdain and sarcasm.
I turned to face Oliver, still dressed in his aristocratic suit. His eyes were cold and filled with superiority, something he seemed to exude naturally.
"We're close to Lucario's lands," he began, his voice carrying a condescending, lecture-like tone. "Any random monster beyond this region can easily kill a warrior. And don't forget the colossal beasts or the ancient creatures. They all despise human airships and often summon storms just to destroy them. Taking an airship would be the same as inviting death to dinner."
My eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Any creature can kill a warrior?" I asked, trying to hide the chill that ran down my spine.
If what Oliver said was true, it meant that I, still at a preparatory warrior level, wouldn't stand a chance against even the smallest sky monsters that inhabited the clouds beyond these mountains where we currently were. The thought made me uneasy, but I needed to verify it.
"Virtual laboratory, status," I commanded mentally.
A translucent projection appeared before my eyes, detailing my attributes.
["Name: Eclivel Rustel."]
["Gender: Male."]
["Age: 15 years."]
["Strength: 1.9"]
["Agility: 1.9"]
["Vitality: 1.9"]
I analyzed the numbers with a steady gaze. During the battle in the Bloody Mountains, I had faced the Giant Hawks, formidable monsters. After defeating them, I discovered their hearts contained a rare component that enhanced warriors' breathing techniques. "An unexpected gift," I thought, recalling how I had collected several of them.
Thanks to those battles, I had reached the limits of a preparatory warrior. The laboratory indicated that, with stats nearing 2, my strength would be equivalent to twice that of an average adult. However, the true breakthrough would come by igniting my internal vital energy—something that was still a challenge.
I clenched my fist, feeling the power vibrating within me.
"If I had an axe right now, I could take on an entire squad of ordinary soldiers by myself," I muttered to myself. "But Oliver wants me to believe that even stronger warriors than me can't defeat a mere bird in the skies beyond the Lucario mountains??"
Something about Oliver's story seemed exaggerated, but he was right about one thing: the skies were not friendly territory, especially for humans. I knew that mages and warriors alike had perished in aerial monster attacks in the past.
"Virtual laboratory, can you scan the skies and nearby clouds?" I asked.
["Beep!"]
["The radiation surrounding the host's body is excessive!"]
["Unable to scan due to interference from an unknown force field!"]
The laboratory's cold and direct response left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"An unknown force field… Lucario and its secrets," I thought, frustrated. This land seemed shaped by forces beyond comprehension. Oliver probably wasn't lying about the dangers of the skies.
I watched Marcelina from a distance, her firm gestures as she organized the acolytes. Her movements always had a purpose, something that inspired a certain admiration but also a hint of curiosity. In that moment, a thought crossed my mind, and I began connecting the dots about the Virtual Laboratory's limitations.
"On this continent," I thought, "magical radiation is limited. This allows the Laboratory to scan up to 13 kilometers. However, with so many acolytes and mages around, the interference increases. It seems these energies create a natural barrier for the Laboratory's advanced functions."
My gaze hardened as I considered this limitation. "Laboratory, what is the maximum range you can scan right now?" I asked mentally.
["Beep!"]
["Precise scan range: Within 300 meters of the host's body!"]
["Vague scan range: Within 1000 meters!"]
I let out an audible sigh. "300 meters… Not ideal, but enough to detect immediate dangers." Even so, the thought of losing efficiency upon reaching the other continent deeply bothered me.
"Is there any way to increase the scan range?"
["To increase the scan range, please level up the Virtual Laboratory."]
The response was straightforward and unexpected. "I can still level up the Laboratory?" my mind raced, feeling a wave of hope.
"Upgrade it now!"
["Beep!"]
["Insufficient energy. Please recharge."]
The robotic voice cut my excitement like a cold blade. I frowned, frustration bubbling up. "Damn it! Without my original body, how can I recharge the Laboratory's energy? Even if I could, where would I find the necessary source?"
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay composed. "Forget about that for now. If leveling up is possible, I'll find a way later. For now, the Laboratory is functional enough."
"Eclivel!" A voice pulled me back to reality. I blinked and realized Liam was beside me, with Wallace nearby. Oliver had disappeared without me noticing.
"What did Oliver say to you earlier?" Liam asked, looking between me and Wallace.
Wallace shrugged. "Nothing much. He mentioned leaving here. I think he was bored. Staying silent all day is suffocating for anyone."
Liam nodded in agreement. "Maybe. But listen, we're about to depart. Don't get distracted now. If you board the wrong ship, it'll be a huge problem."
"Understood," I replied, regaining my composure.
As Liam walked away, I thought, "Who does this worm think he is to boss me around? I'll follow orders for now because it benefits me, and I'll stay out of trouble. But once I grow stronger, I'll scorn everyone here."
....
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