Chapter 202 Sierra’s Trial (1/6)

'Hmmm… I need power, but I doubt it would make me super strong with a mere addition of this Dragon Fruit. In the end, my original power is still that of a 2nd-class powerhouse with battle prowess matching regular 4th-class powerhouse. Alright, I'll decide what to do after reaching the sect. Until then, I'll save the fruit.'

"We go hunt dire beasts first," Arkhen said as he looked at Balthin after thinking for several seconds.

"Cool."



Arkhen, Balthin, Rengoki, Kalrog, and Luken went to the Lava Mountains region to let Arkhen hunt Dire Beasts.

Arkhen dropped some <Infernal Star-Fall> skills on monsters and also spammed his other skills to increase their mastery.

*Roar!*

Arkhen used the <Thunder Mirage Dash> to dodge a flaming charge of a lava-flame bull before pointing a hand at it and using the <Earth Sphere Explosion> skill.

A crusty sphere of solidified soil filled with radical lightning and fire energy formed before it shot toward the Lava-Flame Bull.

*BOOM!*

The sphere exploded upon contact before bursting into a loud and destructive explosion, exploding the Bull into pieces.

[32 reality motes gained]

Balthin and others just followed Arkhen and watched from afar but within their range, so that if a stronger Dire Beast suddenly attacked Arkhen, they could protect him.

Of course, Arkhen also had three big orbs floating around him. <The Aegis of Life Conversion> skill. This Supreme-rank skill had already saved him twice in the last three hours.

As Arkhen continued to hunt Dire Beasts and spam his skills, his mastery also increased.

[Thunder Mirage Dash's mastery reached final rank, Perfect rank]

[You have gained 300 reality essence]

'Oh? SSS rank gave me 300 reality essence instead of 200 reality essence on reaching Perfect-rank mastery.'

[Yes. Reaching the Perfect-rank mastery is the only thing different from S, SS, and SSS rank skills in rewards. For S rank, it gives 200 reality essence. For SS rank, it gives 250 reality essence. For SSS rank, it gives 300 reality essence].

'Nice.'



*Swooosh…*

Seeing an incoming ball of whirling flame coming at him, Arkhen quickly pointed both his palm forward with their wrist touching each other and released the <Roaring Tiger Cannon> skill as a burst of wind released along with a big weaved wind sphere.

*BOOm…*

[Roaring Tiger Cannon's mastery reached the final rank, Perfect rank]

[You have gained 300 reality essence]

Right after that, Arkhen used the <Earth Sphere Explosion> skill to finish off the Horned-Flame Rabbit.

[Earth Sphere Explosion's mastery reached Expert rank]

[You have gained 100 reality essence]

'It's time for another combination of Infernal Star-Fall and Melferious Shrine Tree: Jiragen,' Arkhen thought as he saw a group of many dots gathered in a big valley after crossing a giant mountain.

*Awoo…*

"Roarr, roarr!*

Ruan, Lucius, and Blancia were also hunting beasts and helping Arkhen since Arkhen would get reality motes if those three killed Dire Beasts.

After clearing the cliff, Arkhen, Ruan, Lucius, and Blancia looked below at the valley with red forest.

Stretching his hand forward, Arkhen muttered something and executed his two EX rank skills.

*BOOOOM….*

[1459 reality motes gained]

[Infernal Star-Fall's mastery increased to Expert rank]

[You have gained 500 reality essence]

[Melferious Shrine Tree: Jiragen's mastery increased to Expert rank]

[You have gained 500 reality essence]

These EX rank skills gave him 300 reality essence when he reached Adept rank mastery and 500 reality essence when he reached Expert rank. But he was more excited about the reward of reaching Perfect rank mastery since Velshi told him that he would get something else in addition to reality essence.



"Alright, I am done here," Arkhen said as he flew towards Balthin and others after putting Ruan, Lucius, and Blancia inside the Mystic Wonderland.

Thunder Mirage Dash(SSS)—> Perfect rank mastery (450 reality essence)

Roaring Tiger Cannon (SSS)—> Perfect rank mastery (450 reality essence)

Earth Sphere Explosion (SSS)—> Perfect rank mastery (450 reality essence)

Melferious Shrine Tree: Jiragen (EX)—> Expert rank mastery (800 reality essence)

Infernal Star-Fall (EX)—> Expert-rank mastery (800 reality essence)

Aegis of Life Conversion (Supreme)—> Adept rank mastery (500 reality essence)

'Nice chart. I again crossed 10,000 reality essence by gaining 3450 reality essence motes,' Arkhen thought as he entered the flying ship that Balthin took out.

"You got some nice set of skills. Especially that tree," Balthin said with a smile. "It seems you have an Ethereal-type affinity that uses soul power as a medium."

"Yep. It's Vanquish," Arkhen said with a nod as. "By the way, I am curious. I know about affinity pills. But how would one go about making affinity pills for Ethereal-type affinities like Vanquish?"

"Not possible. You gain such affinities as your life goes on and you experience some breakthrough catalysts along with fortuitous encounters," Balthin said with a wry smile. "My father has an Ethereal-type affinity known as Wrath. It can make him super strong even among his peers."

"But it's hard to progress in Ethereal-type affinities, that's for sure," Rengoki said. "It's all about control and comprehension."



Shortly later, they returned to the big castle.

"So, Arkhen… We have prepared 1500 high-grade Primal essence stones, 1500 Chi essence stones, and 1500 Mana essence stones," Balthin said as he gave Arkhen a storage ring. "Since you are only using those three energies, we prepared only for those three."

"Alright, that's good. I was expecting more, but it's fine. Hahaha," Arkhen said with a laugh as he accepted the ring.

Balthin ruefully smiled hearing that but changed the topic with a cough. "Ahem, so when do you want to return? Wherever you want to go, just tell me. We'll drop you off there," Balthin said.

"Wait, I need to rest for a day. After that, we'll go. I am returning to my room and I don't want anyone coming in."

"Sure. if you want privacy, nobody will come in until you come out or unless there's an emergency," Balthin said with a smile as he nodded.

"Thanks."



After returning to his room, Arkhen asked, 'Velshi. Can I watch Sierra's trial while physically staying in the room?'

[Sure. I'll just transmit your consciousness to spectate the trial. If someone comes in or if there's some problem outside, I'll return your consciousness to your body].

'Alright, that's great. Do it,' Arkhen replied as he sat on the bed and laid down in a sleeping position before closing his eyes.

After a few seconds, his consciousness drifted off. At first, he saw only blankness for a few seconds, but that changed soon as he saw a clear sky. Below him was a busy street of some medieval fantasy world. Soon, he spotted himself and Sierra walking side by side on the street.

[First, Sierra doesn't have any memories of her real life here. She has started fresh. However, her core thinking, personality, and everything about her character is the same as her real life]

[In this dream, you are Sierra's husband and a farmer. You are currently in a town and roaming for shopping after you made money from the yearly yields. You are uneducated and only know to farm, but Sierra is not the same].

'Oh?'

[I'll first tell you the background of this world. Here, most people are normal humans, but some can awaken affinity and become Wizards. There are kingdoms, empires, and organizations].

[Here, you are a normal human with no powers. Son of a farmer, not educated. You recently inherited the land from your father and married Sierra, your childhood friend].

'Interesting…' Arkhen was curious about how this story would play. 'So next, Sierra will awaken an affinity and become a wizard, right?'

[Correct. And that's where the real struggle of your and her life will start].