It was a test?
The next day Jay left the inn with both Miku and Tora seeing him off. Although they were reluctant to separate they understood that they didn't have a choice.
Miku cried a lot and even begged Jay to stay. But with a little bribery he managed to cease her tears.
Thanks to Tora's information Jay was able to find the Steel-Fist Monster Army Corps and from there a Commander guided him to the camp.
The scene was truly breathtaking! There were multiple tents with crates and boxes lying all around really giving air to the war vibe Jay was feeling.
"Here we are Soldier Abaddon. Go towards that red tent there and provide the required information."
"After you've finished, return to your assigned tent and wait for further instructions, understood?" A stern and majestic voice sounded from the side of Jay.
Jay stood as straight as a pin with his gaze never straying off the red tent. With a tone laced with both respect and understanding he shouted, "Yes sir!"
The monster at the side of him was a giant Black Panther! He wore armor dyed blood red giving off an aura of a true warrior! This only made Jay feel even more excited!
After hearing Jay's tone the Panther gave a light nod in affirmation before sending Jay off. His eyes flashed with a doubtful light before his figure flickered, instantly disappearing!
Jay couldn't help but admire the Black Panther. Using his Soul Energy along with his Eyes Of Chaos he immediately saw through the Black Panther's realm of cultivation!
The Panther was at the 5th rank of the Sky Realm! Compared to the SaberTooth Tiger who was at the 2nd rank of the Sky Realm, this Panther was the true monster!
Soon, Jay entered the red tent and was greeted by a female Demi-Human. She was a breathtaking beauty with a single snow white fox tail coupled with her two snow white fox ears!
Though her chest didn't have that plumpness her ass was definitely the winning deal!
Jay, however, contained his vicious eyes! This Demi-Human was the cold type. Her gaze was nothing but icy! In her hands were a pen and a couple of papers.
These were required for gaining the information of the new recruits.
"Please tell me your name, realm of cultivation, birthplace and rank within the Monster Army."
Her serene voice was like a melody to Jay's ears. He was about to fall into wonderland but immediately pulled himself back.
"My name is Abaddon Kaos, my current cultivation is at the 7th rank of the Earth Realm, my birthplace is a cave and my rank within the Monster Army is the lowest, a Soldier."
Seeing Jay's gaze not even faltering at the mention of being the lowest of ranks really surprised the female Demi-Human.
She worked her job for years now and saw many monsters who would feel ashamed of mentioning their ranks. She couldn't help but feel interested in the now 5 meter tall black lion.
Noticing that she was just blankly staring at him, Jay chuckled inwardly before asking, "Miss, are you alright?"
She immediately snapped out of her stupor and soon became slightly flustered. She blushed in embarrassment thinking that she had made a fool of herself.
Jay, by accident, released a light chuckle only to get a vicious glare from the flushed Demi-Human.
"(Whistles) Ain't you the cold AND vicious type!" His teasing tone only made her glare become as ruthless as can be.
She turned her head to the side before giving a heavy, cold 'Hmph', sending Jay off on his way.
Jay found his assigned tent and entered. It had a mattress, a fixed lamp and there were even supply crates inside.
He sat on the mattress and sunk into a deep thought. He itched for a fight against someone strong at this moment.
As if reading his thoughts a big and burly looking Demi-Human bursted into his tent.
He had two bull-like horns and had bronze-like skin. He wore a golden nose ring and his clothes were tattered.
"Who is this waste man?" Jay gave a nonchalant reaction while looking at the horrendous man.
The burly man's muscles bulged. He gazed at Jay with a fiery expression and shouted, "Ya wanna have ah go ya' bastard!!"
"Bring it you muscle brained fuck!!" Jay retorted, instantly shooting out of the mattress! He wasn't gonna back down! This man wanted to brawl and so did he!
They both kicked off the ground and met with each other! Instantly the burly man sent a swift and powerful right hook towards Jay's face causing Jay's excitement to soar!!
With an intimidating roar he took the right hook and sent a powerful ||Cleave|| imbued with his Lightning, Metal and Fire affinity smashing forward!!!
A horrifying boom rippled out, ripping the entire tent into millions of fine pieces and caving in the ground underneath.
A circular wave of energy flew out from the heavy exchange of both warriors and was about to demolish the nearby tents when suddenly, gigantic mana barriers formed around them!
Both Jay and the burly man shot backwards but they both quickly stabilized themselves landing perfecting on the ground!
Jay looked at mana barriers with shock and suspicion. Just as he was about to release a barrage of attacks the burly man suddenly dropped to the floor in a lotus position.
Confused yet angered Jay shouted, "Why the hell are you sitting down on the floor!? Let's continue our battle!!"
"Relax, that was only a test." He said that without much change in expression, yet he couldn't help but feel shocked when thinking back to how Jay had equally matched his attack!
He pushed it to the back of his head and took out a giant bottle of rum gulping it down in mere seconds.
"It was a test?" Jay only grew incessantly confused as he thought about it more.
"Yes, a test, Soldier Abaddon!" A familiar voice rang out from the side of Jay.
He immediately turned around and shouted with a respectful tone, "Commander!"
The Black Panther nodded with a 'Mn' and immediately dispersed the barriers.
Soldiers and Squad Leaders exited their tents while looking at Jay with gazes filled with both shock and admiration!
Jay was at a loss for words right now. He just took a seat while the burly man threw a bottle of rum at him.
He bit off the cap gently and placed his mouth firmly around the entrance of it before raising it with his mouth and gulping it down!
"Better?" The burly man asked. Jay gave a heavy nod feeling relieved!
"Everyone, this man right here is the newest member of our Steel-Fist Monster Army! He has passed the secret strength test!"
"As you all just witnessed, Abaddon here has strength on par with a Squad Leader at the 1st rank of the Sky Realm! He will be promoted to a higher rank!"
Most monsters looked at Jay with envy and jealousy. When they joined they had to work hard for where they were now but he immediately got a rank raise.
How could they not feel any bitter emotions?
Jay smiled smugly within his heart and retained a humble and serene smile on the outside.
He finished his bottle of rum, stood up and gave a light nod before turning around to leave.
Everyone else didn't stay for long; they also went back to their own tents.
The burly man sat up and gestured to Jay to follow him. They entered a green tent that was filled with armors of all kinds!
Jay received his armor and was completely mesmerized by it.
His armor was a bright silver and on the giant chest plate of it was an inscription saying Squad Leader! Jay was astounded but delighted at the same time!
"We are both Squad Leaders so call me by name from now on, Dusk!" Jay was startled hearing that this man was a Squad Leader as well but he quickly nodded with understanding since he had experienced Dusk's strength first hand.
He read his soul to check if he was a monster from birth but he found out that he was just a normal Demi-Human.
Jay introduced himself and gained information about Squad Leaders. They lead a small squad of 400 men.
All members of a Squad are usually at the 9th rank of the Earth Realm and the Leader at the 1st or 3rd rank of the Sky Realm!
Jay learned that the war was taking place at the Elemental Border.
The Elemental Border separated the Steel-Fist City from their warring enemy the Water Gate City!
At the Elemental Border an odd tree had suddenly bloomed multiple Spirit Fruits and after learning about it both sides wished for them badly!
If either sides were to claim this tree their people and city would flourish! This obviously ignited the war!
The Squad Leaders along with their higher ups were ordered to lead their Squads and secure the Tree at the Elemental Border.
In total, there are ten Squad Leaders with the strongest being at the 3rd rank of the Sky Realm.
The only time someone would rise from the rank of a Squad Leader was when they broke through to the 4th rank of the Sky Realm!
The rank after Squad Leader was Battalion Leader. The highest realm of cultivation in that rank was at the 6th rank of the Sky Realm!
If a person broke through to the 7th realm of the Sky Realm they would be promoted to Army Commander.
Army commander allowed one to take a small portion of the Monster Army and build a small village for themselves!
Above that was the Central Commander! When one obtained this rank they would be immediately sent to the Capital of the Three Domains, the Starlight Capital!
At the Starlight Capital where the army of the Alliance of the Three Domains are, this rank would be considered the lowest!
Although the Three Domains co-existed that didnt mean they were always at peace! No!
They were once at war! But with the fear they had for the Ancient Warlocks that threatened to invade if they didn't stop such useless fighting they made peace and formed an alliance among themselves!
Hence creating the Capital of the Three Domains!
Now why did the Ancient Warlocks interfere? It was because their wars would reach the outskirts of the Ancient Warlocks' lands and even damage their people's goods, lessening the living popularity!
This infuriated them!
If it wasn't for the Warlock Of Serenity the Three Domains would have ceased to exist today!
No one knew why an Ancient Warlock pitied them. Some said she had family there, others said that it was probably her birth place.
But in the end it passed like everything else! Jay and Dusk talked and became good friends almost instantly.
Jay was hooked on rum and he even received a few bottles from Dusk!
He placed them in the system storage, returned back to his new tent and placed his armor to the side.
"(Sigh) Helix, lemme ask you something why the hell are my Passive Skills from the check-in not activated?"
"Also I haven't checked in for three months! Hmm… Leave the check-ins alone, help me Helix and explain the problem with the Passive Skills!"
Jay had found this problem over the three months of travelling and was concerned but he had always forgotten to ask Helix about it.
Now he remembered, he obviously took the chance to inquire.
[Sir, that is because there are too many Passive Skills! It's overloaded and so they have been temporarily disabled!]
Helix's words made Jay's understanding of the situation soar. He nodded before asking, "Can you make files?"
Helix immediately responded with a 'Yes'!
Jay's excitement grew and he immediately ordered, "Helix, make two files! One saying Passive and the other Active!"
"Place all my Active Skills in the Active File and all my Passive Skills in the Passive File!"
Helix immediately understood and replied, [Understood sir! Beginning process! Process has been completed!]
[Two files Active and Passive have been created! You have 100 Active Skills and 80 Passive Skills remaining after selling the useless ones to me!]
"Good!! Well done Helix! Hahah!" Jay was ecstatic! He calmed down after drinking a few bottles of rum and once again ordered Helix.
"Helix! Tweak the Passive Skills and make them have an Equip and Unequip option!" This was Jay's plan!
[Understood sir! Beginning Process! Process has been completed!]
[All Passive Skills inside of the Passive File have been given an Equip and Unequip option!]
Helix immediately came through with the clutch and did what he was told!
Jay's excitement couldn't be contained this time! He danced around in victory while quaking the entire ground underneath him!
After an hour of excitement, he calmed down. "Helix! Bring up the Passive File for me! Lemme see what I got!"
Helix immediately brought up the File's skills!
Jay's eyes flashed with a bright light as he ran through the 80 Passive Skills! There were Breathing Techniques, Body Arts and even Regeneration Skills!
He saw a skill that immediately pulled his attention! A skill called ||Grim Reaper's Intent||.
At first it didn't even seem like a Passive Skill so he asked Helix about it.
[Sir, even I'm not too sure about this skill but it's description is indeed frightening!] Helix's words startled Jay! Not even Helix knew much about it?
He continued, [Sir it's best if you look at the description yourself! Here is the description!]
[Description: A skill that forms the seeds of the Grim Reaper's Killing Intent! Once you form all 45 seeds of the Grim Reaper's Intent, you will gain unimaginable power!]
[To form the seeds you must absorb killing intent from other monsters, humans and Demi-Humans!]
[Once all seeds form even a wisp of your killing intent can kill an army of 45,000! If you bloom a seed into a flower you will gain a skill that the Grim Reaper himself used!]
Jay's eyes widened immensely!
"G-Grim Reaper's Killing intent!?"
"I get to claim his killing intent and skills?! Helix you beautiful system!! You're my lucky gem!!"
Helix immediately thanked Jay with a hidden pride in his tone, [Why, thank you sir!]
"Equip!!! Equip it now bro!!" Jay roared excitedly! Helix immediately equipped it for Jay and almost instantly a massive amount of Dark Energy condensed inside of his Sea Of Consciousness!
Within a few minutes a giant black seed that gave off a terrifyingly cold aura formed inside of his Sea Of Consciousness!
The abyssal-like seed started revolving with extreme speed!
It released a deathly energy that entered Jay's mana core and nurtured it! He felt his energy stack and with a 'Pop', waves of stronger energy rushed into his mana core!
Jay instantly broke through to the 9th rank of the Earth Realm!
"Bahahahaha!! I didn't expect to form a seed right away!" Jay laughed in a maniacal manner before jumping out of bed!
He drew out the Grim Reaper's Intent and unsheathed his massive claws! He imbued it into them and almost instantly a horrifying energy began wrapping itself around his paws!
With a firm gaze he swiped his claws directly towards the ground!
Right when it was about to hit he stopped! An extremely powerful force swept out and slammed into the earth!
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A mighty boom bellowed out as gales of wind kicked up instantly shredding the tent into millions of fine pieces!!
Underneath him was an 8 meter deep crater! His breathing was ragged and his thoughts were chaotic! That was without any affinities!
What would it be like if he were to combine his affinities with his new killing intent?
The loud and mighty explosion drew the attention of everyone. They were shocked seeing the cause and looked at Jay with a raging gaze.
Jay quickly regained his composure and with an awkward smile he said, "Hehe… my bad.."
TO BE CONTINUED!!