Breakthrough
An Ogre slams its wooden club into the ground, I jump aside and follow up with a vertical slash killing it.
Three more ogres appear, each with a club or a pole.
"Watch out!" Ken shouts as he buffs me.
My body becomes lighter as I emit a soft red glow. In an instant, I decapitate all the ogres. Their giant bodies fall limp onto the ground with a thud.
"Impressive." Says Ken. "Were you hiding your strength?"
"Maybe."
There are 2 knights behind Ken in the Core Formation realm who were tasked with protecting Ken. However, they are playing the roles of spectators as I do all the work.
It's faster to clear the monsters myself.
"Do you need to follow me? What about those people at the capital?" I ask.
"I'm not the only one who specializes in management. Besides, you took a huge burden off my shoulders." Ken replies.
"You could have just given the key-"
I duck to dodge a pounce from a large Wolfen beast. It growls at me. A large scar is engraved across its face, the leader of a pack.
Movements in the bush and trees around indicated the rest.
The knights draw their swords as they stand near Ken.
"Protect Ken, I will deal with the leader."
Although reluctant to follow an adventurer's order, they heeded my words.
...
The wolves encircle us. My eyes lock with the leaders.
With one final breath, all wolves charge in. I stomp on the ground as hard as I could.
!!
The dust created from that temporary created a cover. I use that cover to slash the leader, aiming for its eye.
"GRARR!!"
The wolf screams in pain as it jumps away.
I chase after it and throw my sword.
!!!
Sword pierces the wolf and it rolls lifeless to the ground.
"Ahhh!!"
One of the knights was bitten by the wolf, blood squirted into the armour. Their teeth were strong enough to break through that titanium metal.
I take the corpse of the leader and throw it at the remaining wolves. The beasts start to tremble and slowly retreat before running away. The Wolfen beasts are survival creatures, they will not fight a battle they can't win.
That's why Wolfen travels in a pack, following the leader who is the strongest for safety.
Ken heals the knights who grunt and groan at every small movement.
This pathetic state... Do I look like that in the past? I remember I can barely hold up in a fight against wolves during my first year as an adventurer, who was deemed to be on the same tier as a goblin.
"Let's get moving." Says Ken. "The shelter is right ahead. The knights... They will have to rest for a while. Seems like we eliminated the surrounding monsters so it should be safe."
There should be a safer route to the shelter yet Ken asks us to take the dangerous ones, it is to shake off any potential spy.
A small cave can be seen in the distance.
?!
A goblin's corpse can be seen at the entrance.
"What? A monster breach? There were supposed to be an illusion array erected." Says Ken.
!
I remember this.
I dash in before Ken could stop me. A high cliff stands before me, the wooden stairs are broken. I ignore it and leap down.
!!!!!
*BOOOOM!!!*
"What-"
I land beside a knight trying to fend off two goblins and decapitated the monsters.
I channel every mana into my legs and boost myself off the ground. My haphazard motion killed every monster on the way as I get to my family's temporary housing.
A small blue tent appears in the corner of my eyes and I ran to it.
!?
My family are sleeping while a man is trying to put a curse on my mother.
"You fuck!" I shout.
Red static explodes from my aura when I instantly appear in front of the man, stabbing his chest with my sword.
...
His face is pitch black, I can't figure out his facial appearance.
...
My siblings are drugged asleep.
"Ngh... What." She gets up from her sleeping mat. "Loi? Why are you-"
I hug her. "Don't worry. I'm here... I'm here now."
...
Cracks appear around the space as the dimension collapses into a void.
...
Lydia shows up, stunned.
"You... What?"
I smile. "You will keep your promise, won't you?"
"O-Of course I will."
She sighs. "This shouldn't be possible. That was the moment you regretted the most because of how powerless you are, yet you were able to solve it that quickly...?"
Even if I don't have the system, I could have still resolved that regret. I've been through a lot of hell to find a cure and earn enough money to help my mother but it was all for nought.
The culprit's face was blurred because I do not know who that bastard is, but that will all change.
Lydia smiles. "Alright let's make a contract." She puts her hand out. Seeing a child offering her hand with a huge smile feels slightly...off.
"You are not planning anything aren't you?" I ask.
"Why would I? Our minds will be linked when we form a contract. Besides, you are very interesting and I'm getting bored playing with all these old fools." Says Lydia.
She hugs me and an aura engulfs us.
----------------
...
I open my eyes to find myself back in the cave. The black aura is gone.
Mi stares at me.
"How long was I gone?" I ask.
...?
"12 seconds??" She replies.
The time flow was much faster in the illusion, I am glad.
(Interesting indeed. You are a young boy with an old man's soul)
!!!
This voice in my head. I throw a glance at the sword.
(Yes, it's me, Lydia!)
...
The second part of the contract?
(I-I... Okay.)
Yellow energy flows from the sword into my body and nourishes my soul.
My cultivation base has reached the 8th stage of Foundation Establishment.
...
You consumed their life essence for a long time just for this amount.
(I need to use some amount to keep myself alive!)
Fair enough.
Mi should be in the Nascent Soul realm, two realms above me. Even when she is standing right in front, I cannot feel her presence.
----------------
Mission Complete!
-Conquer the demonic sword and make it recognise the host as its owner.
Rewards:
+10000 points
+7000 plot armour value
+1 Demonic Sword Spirit Zenkai.
+1 common draw ticket
Unlocked [Gacha]
----------------
Zenkai, do you know something about it?
(Zenkai?! How did you know-... I... That's my name before I became a spirit living in a sword)
I see.
"I'm done here. Let's go." I say.
Mi snaps and a few knights walk in. "The mineral at the top will belong to the Krist family," Mi says.
"Yes ma'am!"
---------------
"Mi, I want to talk to some of the Azures."
"Sure, but they are currently being interrogated. I can ask a knight to appoint a timing." Says Mi.
I nod.
Mi fled, stating that she will be back to get me. I have some free time now and roamed the town.
I won't say the town is flourishing but it isn't as bad as Albion in the past. Most of the farmers here sell their crops for money as well as fame; They take huge pride in their fruits.
A tall bell tower is seen across districts and I jump onto it.
Directly below the bell, I sat on the edge.
Lydia shrinks to a small sword when I desire her to do so, a fairly convenient feature.
--------------------
Lvl 28
Current best cultivation speed(using River Flow Method): 0.0001%/second
(Off)Auto Cultivation speed: 0.000005%/second
[On][Off]
Cultivation progress: 0.01% till the next stage.
(View sub-cultivation progress)
(View Abilities)
(View Talents)
(Gacha)
-------------------
-------------------
Welcome to the Gacha feature!
Jackpot: Immortal body(0.0001%)
Consolation prizes:
Luck Talent(Rank T)(0.001%)
Divine Robe(0.001%)
Draw tickets available: 1 common draw
[Draw]
--------------------
Gambling?
I press "Draw"
--------------------
Obtained:
X1 Foundation Establishment Perfect Pill
--------------------
Perfect pill?
How much does it cost to draw the gacha?
-------------------
10000 points
[Draw]
90000 points
[Draw x10]
--------------------
...
I...should not use this feature for now.
-----------------
Julius quest:
-Overshadow him and get the attention of Ji Liao. (0/1)
-Attain the first place in the trial of Heptasus. (0/1)
-----------------
-----------------
Lorraine quest:
-Save the elf kingdom from an Ogre attack. (0/1)
------------------
Ji Liao, the patriarch of the Dragon sect.
What did Julius do?
...
The ogre attack on the elf kingdom is an event 3 months later. The prime reason for the attack is migration purposes when the dragons suddenly expand their territory into the ogre's land.
It was later known that Akira was the cause of it.
...
Looking at the sky, it's turning dark. I don't feel sleepy, cultivators don't.
Mi suddenly appears behind me. "The Azure family is ready. If you want to speak to them, follow me."
I nod.