Arc | Chapter. 117: Disciple & Mentor (Patreon)

Chapter. 117: Disciple & Mentor

At first I had almost said no to Ceylon’s proposal. But I knew I couldn’t value my art above killing the Hero of Spirits and my other goals. So in the end, I had accepted. Though I felt upset as the meeting ended.

Ceylon wanted to say something to me but she was dragged out by her father in the name of an important discussion, though she still managed to apologize to me by what she had proposed before that.

I understood that she didn’t intend to cause hurt, and I also understood that it wasn’t as if there were many options to begin with. So in the end, I was upset but I intended to go through with it.

With heavy thoughts, I left the mansion carrying the case with the orbs that the Dragon of Water had provided me. Malz tried to follow after me but I used [God Step] to escape. And then I found myself here.

In the ice workshop where it had all begun.

The old man came out of his office in shock only to see me.

“Arc?”

“Old man.” I turned to him. “If you could destroy one of your ice creations to ensure a great future for those you care about, would you do it?”

He blinked. “Of course I would.”

“Why?” I raised my brow.

“Because they can be remade, even if I love them.” He shook his head. “And even if they cannot, art brings and gives joy; if doing so would bring future joy in the future then I’d destroy it in a heartbeat. Of course, perhaps I’d feel heartbreak but in the end I’d be happy knowing I made the right decision.”

“I see…” I nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Arc.”

With that I left, using [God Step] once more, leaving the old man confused in his shop.

* * * * *

[Krutal Ibak. Tier: A]

[Krutal Ibak. Tier: A]

[Krutal Ibak. Tier: A]

…

Wasn’t this too much?

Meika didn’t know if she could do it, even if she was a [Rogue Swashbuckler] a class that was incredibly nimble. It was probably the best class for Faral’s conditions, and yet right now everything was looking… bleak.

[Rogue’s Step].

Her feet danced along the ground, evading multitudes of spikes as she tightly held her sword in reverse grip. The Krutal Ibaks charged at her, and she evaded. The tunnel was full of danger, everything she saw, everywhere she turned; it was all trying to kill her. She didn’t know what to do, but Meika knew she had to do something. She had to start taking out the monsters.

Just how…

All her surroundings were a messy blur of danger, one that she barely evaded thanks to her active [Sense Danger]. It guided her to small pockets of safety, it guided her through evading and helping her avoid any kind of injury even if minimal.

Still…

Meika activated [Carry Momentum], one of the momentum based skills from her [Rogue Swashbuckler] class. The more she moved, the more energy⁠— the more momentum she build the stronger her attack was.

Her sword began to shine with each and every little step. Building energy with each evasion. Becoming stronger and sharpening. Meika danced through the cacophony of attacks, an asynchronous waltz that had no end in sight.

Her blade grew brighter; it grew sharper; it grew faster. She moved and moved, dodging and readying herself for the perfect opportunity as soon as it would show itself.

Meika took another step and⁠— the blade flickered.

The skill was coming to an end, and yet she had no opportunities to attack.

There had to be something right?

She evaded again, a careful and calculated movement that would leave anyone that saw it in awe.

Anything.

Meika side-stepped.

She just needed an opportunity…

The blade flickered again and she saw it⁠— a gap of danger. A chance. Meika lunged forward and regripped her sword, pulling it back as all her muscles tensed. And when she stood between all the danger she saw it⁠—

[Krutal Ibak. Tier: A]

[Krutal Ibak. Tier: A]

[Krutal Ibak. Tier: A]

…

Six Krutal Ibaks lined up in front of her.

“[Backstabbing Slash]!” She screamed and swung.

The golden blade exploded forward with a crescent light. An instant flash of death passed through the cave as blood exploded. Organs burst, halves collapsed, and crimson splattered all around.

Then she landed and rolled away as numerous spikes missed her.

System notifications flashed through her mind but she paid them no mind as she turned to the rest of the A Tier monsters. Meika knew she was close to her class advance, that once she was done with this she would achieve it; but that didn’t matter.

All that mattered was clearing this challenge so she could continue studying under her mentor’s wing. That’s what she wanted to do, and the thing she cared about.

Meika gripped onto her sword as the danger seemed to be a lot less present and stepped forward.

[Momentum Slashes].

She hit forward and sliced through the neck of one of the monsters. Then swung again, making it two, then⁠— three; she carried forward quickly making it four, then five⁠— each hit dealt proportionally more damage to each monster, and finally she swung upon the sixth one.

Her sword hit the cranium of the monster and⁠— shattered it.

Instantly killing it.

Meika turned only to see the fifth monster die, leaving only four remaining. Meika didn’t hesitate to step forward and slash⁠— she used an eclectic selection of skills. One was killed by bludgeon force, the other was hit by her fist, another was slashed through the throat and the last one was⁠—

“[Backstabbing Kick]!”

Its spine snapped as the monster hit the ground with a thud. Dust billowed beneath as she wiped sweat off her head.

Meika took a step back and paused; not from danger or anything like that. But from amazement. All around her laid slaughter. No surface was untouched or uncovered from the killing. The dozen monsters had been slain at her hands.

She was a B Tier adventurer; she was a B Tier individual, and yet she had killed twelve A Tier monsters alone.

She looked down at her blood stained hand.

Just what had she… become⁠—?

And notifications came.

[ You have defeated: Krutal Ibak. Tier: A. ]

[ You have defeated: Krutal Ibak. Tier: A. ]

…

[ You have leveled up. ]

[ You have leveled up. ]

…

[ Class Advancement Available. ]

And just like that, she had obtained it…

She honestly never thought she’d get to A Tier in a lifetime, and yet she had done it in the span of less than an hour. She was B Tier, and now she had an advancement after slaughtering so many of the A Tier monsters.

It was ridiculous.

B Tiers shouldn’t have that kind of power.

And yet…

She did…

Meika closed her eyes tightly, coming to a realization.

“I cannot… disappoint Faral, not with this kind of strength.”

Then, she opened them feeling a surge of danger coming from the depths of the cave. It was subtle; almost intentional in order to trigger her senses. And then, she saw it. It slowly stepped into the blue light of her Fire Stone.

It was reminiscent of the Krutal Ibak, but also bigger; it had spikes lining up its entire body and crimson eyes that stared right at her. Meika knew what it was; it was the boss of this place.

[Great Krutal Lune Ibak. Tier: A.]

Meika raised her sword and it⁠— charged at tremendous speeds. Her eyes went wide as she used [Blink Step] landing somewhat far away. The monster was…

Just as fast as her?

Then its rattling sounds echoed and dozens of spikes were thrown at her; some that she couldn’t dodge. Meika grunted and charged forward, using a skill to speed herself up. And she swung⁠— she parried multiple spikes as the rest missed her.

Her eyes narrowed. The monster was just as fast as her however… it was weaker than her.

The spikes didn’t carry enough power, not enough to endanger her. And so, she charged forward. She immediately used [Carry Momentum], sprinting at incredible speeds towards the beast. Her blade shone brightly⁠— She was going to kill it.

In a single moment the distance was crossed as she raised her blade of blinding light, and at that moment the monster let out a terrible snarl. Meika’s eyes widened as all the spikes on the monster’s body rattled at once. At that moment all of her danger senses flared as she realized she was staring at death.

But⁠—

[Blink Step].

She didn’t care!

“[Momentum Blow] and⁠— [Backstabbing Slash]!” She shouted.

The spikes shot like bullets and she slashed as a blinding light covered the cave.

Everything exploded; blood splattered, spikes shattered, rocks scattered. In a single moment she had killed the animal as the cave began to collapse. Blood filled everything but a single system notification was all Meika needed.

[ You have defeated: Great Krutal Lune Ibak. Tier: A. ]

…

And just like that she had won.

Meika smiled and a rock fell next to her.

She had done it.

She immediately sprinted out of the cave, running as fast as she could. Her skill enhanced body carried her forward. A sprint to the end quickly began as she dodged falling rocks and also struggled to keep herself going as her mana was now almost non-existent.

Then, at the end she saw the entrance and it was about to collapse⁠—

[Blink Step].

Meika appeared just past the entryway of the cave before the rubble fell.

She panted, as she struggled to not cough blood. The sun fell upon her as slow and methodical steps approached. They were her mentor’s. She quickly gathered herself and looked up only to see Faral already standing over her.

“You have come out victorious,” she mused.

“I did.”

“But.” Faral instantly stuck a finger into Meika’s mouth and flicked⁠. “You have failed.”

Meika fell on the ground, coughing in confusion.

“How did I fail?”

“Look, you are injured,” Faral said, showing her finger with a slight smear of blood. “Therefore you have failed.”

Meika’s heart dropped.

“I-I can explain, that was from exhausting my mana to leave the cave⁠— I had won without injuries, and even then that’s an injury I gave myself!” she pleaded.

Faral shook her head. “Rules are rules unfortunately.”

A ball formed in her throat.

“You can’t be serious… right?” Meika gulped. “After all of that training, you’re just ditching me over a self caused injury? You’re joking right?”

“I am.”

Meika’s head whirled. Was that a yes to being ditched or to⁠— And Faral chuckled.

“Of course, I’m joking.” She smiled. “You did great my disciple.”

Meika blinked, slowly processing as confusion welled within her.

“You… are you really joking?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Casting you away over something so small?” Faral shook her head with a smile. “That’d be ridiculous. Here.”

She proffered her hand, and Meika took it, receiving help to stand.

“You… that was a joke…?” she asked.

“Well, who said I couldn’t joke?” Faral chuckled to herself. “Now let’s go, you need some rest.”

With those words, the Dragon of Wind began to walk away. Meika gulped and a moment later followed after her mentor. As it finally clicked within her that she indeed had passed.

“Mentor your jokes are terrible⁠—”

And a system notification came, one that made her pause.

[ You have been offered two unique classes. ]

[ Five class choices available. ]

“They aren’t,” Faral answered happily before turning to her and pausing. “Meika?”

“Two unique A Tier class offerings…” Meika blinked, turning to her mentor. “That is… unheard of isn’t it?”

It was… amazing.