Chapter 779: Gathered Essences

After the second fight, Suyin grew more accustomed to fighting. Her mind was calmer now, and she could contend against her clone without fearing for her life. However, she understood that Arthur's healing was the main reason for her recklessness.

"I don't want you to heal me after this fight," she asked, and Arthur stared at her with surprise. "I cannot keep trading flesh for bone and receive fatal wounds. This fight I want to survive without sustaining injury."

"Sustaining injury is foolish in a real fight, but this builds your mental fortitude. This training is not for your strength but to harness a battle mindset. However, if that's what you want, then I understand."

Arthur nodded and retreated, allowing her to fight to her heart's content. Suyin nodded with gratitude before she grabbed her sword and fought again. But, this time, she was much more careful and patiently waited for her chance.

Although she sustained minor injuries, Suyin deflected all the serious ones. Arthur stared at her with interest as her stats kept growing by the second. It was a fascinating scene since she grew stronger whenever she defeated an enemy.

***

"Is this what it means to have talent?" Arthur asked as he watched the fight between the two women. Suyin didn't have an absorb rune, making her unable to match Arthur's growth. However, she was still growing rapidly. "If so, then what made her weak all this time?"

Arthur could only assume that her grandmother and sister sheltered her. A person would be allowed to fight once they awaken naturally, as forceful awakening had its downsides. However, she was always protected and never thrown out of the nest to fly.

After a parry, Suyin rushed forward and pierced the clone's heart. It dissolved into nothingness before entering her body. Then, her stats increased to reach the twenties.

Arthur walked forward to heal her superficial wounds, but Suyin raised her hand for him to stop. Instead, she collapsed on the ground while panting and stared at her bloodied hands.

"This is… also a part of growing, right?" asked Suyin before she pulled herself up. "Please, don't heal me. Let me fight again," she asked with a determination that Arthur couldn't refuse, despite being hesitant.

Suyin raised her sword and went to fight again as Arthur watched her. The fight soon began, and she was more desperate than before. Her wounds dyed her clothes red, but Suyin bravely fought until she won.

Even then, she still had no fatal injuries. Then, she turned toward Arthur and smiled before raising two fingers. "I guess two fights are my current limit."

After that, Suyin collapsed to the ground. Arthur rushed forward to heal her, but she held his arm and shook her head. He couldn't understand why she was so stubborn about this, but her determined eyes told him the answer.

In the end, Arthur carried her back to the hut and bandaged her wounds. At least she wouldn't bleed to death. He also ensured that the injuries were clean in case they got contaminated.

Suyin slept soundly after that, although her body was a little feverish. Arthur watched for a while before sighing and leaving. These wounds wouldn't kill her, only leaving a few scars. It might be what she wanted. After that, Arthur left the hut and opened his legacy.

[––––––––––– Legacy]

[Level: 46 (73%)]

[Legacy Points: 64]

[Stats Points: 88]

[Strength: 600]

[Agility: 600]

[Stamina: 600]

[Perception: 600]

[Mana: 600/600]

[Abilities: Runesmith (3%), Reality Manipulation]

[Skills: Mana Breathing Skill (E – 98%), Goblins Lord (Unique – 13%)]

[Arts: The Art of Creation –– Part Two, Basic Dagger Art (100%), Dagger Mastery (100%), Art of Creator ­–– Submission.]

[Gathered Essences: 1/12]

Arthur watched his exponential progress since yesterday with a smile. However, although his stats increased, his level was far from granting him a new function. Killing large numbers of weak monsters wouldn't give much experience like taking down one strong monster.

"Gathered Essences?" read Arthur, the new row that appeared in his legacy. Reaching the maximum stats has initiated his evolution, which would require twelve essences. However, essences were not something that all monsters had. "I need at least an Epic-tier monster to get an essence."

True-tier monsters were the equivalent of a Vetus-ranker, and Epic monsters equaled deme-rankers. Although Arthur fought against a calamity, the strongest tier there was, he survived thanks to his runes and the Astral Pool of Fey.

An epic monster had a different name, which was a horde leader. These monsters could command weaker monsters to their bidding, creating a small pack of monsters. Thus, these monsters were easy to find but difficult to reach.

Arthur took out his runic phone and called Julia. After the first ring, she answered, but it was chaotic on her end. However, after saying that it was Arthur, the place quietened down.

"We finally got to you, leader!" said Julia over the phone. Arthur was confused as the vice-leader kept talking. "We are meeting about our recruits and selecting the first five members to join us. You finally got to join us!"

"Uh," muttered Arthur as he ruffled through his hair. "I'm kinda busy right now. I need something else. Let the shadows scan Ilios for Epic monsters and above and create a map for me."

"We need you here, Arthur! There was a heated discussion about the recruits, and we wanted to take a vote. If you decide, no one will complain!" Oren said. Arthur sighed before looking at the hut.

After that, he raised his hand and created the teleport rune. After that, space got compressed, and Arthur created a portal, which teleported him a thousand kilometers. After that, he kept teleporting until he appeared in the meeting room almost a minute later.

"He is not answering," said Oren as he stared at Julia. "Maybe we should solve this on our own. Arthur is having some problems in Ilios."

"I'm here," said Arthur from behind them. The six were sitting around a table in his mansion. After hearing his voice, all of them stood except for Li.

The ancient man toward Arthur and pulled a chair for him at the head of the table. Arthur walked and sat down as the rest stared at him with speechless faces.

"You could have come here anytime you wanted?" asked Julia with a twitching brow and a forced smile. "I had to fend off Dragonir for the past two weeks while you ran around Ilios."

"I believe in your abilities, Julia," said Arthur to stroke her ego. Although she huffed, there was a smile on her face. Then, Arthur turned toward the six: Li, Oren, Maryam, Julia, Alan, and Yuran. "I apologize for placing all of you under such pressure to clear the dungeons. But, please remember that the more we clear, the fewer breaks there are, and the slower their invasion would be."

"We understand the reasons, Arthur, but Dragonir keeps trying to find using the recruits. It would have been worth it if we chose any of them to increase our numbers, but your demands are hard to fulfill."

"I only demanded that we find talented and unaffiliated awakeners," said Arthur with confusion. "Is that hard to find?"

"We used the device you created to gauge their talents, but the background investigations are draining our resources. Furthermore, as you said, we can only accept a small number."

"I guess I have been a little strict with my instructions," said Arthur before he raised his hand, and the files flew toward him. "Are these our current selections?"

"These are all Vetus-rankers at a young age who are unaffiliated with any group. No one is older than twenty, and most have exhibited some merit during their lifetimes."

"Merit?" asked Arthur with confusion. "These all have criminal records."

"That's what drained our resources. We found those wrongfully accused by the seven families and had their lives ruined by them. We are creating a team of revenge-seekers!"

"There has to be a better name for that, but I doubt we want to make that reference," said Arthur with a smile as he filed through the profiles. All these men and women tried to stand against authority to do the right thing. "Accept all of them."

"There are twenty of them," said Julia with confusion. "You asked to keep the team less than fifteen to avoid information leaks."

"That was before knowing about this background check that you did," said Arthur with awe. "I was right to trust you on this. Although I need to interview them first, all of these will become a great asset to our guild."

"Hehe, flattery won't get you anywhere," said Julia with pride. Arthur looked through the files with a smile as he felt relieved that she had become an ally rather than an enemy.

"There are twenty applicants and five of you, except for Julia. Each one should test four of them with whatever method they see fit to determine whether we should accept them. After that, report to Julia with the results."

Arthur threw four profiles to each person, even Li. The ancient man stared at the files with confusion before turning toward Arthur. He seemed unsure about whether he was worthy of being an examiner.

"You will do just fine," said Arthur with a smile. Li nodded, and then the five left. Julia and Arthur remained in the room, and the latter continued talking. "I have some questions about Runera."

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