Child of Destiny

……

Shin logged out of the game with his mind thinking about the mantle that he had received from completing the quest.

It was said to be a Racial- and Class-Specific Item, which meant that it was tailor-made Nephilim Race. And given the aura that it was released despite being a sealed item, its complete state was most likely a powerful item that was comparable to [Yamato], if not stronger.

But what intrigued him the most was the last notification that he had received from the system. It said that he could fuse the [Daydreamer’s Mantle] with the [Nightwalker’s Cloak] that he was already wearing at that time.

This meant that the two cloaks were most likely a part of a set. Or to be more precise, the [Nightwalker’s Cloak] was one of the missing pieces of the complete version of the cloak, which was said to be the [Cloak of Divinity].

This made Shin think about the first time he had gotten the [Nightwalker’s Cloak]. From what he could remember, the cloak was just a lower-grade item at that time. He had used quite a few enhancement stones to upgrade its rank before asking Harmony to further strengthen it and promoted its rank to Black Mithril straight away.

If the [Nightwalker’s Cloak] was originally part of the [Cloak of Divinity], then he most likely had missed something when he first got it.

“I don’t think that it is not that an important item though?” he thought. “Or maybe something happened during its evolution and somehow became a special item.”

It was at that moment when he remembered something. “Did it become a ‘Dissonant Wish’ item?”

“I have read from the forums that when an item is accompanying its owner for a long time and goes through a lot of battles together, there is a certain chance that it can evolve into a special item.”

“But I am sure that there is a special condition before it happens. The player needs to create a series of legends and build up a certain amount of fame before it can happen. And because it is too hard to accomplish, this theory has become a myth.”

He then suddenly paused as he thought of another possibility. “Don’t tell me it is because I am a Transcendent Race?”

He thought that it was highly possible since Transcendent Races themselves were nothing but a mere legend for ordinary folks.

On top of this, Shin had also faced and defeated quite a number of players with Transcendent Race or something with a similar strength.

All the missions and quests that he had done were also highly difficult and granted him a lot of reputation points and fame.

It would not be strange if he really became a legend to the NPCs of the game.

“Then, does this mean that the [Nightwalker’s Cloak] had become a special vessel for the four broken pieces of the [Cloak of Divinity]?” he mumbled before shaking his head.

He would think about this again later when he got back online. He had postponed fusing the two items earlier to prove a few of his theories. He had to first ask the others about this before proceeding.

He then went for his morning training before taking a shower and getting ready to head to the academy.

But before that, he had to feed his ‘children’ first, who were waiting for him on the other room.

…

When he came to the room across his, he immediately saw Arthur and Leonard lying lazily on the sofas, completely unmotivated. It looked like they had lost any motivation in life.

“What’s with the two of you?” said Shin chucklingly as he walked past them.

“Urgh! Don’t get me started, you bastard! Someone like you, who fools around instead of doing your promotion quest, will not understand our pain and suffering,” replied Arthur as he lazily adjusted his position on the sofa.

“Fooling around? Do you know what I have gone through just to capture those guys?” he refuted before quickly adding. “Moreover, capturing them is also a part of my promotion quest. I have to capture them first before I can enter the trial grounds.”

“Whatever, you still enjoy fighting such an opponent and honing your skills,” snarled Arthur back.

On the other hand, Leonard suddenly chimed in. “By the way, I noticed something strange from Haowin during your battle. Is he also a user of Reality Manifestation? But I also notice something different during the battle though.”

Shin pursed his lips a little and thought before answering. “I am not sure either. But it seems like he is using a different method compared to Reality Manifestation and Hyperactive Immersion.”

“So, there is another secret mechanic out there, which is known to others, huh?” mumbled Arthur while scratching his chin. “It seems like these secret mechanics will continuously pop out starting now.”

“The new age of virtual reality games is starting to take shape. Even your ‘ex’, Flouree, also has her own version of it,” said Leonard teasingly.

Hearing that, Shin suddenly halted his steps and turned to Arthur. “Really? Is that girl really his ex-girlfriend?”

Swoosh!

Shin then saw a pillow flying toward him right after he said those words. He caught it almost at the same time before teasing Arthur. “D*mn! I did not see that coming. I thought that you have never experienced being in a romantic relationship since birth?”

“Argh! Stop that already! I never have that kind of relationship with her!” said Arthur frustratingly before adding. “We used to play together in one of the games that I have become addicted to. We are also on the same team, so we see each other almost every day.”

“She has misinterpreted my kind gesture towards her whenever we are working together.”

“She then becomes upset when I tell her that I only see her as a sister or something. That is when she becomes that violent whenever she sees me.”

Hearing that, Leonard started laughing as he had already known about that history. On top of that, there were also quite a few incidents that he found very funny and hilarious that Arthur refused to say.

Whenever Leonard thought about it, he could not stop himself from laughing.

In the meantime, Shin gave Arthur a weird look, which quickly turned into ‘disgust’. “What? Did you really manipulate a poor girl’s heart before dumping her? Ah~! I have no idea that you are such a terrible person.”

Arthur suddenly choked when he heard that and started coughing continuously.

Leonard, on the other hand, started laughing much harder. He was hugging his stomach with both of his hands as he could no longer stop himself from laughing anymore.

It took him a while before he was finally able to calm himself down. Shin was already done preparing for breakfast.

“I don’t see Senior Brother and that pair of cousins,” said Shin initiating the conversation when he failed to find the trio of David, Jerimiah, and Vincent.

“I heard that they are sent for a special mission from the academy, so they have left early,” said Leonard as he took a bowl and filled it with rice.

“Mission? Again? They have just finished a big one recently along with the two of you, yet they are out to do something again?” commented Arthur with a frown.

“It is said that the Student Council has made a deal with them after following their arrangements from the previous mission,” replied Leonard. “I also heard that Shin’s seniors from the Sleeping Dragons have already been sent there when the previous mission is currently underway.”

“The three of them are the reinforcements sent to assist them,” added Leonard before devouring the food in front of him. He had become too hungry after that laughing session earlier.

Shin and Arthur gave him a weird and questioning look when they heard him. The two of them seemed to be asking how the hell Leonard knew about something like that. ．

Leonard understood what they were trying to say with those gazes and quickly answered. “I heard it from my master. I visited him yesterday since that Promotion Quest is driving me crazy. I have to learn a few new moves before I proceed.”

Hearing something about the game made Shin forget what they were talking about earlier. He suddenly became interested in the Promotion Quests that the two were doing since he was also about to start his.

He wanted to get some ideas from them so that he could prepare for his own Promotion Quest. “Speaking of it, how are your processes? Anything worth mentioning?”

The expression of the two immediately turned weird when he heard that. Their eating speed also slowed down significantly before Shin asked once again. “What’s wrong? Is promoting to Tier 3 really that hard?”

The corner of Arthur’s mouth suddenly twitched before replying. “It is not just hard. It is stupidly impossible to clear under normal situations.”

“What do you mean?” pressed Shin further.

“It is not like an overcomplicated type of quest or anything. In fact, it is a pretty much straightforward quest if you ask me,” said Arthur with a deep and heavy sigh.

This time, Leonard suddenly chimed in and explained. “The quest itself is not that hard to figure out. The problem is the conditions and types of opponents that you will face.”

“From what I can tell, the Tier 3 Promotion Quests are meant to break the limits that everyone has inside the game. It is also meant to polish our fighting styles and reach its most perfect state.”

“It is also tailored specially for each individual after considering their fighting style, martial arts, mentalism techniques, natures, and other factors.”

“The more complicated your overall style is, the harder it can be.”

He then paused and pointed to himself. “Take mine for example.”

“The Trial Grounds that I have been assigned to is a dense and complicated jungle. It is the best terrain to hone my ‘Bestial Instincts’ and martial arts.”

“I am assigned to endure the continuous assault of different kinds of monsters there for at least three days straight before I meet the minimum requirement for clearing the promotion quest.”

“It is a pretty straightforward approach and even fits my needs and style perfectly. But the main problem was the number of monsters that I had to fight.”

“They also vary from different kinds of monsters. From wolves, boars, bears, tigers, mammoths, lions, serpents, birds, insects, and many more. I even have to fight living plants from time to time.”

“What made it very troublesome was their attacking pattern. They attack randomly, so I must keep my focus sharp all the time if I want to survive. There are also times when monsters launch a coordinated attack that can make me curse due to how disgusting it is.”

He paused once again before saying. “It is hard. And I doubt that I will be able to clear it any time soon.”

“I also have to keep my Reality Manifestation fully active most of the time since fighting those monsters is impossible if I only rely on my in-game skills and combat techniques. Martial Arts play an important role in clearing it. I am sure of it.”

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly added. “But there are also some gains while I am enduring everything. I have noticed that my mentality is being honed greatly as I continue to train there. Even my martial arts are also taking shape very fast.”

“I think that promotion quest is more helpful despite how much torture it is giving me.”

Leonard thought a little more and remembered something. “Ah! Using an Elemental Possession inside is also forbidden, so you have to keep that in mind.”

Shin nodded his head as he started noting down the important information that I had gotten. It also proved that the secret mechanics that they had discovered were one of the keys to clearing these Tier 3 Promotion Quests.

After that, he turned to Arthur and waited for the latter to share his own experience.

Arthur rolled his eyes when he sensed Shin’s gaze while eating. He then replied in a nonchalant manner. “Mine is much simpler than his. I am put in a Dragon’s Grave and tasked to kill an ancient dragon.”

“It is too frustrating to fight because that stupid dragon is too overpowered, especially with its stupidly big body. I have failed in the quest for the 7th time already, so I am planning to take a rest for a while and unwind somewhere.”

Arthur thought for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. It seems like training there is quite beneficial despite the tortures that it has. My understanding of my martial arts reached a new height even though all I have done there is being beaten up and getting killed all the time.”

Shin stared at Arthur for a little more before asking. “Is that all? Is there no other important clue or idea to add?”

“Tsk! What do you want me to add then?” snarled Arthur in annoyance.

He then paused for a moment as he suddenly remembered something. He started sighing after than before looking at Shin with pity. “Since you also have a Secondary Combat Class, then I suggest you brace yourself since the difficulty of our quest is much higher than the rest.”

“This is the first time I started to regret getting my Dragon Cavalier Class,” he added with a sigh that was full of regret.

……