Second World

Paytowin was already outside waiting for Jack. As expected, he had died when he tried to go to where the golden knights were. The kill counts were not yet fulfilled but the defenders were already overrun, so he tried to go over to the protection of the golden knightsʼ rank, but failed.

Jack and Paytowin dove in again into the ancient battleground for the second run of the day.

This time though, Jack went back to amassing kill counts. The lead golden knight didnʼt use any mana manipulation until near the third hour, so it was useless for him to stay with the golden knights before that. Might as well use the time to collect exp points even though it was not much.

Since they got used to the enemies and the defendersʼ movements and attack patterns, Jack and Paytowin were more effective in kill-stealing. Their kill counts went up rapidly. In this run, they had fulfilled the one-thousand kills requirement a bit after two hours passed. They immediately went to where the golden knights were.

The golden knights were just starting to decide on their suicide charge by then, so the two didnʼt have to fight through a swarm of enemies to reach them.

This time, Jack didnʼt use his Dragon Eyeʼs active ability as soon as the lead golden knight clashed with his nemesis. He instead waited until the last moment when the lead golden knight was fighting against three mythical-grade opponents, then he activated his Dragon Eyeʼs active ability.

With more beings showcasing the mana manipulation power, Jack could study more.

They were sent out not long after that. Once things reached that stage, every second was a luxury. Even the golden knights were getting slaughtered by then.

Paytowin asked if Jack wanted to do a third run, Paytowin could see Jackʼs passion in learning mana manipulation within the battleground. But like yesterday, Jack said itʼs night already. There was no need to force it, he also needed time to absorb the lesson he had learned today.

They parted way after.

Jack didnʼt go back to rest. He sat and meditated at one of the gardens outside the temple until the one-hour cooldown of his Dragon Eye skill passed. He then went to where Domon was training Leavemealone. They were still at the secluded spot from yesterday.

”Did that Wong fellow come again?” Jack asked when he arrived.

”No,” Domon answered. ”Do you want to join the training?”

”As a matter of fact, yes. Can you please display a couple of moves using mana manipulation?” Jack asked.

”Sure,” Domon said. He took a position to ready himself before executing One-word Slash.

Jack used his Dragon Eyeʼs active ability just as Domon slashed. Domonʼs simple yet powerful slash came under Jackʼs scrutiny in slow motion. Though the mana at this place was denser than the world below, it was not as much as inside the ancient battleground. There was no visual effect accompanied during the mana manipulation. No blue fireflies. The visual effect only came when a flash of extremely straight line whizzed in the air following Domonʼs flash, but that visual effect was the common characteristic of One-word Slash, not exactly due to Jackʼs ability to perceive mana.

Yet, Jack still learned much from that one slash. There was already much understanding from what he learned inside the ancient battleground, so he could understand even more now.

He took a stance himself and concentrated. Domon who saw Jackʼs act, stood still and observed in silence. Leavemealone who was still doing shadow-boxing also stopped after he felt the irregular movements of mana surrounding Jack.

Out of his grandfatherʼs sword arts, the Formless Flowing Sword Style took the first place, but he also know how to do One-word Slash and One-word Thrust. The latter two were the simplest due to their straightforward movements. Yet, they were also complicated because of their chi-application.

In other words, they were pure arts utilizing mana manipulation. Without it, these two arts were just simple slash and thrust. Though the thrust was still useful for its deadly accuracy even without mana manipulation, as had been exhibited by Jack during his fight with Grimclaw in Death Associatesʼ warehouse.

As he readied himself, he guided the mana to congregate along the arm and the sword in his hand. The one-word slash was done by having the mana lined up along the path the sword will be traveling before it was slashed. It was like constructing a railway where the train would be traveling. when the sword slashed, its blade would go along this railway, getting accelerated in the process and creating energy friction that could cut almost anything.

Jack performed the slash. A bright flash accompanied his slash, forming a line. The line formed by the flash was not totally straight, though. Not as Domon had done. The line was a bit bloated at some parts, meaning Jack had not yet mastered the technique. Jack also felt the slash was not as powerful as it should be.

However, his grandfather said, ”Iʼm impressed. I expected it will take you much longer to reach this stage. Iʼm very surprised by your improvement.”

”Really? I think there is still much lacking,” Jack said.

”You are not wrong. If you try using this in a real fight, more likely you get distracted and lose the fight. You put in too much effort in controlling the mana and also take too long. Donʼt use it in a real fight before you are truly proficient in it.”

”I understand,” Jack said.

”Still, as I said. Your improvement is amazing. You are on the right track. Keep practicing!” Domon encouraged.

Without saying anything, Leavemealone returned to his training again. Oddly, he only did a simple punch. It was like watching a beginner who just start to learn martial arts. Intrigued by it, Jack paid attention.

”He… He is also learning mana manipulation?” Jack asked.

”He is already more proficient than you in that department from the start,” Domon said. ”Itʼs just that his application is also not so fluent that he cannot yet apply it in a real fight. I am teaching him a punch technique that utilizes mana manipulation. Under normal fight, that wonʼt help him against a grandmaster like Wong. But if he could use it at the right time for a surprise attack, that might just help him achieve victory. Itʼs all up to him in the end.”

”I will defeat him!” Leavemealone uttered when he heard Domonʼs words. ”I wonʼt disappoint you, master!”

”Mm, good!” Domon said. He then turned to Jack, ”How about you learn one or two things about manner from him?”

”Tsk! He behaves this way only to you. Any other person, that guy is the personification of rudeness!” Jack exclaimed.

Jack ended up training together with them until late at night. Leavemealoneʼs fairy, Carnelia, was nowhere to be seen at first. Jack thought she was simply hiding in her hidden dimension, but her voice was suddenly heard as she called Peniel. She was flying back from somewhere. Apparently, she was getting bored when Leavemealone was training, so she went and explored the beautiful gardens around this place. After a few chats with Peniel, the two ended up going away to explore together.

Jack didnʼt bother them. It was a rare occasion for the two to meet. He focused on his training.

*

The next morning, everyone gathered again in the roman theatre for the third matches. Domon and Leavemealone were absent from the start since they didnʼt have a match today, as did Wong.

Pallas greeted everyone with a fine morning. He announced the third day of the tournament as the words in the sky showed the first match of the day.

*

Knight Section Match 3

Arthur Bagrat, level 46 Avenger (draconian) Vs Sharpedge, level 45 Avenger (orc)

*

”Lots of Avengers in the individual matches,” Jack said.

”Similar to the rogue sections, lots of Assassins and Battle Monks,” Paytowin remarked. ”Guess certain classes are more suited for dueling compared to others. Those are also the more popular classes. Sentinel, Paladin, and Bard are more useful in a team. While Technocraft, well, many players who are late in getting their elite classes started to avoid this class after learning from the one who did.”

”Oh? Why is that?”

”The class ate up lots of resources and coins. It also requires lots of research into different golem parts. Those that had no patience would just end up with an inferior techno golem.”

”Needs lots of coins? Right up your alley then.”

”Bro, do you think I am still playing with pay-to-win style? I am broke here like everyone else, remember? I was lucky I get accepted into this faction. The pay is good. They also supplied me with my many needs at an affordable price.”

”Talking about this faction, I have to ask. Are you the only player who is a member here?”

”I am,” Paytowin said proudly.

”Damn! You are right, really lucky. Any chance for me to apply for membership?”

Peniel chimed in after hearing, ”Being a member of a divine faction is different from the other faction. You are required to have total devotion. Much worse than the military branch of the kingdom faction. As you see, Jeanny still has free time to do her own things. If you become a member here, you will have to stay within this faction most of the time and perform all the tasks given to you.”

”She is right,” Paytowin said. ”I rarely go down the mountain. I only allowed a few free days in a month.”

”How do you keep up with the level then? That ancient battleground is lousy when it comes to exp points.”

”I express this concern to my boss, Myson. He helps organize a few powerful members that help power-level me in those few free days I got.”

”Wow,” Jack uttered.

”Yeah. As I said, he is a good boss,” Paytowin said. ”Still interested to join?”

”Nah, thank you.. I wonʼt stand getting cooped up here,” Jack said while shaking his head.

😉