Chapter Three: Never in this lifetime
[11% 11.2% 11.5% 11.9% 12%]
[System's awakening stuck at 12% due to insufficient energy. Master is advised to head to areas with abundant natural essence.]
[Due to initialisation being only at 12%, system functions are limited. No new function added.]
[New Mission Gained. Do you wish to accept?]
[Y/N]
…
Valen stared at the blue screen floating before him. After reading the words, he didn't care much and merely gazed beyond the screen, at the vast, cloudy sky.
How long he had been in this state, Valen didn't know.
Pain. Bone-striking pain. Torturous pain.
All kinds of pain ravaged Valen from within. He couldn't stand up as the bone on his left arm had been dislocated.
After staying in this state for an immeasurable amount of time, Valen finally struggled to get up once rain droplets began to fall.
Blood seeped from his mouth as he glanced around him. He didn't know how far he had been blasted due to that collision earlier, so he could only trudge forward shakily.
As for the blue screen, it took him some time to adjust before he gritted his teeth from the pain and said in a hoarse voice: "Yes!"
[Mission: A search for Natural Essence
Details: Bring the system's awakening up to 15%
Rewards: {Pseudo-Awakening of system} and {Grand Beginning Circulation Manual}]
…
Valen's eyes glimmered with faint excitement. Although he didn't know what this "system" was, he was sure it would be a good thing and its pseudo-awakening wouldn't be bad.
As for that Circulation Manual, he didn't know what it was and it wouldn't do him any good to guess about it. Rather, he should just complete the mission and when he gets the reward, he'll naturally understand its function.
At this moment, the rain droplets increased significantly and soon, it became a downpour. As the rain fell heavily, Valen continued to walk until he heard the sound of rolling wheels and neighing horses.
Turning his right where he heard the sound, he saw a group of horses heading forward. Six white-red horses pulled a gigantic carriage at a frightening speed as they dashed towards Valen, who just happened to stand in the middle of the way.
Truthfully, Valen had no more strength left to move his legs and his gaze was already becoming blurry. That servere fall from earlier had not only dislocated his left arm but his body also felt incredibly weak with waves of agony overwhelming his senses.
So now, Valen had exhausted whatever energy had been pushing him to walk forward and could only gaze at the incoming charge of the horses.
'Is this… really the end? So unwilling…' At this moment, Hawthorn's dark visage flashed past his eyes and a deep hatred toward this man surfaced in his heart.
If it wasn't for him would all of this had happened?
With this thought passing through his mind, he collapsed to the ground.
***
Valen felt like he had just woken up from a long dream with comfort overwhelming his senses.
'Wait. Was all that just a dream? No, that's impossible!' Valen immediately sprung to his feet, his eyes observing the surroundings.
He seemed to be in a small room carriage which could fight at least five people comfortably. Aside from him, there were two others in the room, both like looking at him in curiosity.
"I suggest you rest well. Otherwise, I'll really feel bad for the wasted medicine." A cool voice sounded from the female sitting beside the window.
Aside from the bed he had just came down from, there were three other couches, coupled with a study table and chair.
The female sat on the chair while writing something on the table. Several books were piled up before her and she seemed to be so interested in her research that she merely glanced at Valen, spoke that sentence and returned to what she was doing.
Valen couldn't help but observe her. She wore a veil over a face and a scarf covered her hair, leaving only her eyes visible.
Her loose, long brown gown wasn't eye-catching at all, yet Valen still clasped his fist: "Thanks a lot for saving me, young lady. I'm Valen. May I have the honour of knowing your name?"
The young lady merely nodded wirh her head down as she focused on writing with quill, not bothering to answer Valen's question at all. If it wasn't for her nod, Valen would've thought she hadn't heard him, but he really didn't care much.
He was still grateful to this woman. His left arm and body no longer ached and after carefully checking, he realised that his bone had been set back in place and the swollen skin had receded by a large margin.
According to the words of the woman earlier, she had fed him a medicine and although he didn't know what kind of medicine was so potent, he was still immensely grateful. Rescuing someone you weren't even familiar with was an act of kindness that should be appreciated.
"Sorry, my junior sister doesn't like conversing with men." At this moment, the second person in the room chimed in.
Valen glanced at him. He was a teenager no older than Valen himself. He wore a white shirt, matching his incomparably short white-hair, and a red trouser to match his crimson eyes. He also donned a long red coat and at his waist, strapped it with a black belt.
In summary, his dressing was lavish and gave the style of those nobles from the medieval ages. Realising this, Valen smiled and responded: "No problem. It's no problem at all."
After saying that, he sat down on a couch, next to the teenager and whispered: "May I know where we are, right now?"
The white-haired youth glanced at Valen in surprise. Then, he asked in confusion: "Finding you in the Ash Tree forest, I thought you were going to Old West City to participate in the body potential testing?"
"Body potential testing? What's that?" Valen immediately asked.
The teenager, realising that he must have misunderstood something, said with an outstretched hand: "I'm Ariel from Myraid Town. If you don't mind, Valen, may I know where you're from?"
"Oh. I'm Valen from Greensail." Valen shook hands with Ariel. Although he didn't understand why he had asked about his origins, he decided to answer with the name of his city back in Blue Star.
Thinking about his sister who was now all alone back there, a deep sadness couldn't help but overwhelm him. His sister was only 15 this year and without his support, how would she take care of herself?
'I have to find a way to return. Now matter what!' Determination surged within Valen. Remembering the strength of Hawthorn, he couldn't help but imagine having such strength and roaming the world to search for a way back.
Ariel didn't seem to notice Valen's change and instead said: "Greensail… I haven't heard of a town or city going by that name, I guess it's a village. It makes sense why you don't know about the Body Potential Testing."
Adjusting himself to face Valen, Ariel continued in a serious tone: "You know that in our world, there are people who possesses the strength to fight thousands and challenge millions. These people are called Combatants and they are capable of such feats because they can wield Trophic, a powerful energy that can increase the strength of one's body astronomically.
"However, to attain such strength, one has to have an equally promising potential. That's because if your body isn't powerful enough to accumulate Trophic till you can break through into the Warrior rank, you'll implode. This is why having a high body potential is needed to step into the path of a Combatant."
Valen nodded as he somewhat understood Ariel's words. He couldn't help but ask: "So you want to test your body's potential at Old West City? What happens if you have a high body potential?"
"Tomorrow is the selection day of numerous sects and imperial academies. If you can get accepted by them, your future would be brighter as you would have more resources." Ariel said, clenching his fists tightly.
For now, Valen wasn't interested in sects and academies, instead he asked in a low tone: "Ariel, what are the ranks of Combatants? Who are the strongest?"
Valen asked this question with the intention of knowing if he could ever return to Blue Star… to his sister.
Ariel stated at Valen with an array of complex emotions. "The strongest?"
He paused for a bit, then sighed:
"Integrating Trophic into the body allows you to begin the path of a Combatant and there are nine steps. With each step, the gap of power widens. Once you reach the ninth level where you become one with Trophic, you can then break through to the legendary Warrior Rank.
"Throughout the nearby academies and sects, there's never been news of anyone attaining the Warrior Rank!"
As Valen heard Ariel's explanation, his heart was filled with wonder. He couldn't help but get excited: "If we could one day become a Warrior, the strongest in the human race, would we be able to travel to other worlds?"
Ariel smiled bitterly, shaking his head: "In every step of Body Integration, there are also sub-divisions. Let me tell you, Valen, without being a supreme genius, one that only exist once in a hundred years, we would never be able to attain Warriorship in our lifetime!"