BXBX NOVEL Chapter 141: Hatching?
Name: Cedric Stormrider
Age: 21
Race: Human II
Classes: Luminous Sage (Main), Demon Slayer (2nd), Alchemist 15/100 (Sub)
Level: Tier 3 - Lv.7
Titles: Son of Heaven, Master Smith (+4)...
System Authority: Lv.8
Aptitude:
Body: EX!
Energy: EX!
Spirit: EX!
Final rating: EX+
Skills:
Actives: Sword Intent Lv.90, Kickboxing (M), Iron Skin (M), Multi-Stab (M), Air-Hop (M), Focus (M), Lightspeed Lv.75, Dispel (M)
Passives: Elementary Sage Physique (U), Sage's Perception (U), Education Lv.115, Demon Lore (M), Slayer's Mark Lv.20, Sage Arts Lv.75, Marksmanship (M).
Sub-Class Skills: Focus (M), Decode (M), Symbol Mastery (M), Crafting (M), Metallurgy (M), Smith's Blessing (M), Repair (M), Essence Distillation Lv.5, Vitality Infusion Lv.5
[Mandatory Task:]
: Hell Dive - Survive the Endless Undead Horde for 5 hours twice.
: Rewards - 100% Demon Soul gain, Clearance Streak +1
: Punishment for Failure - Failure Streak +1.
: Record: Clear Streak - 14, Failure Streak - 0
**
Inspired by what he witnessed from the Senior Ranking Matches, Cedric threw himself into training with a fiery ardor.
The desire to be stronger, faster, and see more, blossomed within him. Of course, he didn't forget to keep a low profile while doing it so much of it was done at the comfort of his own dorm.
That said, since he's pursuing higher and more difficult art forms and skills, it's understandable that his progress will slow down. Still, compared to the rate of growth of other people, his was still rather fast so he didn't feel like he was lacking.
Cedric knew that he couldn't breeze through this because that would damage his foundations, so he found solace in the fact that he was in friendly territory and time was on his side.
On another note, he's Tier 3 Lv.7 now. Only two more level-ups and a test then he'll step to Tier 4.
Tier 4 is where he will become something more than a human...as if he already wasn't. In this stage, his entire being will sublimate, transforming into a more advanced lifeform. Of course, this brings a whole new world of possibilities but with this transformation comes a rather large boost in his longevity.
At Tier 3, at most one could live for about 300 hundred years. Tier 4, on the other hand, extends that up to 500 years.
That's a whole 200 years worth of longevity, and with how progressive humans are, that's long enough to witness the rise and decline of kingdoms. Of course, it couldn't be compared to the Demon Race's longevity since those monsters could live for eons, but still, it's already impressive enough.
That being said, Cedric wasn't really hyped about the boost in longevity. He's just 22 and with his talent, he would go farther than this, so he of course wouldn't feel satisfied with just that. Yes, knowing that he could live for that long sounds comforting but he knows he's going to risk his life at one point or another. Extended longevity doesn't mean True Immortality.
Tier 4s could still be killed, even Tier 9s aren't immune from death.
Aside from his anticipation of reaching Tier 4 soon, he's also anticipating his breakthrough with the [White Lotus Core Technique]. Currently, he's at the Solid Core stage, and he has been accumulating Ki, purifying it to its utmost degree and compressing it to his core.
It is nearly at its saturation, meaning that he's close to reaching the 'Glazed Core' state.
If things go well, then he could have double breakthroughs; one for his Tier Advancement and the other for this technique. Once he succeeds in both of these, his strength will once again gain a terrifying increase, making him even more of an anomaly than before.
He doubted that he'd reach the Sword Heart stage by then given how much his progress in this area slowed down, and he was not really inclined to delay his breakthrough to wait for it, so he decided to just let it be.
His {Sage Arts} also barely progressed because he's nearly at the end. As for the {Lightspeed} skill, yeah that's gonna have to wait until he made it to Tier 4 before progressing again. His body could barely handle the top speed this skill could give him so it makes sense why it won't progress.
Even his superior adaptability won't save him from the backlash this skill would cause if he pushed himself too far. That's why he could only wait until he makes another breakthrough before thinking about practicing this skill again.
In terms of his studies, Cedric already learned everything his teachers could teach him for Smithing, Elements 101, Etiquette, and Field Command. He's only attending the class out of sheer formality at this point.
If it weren't for the fact that he wanted to keep a low profile, he might've already applied for an early completion of these subjects to focus more on his training. He could still do it by the way, but not now. He'll wait for a month or two, then he'll do it.
As for the Sword Art Class, well the dynamic is pretty different. Only when he reaches the Sword Heart realm will his actual tutelage start for this class. Which means that he hasn't even started yet, technically.
And finally, there is his Sub-Class...
Cedric was still buying materials to craft tools and weapons for future use, but his focus was on Alchemy.
After all, it's thanks to his Medical Knowledge that he's able to recognize some ingredients of Chrissy's concoctions. Actually, the fact that he wasn't able to discern everything she used for it, despite having {Education} at Lv.115, means that he still has some ways to go.
He has been spending time in his lab, making one concoction after another, diligently leveling up the [Alchemist] sub-class and learning more and more about it as he goes. Most of the time when he leaves his labs, he smells like herbs and spices, much to the dismay of his girls, however they didn't say anything.
Witnessing Chrissy's match inspired an idea for him, though. Aside from Hexes and Curses, he wouldn't put it past the Demons to use poisons and venoms as well. And since he possesses a unique physique, his adaptability should save him from most of them as long as he's given time.
It's nearly impossible for that to happen in the middle of the fight, so, he thought about administering scaling dosages of myriad of poisons into his system to build up his immunity.
This way of training never occurred to him before so he's thankful that Chrissy's match reminded him of it and gave him the push he needed to start.
Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be.
At first, he expected to be in pain or, at the very least, experience an intimate time with his toilet bowl, but no. Sure, it was uncomfortable, but not to a crippling degree.
He even thought that he should sharply increase the dosage right away since barely felt it. What stopped him was the idea that he had time on his side, so there was no need to rush.
Swoosh!!
"Hmm!?" Cedric was alarmed.
He was just about to take another dosage of poison when he suddenly felt something stirring within him. He frowned and hurriedly inspected his body, searching for the trace of...whatever that was.
Cedric initially thought that he messed up. That somehow, his continuous but meticulous intake of poison went wrong and now he's about to suffer some serious consequences, especially considering that he did not even bother telling Chrissy of this when she's obviously there and willing to help him.
To his surprise though, that wasn't the case, which made him feel a bit relieved but still wary.
'If it is not that, then what?' He mused to himself.
With that, he scanned his body once more and located the source of stir within him. Next thing he knew, he was sinking his perception to his heart, more precisely at the thing that was incubating near the Solid Core of his White Lotus Core Technique.
"Geez, with how silent you've been ever since I got you, I almost forgot you existed." Cedric muttered wryly as he finally discovered the source of disturbance within him.
It's the Beast Egg...the reward he got during his class change to Luminous Sage.
Since its first feeding, the Beast Egg slumbered in peace right next to his core. It will siphon energy from time to time to feed but its intake was so little compared to how much he had that he barely felt it.
And with how hectic Cedric's schedule was, he nearly forgot that it was even there.
Now though, it stirs from its slumber. At the very moment the eggshell cracked, Cedric took it out of his body and placed it on top of a clean and warm washcloth.
He stared at it, eagerly waiting for its birth. Even until now, he had no idea what would come out of this egg because his senses still couldn't penetrate its shell. Fortunately, Cedric didn't mind mysteries and surprises.
The eggshell cracked more and more until a tiny and pudgy limb burst out of it, pawing at the eggshell and taking it within, presumably eating it.
Cedric stayed still and watched as the entity slowly revealed itself to him, and his surprise, it's a--...!