Status Window
Name: Arthur Kasadin (Ji sen)
Level: 4 (395 XP / 1000 XP)
Credits: 1100
Age: 5 (Mental: 20)
Mental Power: 410
Physical Power: 30
Cultivation: None
Technique: None
Inventory:
[Blood of the Ruined Kings]
[Black Book of Necromancy of the Northern Hell]
Weapons (Swords: 403, Spears: 126, Halberds: 18, etc.)
Vegetables/Fruits: 321
Special Item: Underworld Yin Metal
Custom Forge
Shop
Lucky Spin
Innate Power: Fire, Water, Earth, Metal, Crystal, Space, Time, Chaos
Passive Skills: Copying (Swallowing), The Gatherer
Arthur stared at the status window, his face pale. His stats had gone up, but he couldn't shake off the bad mood from what he'd just experienced.
Hell. That was literal hell. He shuddered just thinking about it.
Looking at Blu, who was purposefully smiling and shrugging like none of this had anything to do with her, only made his blood boil. He wanted to yell, but what good would that do? He just sighed heavily.
Suddenly, Blu's mischievous voice rang in his head.
"Is it because of… what happened earlier?"
Arthur choked. That was his sore spot!
His face warped into something uglier than a rotten potato. "No. I'm thinking about something else…" He tried to change the topic, but before he could continue—
"Are you talking about that last moment? I didn't watch it." Blu's poker face had the audacity to look bored.
Arthur's soul almost exploded. He could barely hold himself in.
"PISS—OFF!!"
"Okay, okay! My bad." Blu raised her hands like she was dealing with a lunatic. "But hey, don't forget to study those new features you unlocked. Or you'll miss out later."
Arthur took a shaky breath. "I KNOW."
Days turned into nights, nights into years. Before he knew it, Arthur was officially seven.
And for the first time in his life here, he could leave the safety of the cave.
"Arthur, get ready! We're leaving!" Amy's voice boomed.
"Yes, Papa! Coming!" Arthur rushed around his room, stuffing his things into a sack like an over-excited kid.
By the time he left his room, his dad was already waiting outside, leaning against the wall like a boss. After seeing Arthur, he ruffled his hair.
"Ready?" he asked.
Arthur gave a quick nod like a good boy.
"Good," Amy said, serious now. "Watch what I do carefully. If the time comes when I'm not around and you need to return here, you'll have to do the exact same incantation and gestures. Got it?"
'We?' Arthur blinked but nodded.
Amy turned to face the cave's entrance. He clasped his hands together, breathed deeply, and spoke a strange, ancient incantation.
"Ibraa um shuk."
Arthur froze.
Was that... "I love you"? He nearly choked.
Amy chuckled darkly, noticing his expression. "Son, this place has a protective formation set up by your great-grandfather. Not even a half-martial ancestor can detect it, let alone break it."
Arthur gulped. Half-martial ancestor? That was insane. He had read about cultivation ranks in the library:
Spirit Condensation
Spirit Rank
Profound Rank
Heaven Rank
Martial Lord
Martial King
Half-Martial Emperor
Martial Emperor
Half-Martial Ancestor
Martial Ancestor
Immortal
And half-martial ancestors could tear space and split oceans? Then how strong was his father?
Arthur peeked up at him.
"...Papa, how strong is a half-martial ancestor?"
Amy smirked like a know-it-all and flexed. "They can tear space, split seas, move mountains."
Arthur rolled his eyes—but put on a wide-eyed look.
"Woah! Papa, how strong are YOU?"
Amy puffed out his chest. "I can refine rivers and mountains!"
Arthur blinked. What the hell does that even mean?!
"Real—really? Can you show me?! Pleeaase, Papa?"
"Hahaha! Nope. When you reach Martial King, I'll show you."
Arthur internally facepalmed. Yup, pure dad energy. Mysterious to the end.
"You're not gonna cry and force me to show off my strength?" Amy asked, smirking.
Arthur squinted at him. "If you could actually show me, you would've already done it. Why act mysterious?"
"You know… that's not a very child-like answer." Amy's eyes narrowed.
Arthur's whole back went cold. He forced an innocent grin. "W-Well..."
Amy burst out laughing. "Haha! My little genius reads too many books."
He laughed for a solid minute before his expression turned serious.
"Arthur. Listen."
Amy's aura shifted into something incredibly sharp.
"This world isn't a playground. People out there will trick you, deceive you, and kill you without blinking. Watch. Everything. Understand?"
Arthur's expression hardened. He nodded firmly.
"Yes, Papa."
"Good. Let's go."
Notes:
- Cultivation ranks inspired by Martial God Asura – shout-out to kind-hearted Bee!
- Can't write on Friday & Saturday due to Adventist Sabbath. Update Friday 6:52 PM.
- Exercised today, so sorry if I posted late!