'Hoamm…'
I was currently leaning against a large tree trunk in the corner of the training ground. The night had completely fallen, blanketing the sky with a thick, dark curtain, punctuated only by the twinkling of stars. The night air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and leaves.
The lights in every corner of the field turned on automatically as the sunlight disappeared, casting a bright white glow that cut through the darkness. The light from each corner met in the middle of the field, creating a perfectly illuminated area, while the shadows of the lampposts formed long lines that danced on the ground's surface.
The field looked deserted, yet that bright aura seemed to be waiting for someone to return to practice. Only the sound of crickets and the rustling of wind through the leaves broke the silence of the night.
There were still 10 minutes before this skill ended, not enough time to go to the palace or the city, and there was another floor in the tower I hadn't visited yet.
'Status'
I opened the status screen and looked at the [Transcendent Unity Sword Art ★] technique that I hadn't trained yet.
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[The Three Initial Foundations] (Trainable)
Requirements:
- Rank Beginner (Fulfilled)
- Swordsmanship Level 2 (Fulfilled)
[The Three Complex Manifestations]
Requirements:
- Rank Expert
- Swordsmanship Level 6
- Has Fully Mastered the First Stage
[The Pinnacle of Swordsmanship]
Requirements:
- Rank Sage
- Swordsmanship Level 10 (Max)
- Has Fully Mastered the Second Stage
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I took a deep breath, gazing at the sword lying beside me. Although there was little time left tonight, I knew that practicing this technique required seriousness and full focus.
Tonight, I was only testing the basic movements, feeling the flow of energy through the sword.
"Alright,"
I thought to myself quietly, "I'll start the real training tomorrow night. It's better to prepare myself first." I rose from where I was leaning, brushing the fine dust from my clothes.
With light steps, I left the training ground, which was still silent yet felt full of hope.
…
[ The time limit for the skill [Atherion Dreamforge] has been reached
[You will be returned to your original world ]
[ Cooldown: 24:00:00 ]
…
I slowly opened my eyes, the night air greeting me for real. Pain spread throughout my muscles, like the aftermath of repeated blows that hadn't fully healed. My breath was ragged, my body drenched in cold sweat.
'Ugh…'
'Is this the effect of the intense training in that place carrying over to reality?' I thought, closing my eyes for a moment to calm myself.
Though the pain still crept through my body, a slow satisfaction flowed in my chest, proof that my body and soul had fought hard through the strenuous training of the past night.
"Adrian!" My father and mother's voices immediately came to me as they saw I was starting to open my eyes.
I looked at them with slightly blurry vision.
"How many hours was I asleep?" I asked in a hoarse voice.
"Only an hour has passed," my father replied, placing his hand on my shoulder, full of concern.
My mother came closer, her face full of worry. "Is there something wrong with your body? You look so tired," she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly with anxiety.
I gave a small smile, trying to reassure them.
"It's nothing serious, just the usual soreness. Maybe my body just needs to adjust after the awakening," I replied lightly, trying to hide the true burden.
They looked at each other, but finally nodded, looking slightly relieved.
"I'll get enough rest and take care of myself, don't worry," I continued, making sure my voice remained calm and confident.
"Hmm? What's this?"
I slowly moved my left wrist, feeling something unfamiliar, like a bracelet circling it, but when I looked closely, there was nothing there.
That curiosity was instantly replaced as my father began in a calm voice, "While you were asleep, we discussed your condition, Adrian. We were worried but also relieved that you were conscious."
My mother continued, "We also talked about how to take care of you, so your body can recover well. Don't push yourself too hard."
"So, what we discussed while you were sleeping was..." My father started the conversation.
…
My father began to explain everything in simple language, as if talking to a small child. I understood his point from the beginning, but I listened intently. They both knew I had obtained a Unity Core, something incredibly rare and precious. But they chose to hide it from the public, because they wanted me to be free to choose my own path in life, as long as I didn't stray in the wrong direction.
In the style of a young child, I answered innocently, "I want to use a sword, because the sword you have displayed in your office is so cool, even though you don't use it anymore. And, I'm also curious about magic, because it can be a hidden power."
They chuckled at my answer, then finally agreed with my wish.
"If that's what you want, we will support you, Adrian," said my father.
I nodded, feeling relieved and more confident in the path I was choosing. This path was indeed mine to walk.
"And about the bracelet on your hand, it's actually a five-star item we got from my teacher as our wedding gift. She got it from the Oracle," my mother answered with a meaningful tone.
"The Oracle? So she already knew about my birth?" I asked with wide eyes.
"Most likely, because the bracelet is too much for just a wedding gift," my mother replied.
"What does it do?" I asked curiously.
"The bracelet can hide your power level and the type of your Core. Even her teacher, who is a Grandmaster, couldn't see it when she tried," my father continued seriously.
"Now, I will teach you how to use it," my father said, extending his hand.
…
After teaching me, my father and mother left, giving me time to rest before dinner.
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[ITEM]
[Veil of the Hidden Star] ☆5
Adjustment: Low Stage Beginner Realm || Aura Star
Description: This rare five-star item allows the wearer to hide their level and Core type from outside observation. Once worn, the bracelet's location becomes hidden so only the user can access it. [ Increase the level of [True Sight] to see more ]
Weakness: Those in the Sage Realm can see it
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'Hmm…'
I pressed the bracelet encircling my wrist and a holographic screen appeared before my eyes. The good thing was, I could set the power level I wanted to hide myself, with the maximum limit being my current level.
I could hide my Core level easily, just by pressing the power I will learn in the future, but the Core type couldn't be hidden directly.
This is a really useful item.
I also checked on both of my parents using [True Sight] but failed to see their power because my level was too low.
As for the Oracle, I will meet her when the time is come. With her special ability, she must have known about my future arrival.
I know where she is, her place is very hidden, and only a few people know. It's highly likely that my mother was a direct student of the academy principal, because in this kingdom, only the principal knows the Oracle's whereabouts.
...
Layla and Elric, in their room, spoke of the potential disaster to come. Layla sat on the edge of the bed, her face serious as she stared out the dim bedroom window. Elric stood near the desk, his hand clenching slowly as he spoke in a firm tone.
"We also must prepare to return. With a Unity Core user born in this era, it's highly likely the disaster that will occur in the future will exceed the capacity of the Hero who is to appear in this era." Said Elric.
"That's right, we need to get ready to help Adrian, so he doesn't have trouble dealing with this problem," Layla replied.