Rowan planted his staff beside him as he looked at his weights. Despite training with his weights on, he realized he could easily move around with them now.
It has been three days since he last went to the market.
Name: Rowan Von Aurelius
Strength: 10
Agility: 11
Constitution: 10
Stamina: 10
Spirit: 7
Intelligence: 7
Level: 5
Skill: Cloud Stealing Divine Hands
Rowan smirked as he looked at his stats. ' Finally, other than my Spirit and Intelligence stat, everything has hit the mark of 10. But then, I wonder how powerful I have gotten?'
" Rowan, you didn't even did your breakfast."
A voice startled Rowan as he turned around. " Sister Elena? Wh-What are you doing here?"
" Trying to find you, of course!" Elena huffed. " Look, I understand you find training fun now. But you can't just neglect your food."
" I am not neglecting it." Rowan muttered, but then his eyes shone. " Sister Elena, you know swordsmanship, right? Can you spar with me?"
Elena raised her brows. " You really changed, Rowan? I remember you used to run away when I asked you to learn sword with me."
Rowan swung his arms. " Well, a little learning won't hurt, right?"
" Very true. It's been a while since I picked sword too." Elena chuckled as she looked at the weapon rack. She picked a wooden sword, which was meticulously crafted like a rapier.
Rowan picked his staff and stood before Elena.
" Staff, huh?" Elena raised her brows. " Hmm, I hope you can wield it."
Suddenly, her steps moved forward as she attacked Rowan first. Rowan held his staff and made a thrust. However, Elena simply twisted her body, avoiding the staff entirely.
*WHACK!*
Her rapier hit Rowan's palm, making him wince a bit.
" And, that's one point for me." Elena chuckled. " Staff might give you good range, but my rapier is faster and nimble."
" Well, then let's continue!"
Rowan moved the staff as he began his counterattack. His swings carried all his strengths as he attacked Elena's rapier.
*BANG! BANG! BANG!*
Elena swung her sword as she blocked all Rowan's attack. But the past whack pushed her back a few steps.
" Not bad, despite crudeness, you attacks carries a lot of strength." Elena nodded. " But again, the staff is limiting your abilities."
Rowan rushed forward as he raised his staff for a downward strike. Elena swung her rapier as she took a step forward.
*KRRRR*
Rather than blocking the attack again, Elena's sword slid over the staff, striking at Rowan's hand once again. But before she could cut there, Rowan instantly pulled the staff back, twisting it straight.
*PLOP*
Elena's sword was blocked as she instantly took a step back. " Uh huh, fast learner." She praised Rowan to see through her trick.
" But swordsmanship is my forte, and you are still a greenhorn, Rowan."
*BANG! BANG! BANG!*
Elena's swords were like a rapid flow of water, striking Rowan in all awkward points. Rowan spun his staff, trying to block all the attacks.
" Rowan, if you keep blocking, you will never win." Elena explained as she kept attacking. " But if you attack, then I win."
" Now, what will you do?"
' What should I do?' Rowan cursed inwardly. ' Why did Sun Wukong asked me to only learn basics of staff and not any techniques?'
' No, wait…he didn't asked me to master the staff. He asked me master the stick.'
' A stick…can be anything…'
Suddenly, Rowan loosened the grip on the staff, letting it slide down. He held it in the middle and clashed it with Elena's sword like a sword.
*BANG! BANG! BANG!*
Using his strength, he pushed back Elena, creating a gap. Elena was surprised when she saw Rowan's unusual staff play. Rowan jumped forward as he used his staff as a double ended sword, striking Elena's rapier faster and faster.
Suddenly, Rowan backed away as he threw his staff at Elena like a spear. Elena was started as she raised her sword to block it, however, the staff suddenly stopped right before his face.
Before she could understand, the staff suddenly swung below, hitting her ankle.
" Ouch!"
As Elena was startled, Rowan gave an upward swing, flinging the rapier away.
Elena was stunned for a moment before laughing with pride. " Ahahaha! I am impressed. I am really impressed, Rowan."
" I didn't do anything, Sister Elena." Rowan shook his head. " Maybe I was just lucky that you hadn't practiced your sword for a while. Else I wouldn't have won."
" A win is a win." Elena turned around. " Now, come and eat with me. I am already famished."
[ Ding! Achievement Exemption is activated! User has obtained skill
[ Master of Weapons (Passive): Initial mastery over all weapons and their usages, a man can wield whatever weapon he wishes. It's a growth type skill which increases according to the User's abilities]
' Huh?'
Rowan was stunned when he saw the passive skill. When he held the staff, he felt something different.
*SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!*
With a single breath, he rapidly thrust five times, almost like a flower shape. Rowan felt like as if he instinctively understood how a staff works, allowing him to wield it as he likes.
[ Ding! Great Sage Equals of Heaven is stunned! He is wondering how you managed to gain the Master of Weapons skill so fast!]
" Oh? Did you want me to learn the staff to get this skill?" Rowan grinned. " I guess I am talented then."
[ Ding! The one with the body of wind and vajra is smiling! He blesses User with good luck for the future]
" Rowan! What are you doing?"
" I am coming, Sister Elena!"
Rowan chuckled as he dropped his weights before going back to the mansion.
.
.
.
" So, Brother isn't coming?" Rowan asked as he ate with Elena. " Elena shook her head. " He just went out of Westford City. It turns out that our Crystal Star Tower needs some materials, but the import was halted. He went there to negotiate it."
" Speaking of which…" Elena mused on Rowan. " You sure you are going to repay my hundred gold coins in a month?"
" Would I not sully my family name if I can't fulfill my promise?" Rowan raised his palm, as if giving an assurance. " I, Rowan Von Aurelius, always keep my promise."
" Fine, fine, no need to be so dramatic." Elena sighed. " But what did you do with all that money?"
" Let's say, I made an investment." Rowan smirked. " I am sure it will pay off."
The next evening, Rowan sighed as he looked at the sky. " Today is the last day of The Pioneer's boost. I wonder if I did enough within the time frame?"
" Young Master, the carriage is ready." Spencer came to Rowan with a smile. " Shall we go to the market?"
" Ahaha! Sure." Rowan chuckled, " It's been a while since I enjoy the carriage riding."
However, when Rowan and Spencer arrived at the market, Rowan felt his body shuddering. His nose twitched, making him feel strange.
A scent of blood and iron, mingled with a strange fragrance, Rowan felt like he had somehow seen a heap of gold in the far.
' This…This is the
' Why is it tingling now?'
Spencer suddenly looked outside and commented, " Young Master, the dusk looks pretty odd today, no? It looks like the sky itself turned bloody."
" Strange, I thought the sunset still had some time."
Rowan's body chilled as he realized something.