Chapter 49：Icy Castle (1/2)

Three days of traveling together can do a lot, but it couldn't improve the relationship of their group just yet. Arthur had a headache just from dealing with the tension in the group.

There was the not-so-nice Jin, who kept throwing glares at him and almost fight him every time he had a chance too. The first day was a lot easier as Jin was too wounded to fight, but after they started traveling north, he got a lot fussier.

Miko was unusually quiet and would only talk to him, ignoring the other two. After their talk the other day, it seems they got a bit further away, Arthur hoped otherwise.

His friendship was Hazel was the only redeeming part as it got better after she told him what she thought. Arthur thought about talking to her about it, but he didn't know what to say. They both ignored it and acted like usual, providing the only chatter in the group.

This has further increased the number of glares he received from Jin, making Arthur unsure about what to do. However, he sensed no hostility like earlier after agreeing to help Hazel with her legacy.

All is well that ends well, or so they say. In the past few days of traveling, they worked together as a group to kill monsters. They would then take their cores and leave the rest after Arthur used the excuse of healing to absorb them. He learned to hide his absorption by placing his hand on the body while using the rune.

It was after three days of absorbing monsters that he gained a new skill, further increasing his powers. It was the first elemental offensive skill he gained.

[Skill has been absorbed. Bladeless Wind Slash. (E)]

It was a strange skill that he couldn't use his blade to unleash it but have to use his hand. It was still powerful that worked as a great sneak attack since he would be slashing using his hand. He looked at his stats for the first time in a while, grinning from ear to ear at the increase in powers.

[Scholar Guardian's Legacy]

[Level: 12 (98%)]

[Strength: 62]

[Agility: 60]

[Stamina: 52]

[Perception: 46]

[Mana: 25/56]

[Abilities: Beginner Runes Wordsmith (15%), Useable Runes: 8]

[Skills: Lesser-Mana Breathing Skill (F), Poison Strike (F), Camouflage (F), Earth Manipulation (E), Bladeless Wind Slash (E)]

This was his strength after hunting underground with Miko and with the others for the past few days. His body was brimming with power but he felt that his potential was getting squeezed out. He had to eat a lot more than usual, devouring three times the amount he ate when he was a non-awakener.

Skills were less favored by the masses because they were a lot more mana draining, so most people would depend on their abilities to make a living. However, they were still essential and widely fought for as they could be the difference between life and death. After trying his new skill, Arthur realized that each use drained 5 mana points.

He kept feeling like he was getting stuffed, although full of power. His body kept getting stronger, racing toward an unknown end. Arthur had no worries for now as he would be getting out of here soon, and he would ask Master Ronin about it.

After three days of travel, the group reached a glacier with the sea beyond it. There were some snowy mountains in the distance, with a giant castle standing between them. It was probably their destination, and the group kept advancing on top of Kira's back.

The only way they were able to resist the cold was through Kira's innate fire ability, releasing heat from his body. Arthur marveled at the change of scenery after they left the green hills and forests, wondering how such a thing was possible. The whole trial ground felt like several pieces of land being sewed together, each separated from the rest.