Chapter 372 - Eternal Well (1/2)

Under the midnight's graceful glow, Nik stood over the center of the training field. His breathing shallow, his muscles still twitching under the pressure of following a routine meant for a body less than half his size, his physique layered with sweat and a languid gaze observing nothing of particular.

”Ray better thank me for this... almost got myself injured.” Nik winced. He overdid his derivation of technique, which he wasn't meant to, of course. Deriving a technique required time and for Ray, Nik made sure to make the martial arts routine astonishingly practical and incredibly powerful. Alas, completing the task meant to span over a few days in a matter of hours, Nik spent quite a bit of energy.

There was no reason to feel this excited. But, with the addition of the paper of Kaal's notebook, Nik felt that he simply had too many things to pursue.

Carnal pleasure, training, teaching, extracting Nie Li off of his value...

Keeping Ray's request over his head felt bothersome.

'Alongside the inbuilt activation of the consciousness-time loop for anyone who touches Kaal's notebook, the paper also had the effect of warping time.

You could have easily used the notebook to spend one year in another space while an hour passes in this world. This can only be activated—'

Nik interjected Sky, ”One hour, one year. Activated once daily. I know that. But, I have not reached the point where I'll sacrifice time spent with girls for power. At least, not willingly.”

Nik winced as he slowly sat down. Even the slightest movement wreaked his body with sweet pain.

”Say, Sky. Don't you already know that I feel extremely fucked whenever I leave Mitsuko, my unborn child, and others?

A week for them, but years for me.

Though, I am still fortunate to find company each travel.”

'Of course, I know that,' Sky replied after moment's silence.

”I don't even know, why would anyone willingly put themselves in seclusion just to grow stronger...” Nik sighed and groaned loudly. He also knew the more pages he collected, the higher the difference in time: one paper, one year.

Two papers, twenty years...

It was merely unreasonable!

'Probably, to protect—'

”That's involuntary. You 'have' to grow stronger to achieve your goals. That's a natural process. Maybe, I couldn't express myself clearly...

Anyway, I can't even bother thinking. Oh, by the way, how did he do it?”

'What? And, who?' Sky inquired.

”How did Kaal sneak into your father's most private quarter?”

'Nobody knows...' Sky sighed as Nik exhaled deeply.

”Great, another mystery.”

Nik shook his head when his chat with Sky was cut short.

”What are you doing here?”

Asami stepped towards Nik and inquired softly. She made her way in front of Nik and crouched down with her knees pushed together, but even then, her 'energized' scent easily flooded the scene.

”I felt a little depressed, so came out for fresh air.”