Chapter 455 - Camping: First Event (1/2)
Wearing full sleeves clothing at Nik's request, the entire group finally reached the first destination Nik had in mind for his disciples, including his partners. In these seven days, unlike Lanruo's expectations, Nik wished to drill a few methods in each one present so that they don't neglect their fortune of being born without any limits. Klas, Ray, and Nik would start their own practice once the girls left for their own objectives. Instead of lucrative beds and lavish furnishing, Nik was content by setting up a large camp and directing the girls to start chopping the surrounding trees to set up a perimeter. This would be the base while they explore the Star Dou forest in the next four days. Since Gojira tagged along, Nik didn't feel the need of making it easy for the girls. Nik himself chopped the wood using the side of his palm, training his [Absolute Sharpness.]
In the next hour, the campsite was ready and Nik gathered everyone in front of him while observing the tents erected by the girls. Of course, he himself stayed up all night yesterday to read the materials regarding camping and such to make the experience as 'raw' as possible, and looking at the slightly refreshed faces of his girls, Nik felt like they began on the right path.
”As I said yesterday, we will be training your bodies and spiritual cultivation. This area is, in fact, a resource point lent to me by the Alchemist Association. In a radius of 15 kilometers, you will be able to find raw meat mushrooms and outreach fire poison roots. They are the most basic of the herbs present within the region but both of these herbs are guarded by a single species— Grassman Monsters. They come in various shapes and sizes but the most common feature about them is their age. This species cannot grow over the limits of a hundred-year-old. Take caution of archers within the group and you are not allowed to kill any of them if not necessary. We are ravaging their treasures, not committing slaughter.”
Nik exhaled softly as he felt a little appreciative of how he didn't have to openly state the need of his girls wearing their battle/training outfits for the camp. Even Lanruo, though slightly lavish, wore an enthralling outfit that traced her curves and attracted Nik's attention every now and then.
”Ray and Klas will stay with me, their training needs continuation. Meanwhile, Xiao Xue, Gin Jiu, Pen Hua, and Xiao Xiaji, you four though not well-versed with my techniques, already have the basic hang of it. Gojira will scout the surroundings,” meant that Gojira could play around and find her 'fans,' ”while the remaining will explore the region in pairs of two.”
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”Korra-Ziyun, Asami-Ning'er, Gin Jiu-Ryu'er, Shen Xiu-Xue Yin, Lanruo-Xiao Xue, Pen Hua-Xiao Xiaji... that's a formidable line-up you have there, Nik. Not to mention Gojira and Ye Han~”
”Elsa... Ye Han is dead. Her name is Elsa,” Nik stated somberly. Everyone within the camp was already affected by higher gravitational pressure. Such a fluid control did surprise Ray slightly but in the end, the Succubus could only shrug. Nik had already done a favor huge enough by sharing a martial arts imbued with multiple insights that, if practiced continuously, could increase Ryu'er's strength marginally even without any rank-up.
”So... Ray...” Nik stated as Klas placed the last wooden tub around them and returned to Nik and sat close to him, ”I was thinking of I could make a detour before ranking up...”
Ray's hand over his cards froze. Thinking for a minute, Ray changed his hand and placed one of the most vicious cards in the existence of the multiverse.
”Draw 4,” Ray stated plainly as Nik's mood soured and he proceeded to pick four cards from the bundle. ”And you do understand that after our experience is maxed out, the further we travel without ranking up, the further world root would only become poisonous to our existence... If I recall correctly, something about or fate is modified, guaranteeing a harsher rank up the more we delay.”
Klas flinched since she had ignored her rank up and continued to adventure for a total of six times after her experience bar was filled. Meanwhile, nodding at Ray's words, Nik placed a blue colored card, ”It's to help Klas. And... I think you would also realize that this world is—”
”I don't mean to say that I won't tag along. Adventuring alone is boring so we both are gold on that matter. What confuses me is that why can't we just go to Klas's world after ranking up? Even if it's a rank 1 world, we will be appropriately restricted before being allowed to enter the world.”
”It's because of war,” Klas spoke up, ”My world is in a continuous war between three races. Us, the crystal-men, the creatures of flesh mermen, and the creatures of soul spirits. Every day I delay, we risk a chance of my family member losing its life once and for all.”
Furrowing his brows, Ray turned silent before speaking in a resolute manner, ”Then I won't be accompanying you this time, after all. With the rank-up quest being the participation in Paradise wars, I don't want to risk my life.”
”Fair enough,” Nik sighed before shrugging. Anyway, he didn't intend to get more world root in that world and just wished to help Klas with her troubles. She had bonded in that world and now with Nik's ability to instantly take away most of the distressed crystal-men from war, Klas dearly wished to make this a reality as soon as possible.
”UNO,” Ray sighed and placed the last card down before standing and gesturing with his fingers, ”Now, let's find a spirit ring for myself. I wanna experience this world for myself... let's see what's great about these rings.”
”Yes, yes...” Nik stood with a groan followed by Klas as they, too, made their way within the certain direction of the forest.
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Xiao Xue wore her battle qipao as usual. The modest dark-pink qipao traced her slightly grown-up curves with a pair of pants that refrained her top to expose her slender and plushy thighs as it did with Shen Xiu before Nik changed her world. A pair of spiritual glove fitting her knuckles perfectly as she observed her surroundings. Lanruo, meanwhile, took the lead and carefully looked for the spirit herbs mentioned by Nik. It was at this time, Xiao Xue hesitated before steeling herself and inquiring in a whisper, ”Um, Sister Huyan... is it not dangerous for us to explore a patch of star dou forest without any spirit rings?”
The elder pinkette looked back and replied without any hesitation, ”Grassman Monsters are easy to deal with. Their entire structure is, in fact, a clever play of placing various forms of leaves in a manner that allows them to stand tall. Their attacks, however, are weaker than an average rank 1 spirit master. And we only need to beat any we come across till it cannot move.”