Chapter 71 Abyss Runes (1/2)

After Alex and Alina were able to run away from the scary Divine Knight that they met, Alex decided that they should venture out to the nearest Monster Sector.

Going to a Human Kingdom is not a choice, as they will just most likely be attacked.

After a week of nonstop walking, Alex and his companions reached the next Monster Sector, which was ruled by a giant Treant.

Alina easily tore this Treant into pieces, turning him and Alina as the leaders of this Sector.

Both of them and the little kids then took residence at the middle of the Sector, with Alex using this free time to train.

As for Alina, she spent some time training too, but she spent the remains of her time playing with the little monsters.

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3 weeks later.

”Well at least some of my hard work had paid off.” Alex muttered to himself as he observed his body. ”Spending most of my time training isn't a waste.”

Contrary to what Alex had believed, his training speed actually got slower once he created his Abyss Core.

Instead of gaining an accelerated growth period after he reached Grade 3, what Alex got was a slight decrease in training speed.

Because of that, even after 3 weeks, Alex was still unable to step into Grade 4.

”Sigh…”

If Grade 3 was all about creating an Abyss Core, Grade 4 was all about engraving Abyss Runes on the body.

The Abyss Core was there to serve as an engine to promote power circulation throughout the whole body.

As for the Abyss Runes, they were there to improve the casting and firing rate of Abyss spells.

These runes will automatically streamline and conserve the use and consumption of Abyss Energy

But unlike the creation of the Abyss Core which requires brute force to create the core, the engraving of the Abyss Runes require skill and precision which Alex unfortunately lacked.

Since the engraving of the Abyss Runes require Alex to do it on himself, Alex had no choice but to be precise as he will be the one to engrave the Runes on his body.

Because of this deficiency, Alex has no choice but to learn the way of precision from the eager Alina.

His training seems to have borne fruit, as Alina just declared earlier that Alex is already free to engrave Abyss Runes on his body.

And to make it better, Alex also found out earlier that the amount of Abyss Energy in his body was also enough to warrant an attempt for him to reach Grade 4.

This means that Alex is free to try reaching Grade 4 right now.

But Alex did not rush to do this right now, as he knew that there is only one attempt for each person to reach Grade 4.

Through some inquiries with his Abyss Tome, Alex discovered that if he messes up a little in the engravement of the Abyss Runes, they can easily cause an explosion that could kill Alex.

”Slow and steady…” Alex muttered to himself as he tried to calm himself down.

A serene and peaceful mind free of distractions is needed to engrave Abyss Runes, and Alex is trying his best to achieve it.

But right now, that endeavor seems to be impossible.

”Receive that!” A jovial voice sounded out, breaking through Alex's 'serene' mindscape.

”Muu... That is too high for me!” A second voice replied, sounding a little affronted and angry.

”Well, you can just use your insects to catch them, right?”

”No! You are still cheating!”

”What the hell.” Alex opened his eyes as he realized that there is no way for him to be calm now. Distractions are just around him, and he is powerless to stop them.

He looked at the voices that he heard earlier, suppressing his urge to sigh.

”Really, what a drag.”

The voices that interrupted Alexcame from No. 4 and No. 5.

Both of them were playing volleyball, although the game was somewhat ill-fitted for their physiques.

No. 4 has a body made up of insects, making it hard for her to even move the ball.

As for No. 5, he was a literal skeleton, which meant that he can strike the ball, but his current body made it hard for him to pitch the ball well.

Watching the two intently was Alina, who for some reason, was officiating the game. She was even wearing referee clothes which she could have just pulled out with her powers.

These trio all made their noises in the game, with No. 4 incessant complaints, No. 5 snarky replies, and Alina's exhausted but also happy retorts.

”Alina, can you tone down whatever that is that you three are doing?” Alex said to Alina as he saw her excited look. ”I am doing something important here, you know.”

”Well, if we are noisy to you, then you can just go somewhere far, right?” Alina replied as she tilted her head. ”These kids are having fun here, and you disrupting them is not good.”

”…”