<< Since you are yet to awaken your mana core, I will focus on Astral energy. >>
<< The bodies of those who embark on the warrior's path use the diluted energy Ki, to strengthen their bodies gradually from the one-star stage to the twelfth-star stage. >>
<< Each successive three stages corresponds to the mages beginner, advanced, master, and grandmaster stage.>>
<< Just as a mage awakens an innate talent, warriors summon an astral warrior to become their battle partner depending on the person's talent and potential when they break into the one-star stage. >>
"Astral warrior?" Arlo was flabbergasted. He already had an idea of what this is.
<< Yes! When a warrior dies, they can choose to return to nature and merge with the universe's Astral energy.>>
<< They could one day return as astral warriors if a fated one with the required talent and affinity summoned them. >>
"Doesn't that mean that warriors are overpowered?"
Arlo was speechless.
Sure, mages had innate talents that would continue to improve as they advanced in their cultivation.
However, compared to warriors, it was nothing. Imagine if you could summon a strong warrior to fight for you from the very start of your journey, you would breeze through all the opponents in your path effortlessly.
<< *Chuckles* >>
Arlo was surprised. This was the first time the artifact spirit laughed. Even though it was just a chuckle, it was still impactful.
<< You have a wild imagination.>>
Before Arlo could reply, the artifact spirit continued:
<< The powers of the astral warriors are sealed and would only be unlocked with the progress of their masters. >>
"Too bad..."
The artifact spirit continued with his explanation:
<< Warriors could summon one astral warrior while super-talented warriors could summon two. >>
Arlo's eyes lit up. He was suddenly filled with expectations.
<< That is it! >> The artifact spirit exaggeratedly let out a breath as if he had consumed all his energy.
"That is all?" Arlo was surprised. Shouldn't there be more? It couldn't be that that was all the knowledge a cultivator should know…right?
<< For now!>> It replied as if guessing his thought.
<< Alright! >> Arlo relented. He might be a little kid, however, he still knew that sometimes 'knowledge is not truly power'.
<< Now! Your first lesson. I want you…>>
"Excuse me?" Arlo quickly interrupted the artifact spirit.
<< What is it? >> The artifact spirit grumbled.
He didn't like getting interrupted.
"What do I call you?"
<<….>> The artifact spirit was stunned.
"It is a mouthful to keep calling you artifact spirit." There was another reason Arlo didn't say.
'Isn't the author benefitting by using artifact spirit to fill the word count?'
However, he didn't dare to say it as he might suddenly be abandoned as the MC.
No, he didn't dare!
The artifact spirit reasoned for a moment and thought that the young boy had a point.
After a few moments of silence, he suddenly thought of those milf ladies he missed so badly and laughed lewdly.
<< Huhehehehe! >>
'Huh? What is wrong with this old man?' Arlo thought silently.
<< From now henceforth, call me…>> He paused for the climax.
<
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"Old Bro!" Arlo was stunned at first before he exclaimed with an evil smile.
'Huh?'
'Old bro?'
'Was he kicked in the head by a donkey?'
A series of thoughts flashed through the artifact spirit's mind. Nonetheless, he was sure of one thing.
He was royally fucked!
No matter how he threatened Arlo, he continued to call him Old Bro with an innocent face.
…..
Arlo could be found sitting at the center of the room in a lotus position.
At this point, Arlo had already started to adapt to the absence of light, so he was barely affected.
His eyes were tightly shut as he thought of what old bro told him.
<< The superhuman physical abilities of a warrior are off the charts. However, their strongest point is their regenerative ability. >>
<< From the ninth to twelfth star stage, warriors could regenerate from a single drop of blood. >>
<< Not to mention when they break past the twelfth star stage and become a first-stage astral warrior. At this point, they create an avatar in their bodies; their unique astral bodies which they can summon to cover themselves making them twice as hard to kill. >>
<< At this point, it's not wrong to call them half-immortals. >>
Arlo's breathing suddenly became calm as he focused on the two tasks old bro gave him.
<< Keep absorbing the surrounding Ki, until the invisible chains locking your body are broken. For some reason, you require far more Ki than your body can hold to break through. >>
<< Secondly, each time you reach your limit, focus all the Ki on your right arm. Even though your right arm cells and tissues have started regenerating, at this rate it will take two months before it regrows. Depending on how much you concentrate and how long you hold it, the two months can even be shortened to a week. >>
With that thought in mind, Arlo furrowed his brows as he willed the surrounding ki into his body.
After a few minutes, he felt every fiber of his body become full of Ki, however, he still continued to absorb more Ki.
A minute later, he finally felt like he had absorbed 20% more Ki than his body could hold, yet he gritted his teeth and tried to absorb more.
However, no matter how much he tried, all the ki he tried to absorb escaped his body as there was no more space left for them to occupy.
He tried compressing the Ki further, however, every time he tried, he failed and the only result it brought were painful groans that escaped from his lips.
His skin started cracking in several areas, with blood leaking out of them.
Knowing that he was at his absolute limit, he finally relented and focused his entire mind on concentrating all the absorbed Ki to his right arm.
"AAAAAAAAH!"
A heart-wrenching scream escaped Arlo's mouth.
A vibrant whitish smoke surrounded the stump of his right arm, and he could feel that the speed at which it was regenerating had at least quickened by five times.
He didn't get to experience the joy of regenerating at such a monstrous pace for long, as the pain he felt was simply too unbearable and he passed out.
…..
About an hour later.
*Knock Knock*
A light knocking sound could be heard.
Receiving no response, the door was gently opened.
A disheveled Joe stumbled into the room, his face pale white and his lips purple.
However, when he saw Arlo passed out on the floor, he didn't know where the energy suddenly came from but his steps quickened as he made his way over to him.
"Hey! Are you okay?"
Just when he was about to lift him, he saw Arlo's right arm and he became stunned on the spot, his hands still outstretched.
'What happened?'
'Why is his right arm missing?'
Joe's mind was thrown into chaos.
Even though he was only ten years old, after the past few weeks, Joe's mind wasn't as simple as a child's.
He didn't know why, but he felt the reason why Arlo was in such a state was related to him.
A myriad of emotions flashed within his eyes.
Pain, frustration, anger, and finally guilt.
He bit his lower lip until it drew blood and all the emotions welling up within him disappeared as if they never existed.
All that was left in his eyes was resolve.
A burning resolve!
…..
Arlo's eyelashes quivered before they slowly opened.
Looking at the pitch-black darkness around him, his eyes got misty.
'It wasn't a dream.'
He wished it was all a dream.
He just wanted to go home.
He longed to see his mum's face and tell his dad he loved him. He always had.
However, after a few seconds, he regained his calm.
He closed his eyes and concentrated on that flickering light in his mind.
An invisible spiritual wave surged out of his head, covering a five-meter radius with him at the center.
He found his room till the same.
Empty!
Except he was on the bed, and not the floor.
Wondering how he got into bed, a knocking sound came from the door before it was abruptly opened.
Arlo quickly sat up and even though he felt a searing pain across his body, he gritted his teeth and endured it.
He couldn't tell who entered the room as his divine sense was too small to cover the entire room.
He didn't have to think for long though as a cold elderly woman's voice resounded in the room:
"Time for your chores."
'It is that old maid from before.' Arlo relaxed his tense nerves.
Honestly, he was a little afraid it was the previous kids that were here for revenge.
The old maid didn't seem to want to enter the room as she stood before the opened door and continued:
"You have only two duties."
"Clean the castle and feed the bloodhounds."
"Once you are through, you must return to your room immediately and not loiter around."
At the end of her speech, her words were laced with threats.
She turned around to leave before she stopped once more.
"Oh! You can wash in the room next door. There is already a change of clothes provided for you. As for what you will eat, I advise you to get them in the nearest city when you go to buy the hound's food. Here! You will need this," said the old maid as she threw a token at Arlo.
However since Arlo couldn't see, he wasn't able to react until the token entered the range of his divine sense.
By then it was already too late, as the token smacked him on the head with a dull sound.
A trickle of blood slid down Arlo's face, however, he didn't make any sound.
The woman displeased, harrumphed before she closed the door.
Before the door closed completely, her faint voice drifted into the room, "The bloodhounds are located in the basement."
Arlo took a deep breath.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't angry, however, there was nothing he could do about it.
He was in a foreign world.
And he was too weak.
Wiping the blood off his face, he looked at his right arm, and a small smile unconsciously lit his face.
Even though there was no noticeable change, he could feel his right arm had regenerated by a lot.
His eyes flashed with resolve, and a plan immediately began to form in his mind.
'I will clean the castle, feed the whatever hounds, and spend the rest of my time training.'
'I refuse to stay this way for long.'
'Just wait for me!'
A fiery anger flashed past his eyes.
*****
Almost 2000 words.
Thanks to all those who are following this novel.