[The Phantom Ability I am going to teach you is called Vitalis Aegis.]

Aeron began following her instructions.

[The first step is to Conjure. Visualize a shimmering transparent barrier around you of your size with the shape of dome or egg. Keep its structural properties the same as spirit energy and condense it as much as possible to make it tough and keep the cost minimum of 200 to 300 spirit energy for now.]

[Make sure that you've made its structure sealed like a Veil and apply Fortify on it.]

'Alright.'

After several seconds, an almost transparent barrier appeared around Aeron, shimmering with the faint gold hue of spirit power.

[Next is to Transmute some spirit energy into Water, but not normal water. You have to imagine and make some adjustments this time and create Spirit Water.]

'Spirit Water? You mean I should Transmute spirit energy into Water, but also give it properties of spirit energy?'

[Exactly.]

'Alright.'

After a minute, Aeron finished Transmuting 2 liters of spirit water at the cost of 200 spirit energy.

[This step is a bit hard, and you have to do it carefully. Conjure another thin barrier, but its structure should have micro holes like a body's pores. Keep 2 millimeters of space between both barriers.]

'Micro like pores?' Aeron wryly smiled as he felt that was going to be a chore.

Aeron took five minutes to create this layer of barrier with its pores structure and put it inside the previous barrier, both sticking close enough that it only seemed like Aeron was in a single barrier.

[Good. Now store this spirit water in the thin gap between the external and internal barrier. It should fit once it spreads around the barrier.]

Aeron nodded.

The barrier turned semi-transparent as Aeron infused spirit water in the 2-millimeter wide gap between both barriers.

[Now use Enchant on both barriers and spirit water to increase their potency. Use 500 curse energy on each.]

'Done.'

Aeron used 1500 curse energy to Enchant the barriers and spirit water in addition to 500 curse energy to Foritify the outer-barrier.

[Now cut open a wound on your hand.]

'Are going to test it?' Aeron eagerly smiled and cut readily making a small slash on his palm by Enchanting his finger's nail. Thick blood oozed out.

[Yep. All you have to do is to push the internal barrier with your control to cause the spirit water to ooze out from the internal barrier's pores that you can easily absorb in your body.]

[Spirit water's effect increases your natural healing factor and provides faster regeneration. If your whole body absorbs from externally for external wounds, it will increase recovery faster.]

Lapis grinned and added. [But the true power of this Phantom Ability will be shown when you make its cursed oath.]

'You already have it ready?'

[Of course. A Phantom Ability without a cursed oath is not a true Phantom Ability.]

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

'Cool. So what's the cursed oath for this?' Aeron asked before he added. 'Also this is not just recovery but also defense-type, which is great, haha.'

Lapis grinned.

[Yep. This is a support-type ability that has both defense and healing. The cursed oath will enhance both in connection. I am sending it directly to your head, so start writing it.]

'Alright,' Aeron focused and entered his source region where his Warm Heart of Darkness suspended between his Curse source and Spirit source, stringing both with a red string.

Aeron then used a bit of curse energy and started writing the oath.

'Not bad,' Aeron nodded. 'But this is not all, right?'

[Of course, there's more.]

Lapis grinned and sent the second half of the cursed oath to Aeron's mind.

'Woah?! If this happens, the loss can be major. Not only do I lose a good amount of curse and spirit energies, but also my injuries won't heal,' Aeron was speechless. 'What's the reward? Send me.'

Lapis chuckled and sent the reward portion of the cursed oath.

Aeron's eyes shone. 'Okay, this is great. The defense of barrier is strong right after activation with the law of reward and danger exchange, so I can defend once, and then I only need to prevent getting hit for five seconds.'

[Yep. You just made movement ability, so make sure not to get hit a second time for five seconds.]

'The activation condition is like a semi-loop hole. I can easily recover the lost blood if I Enchant to increase the potency of healing.'

[That's how you do it. Your influence and mastery of curse and spirit power can negate some restrictions within the reasonable realm.]

'Nice. This Ability is indeed good. I can use it during battle and after battle to recover as well,' Aeron grinned, very satisfied. 'Thanks, Lapis.'

Lapis's fox ears moved as she smiled. [You're welcome. Now give the finishing touch, but keep this ablity. It has no duration until its consumed its energies.]

Aeron nodded and carved the ability's execution rune within his source region so that he could activate it at ease rather than going through all the steps one by one like before.

'Done,' Aeron looked at the ability status after several seconds as he finished the process.

[Vitalis Aegis] — Cursed Oath Bound.

|_Rank: C

|_Type: Supportive — Defense Rank: C- to B- / Healing Rank: C- to B-.

|_Description: Conjures a shimmering egg-shaped barrier around the user that can defend and release spirit water inside in micro-structure for people inside to absorb to enhance the natural healing factor and recover injuries.

|_Barrier: Conjure — 350 spirit energy cost + ?? Curse/Spirit energy for (Enchant boost: 50%, Fortify boost: 100%)

|_Spirit Water: Transmute — 200 spirit energy + ??? Curse energy. (Enchant boost: 50%).

"Cool. Then I might as well add a simple cursed oath to my Gale Strider ability since I thought of one," Aeron said before he immediately started writing it.

'How about this?' Aeron grinned.

Lapis raised her eyebrows in surprise. [This is good.]

"Now I'll recover my energies, and then we'll enter one of the creepy huts."

Aeron closed his eyes and started recovering while suppressing his eagerness. 'I got offense-type ability, a support-type that's both defense and healing and a movement-type. Haha, my initial skill-set is ready.'

[Aw~ look you getting so happy.]

Lapis mischievously smiled as she teased Aeron.

But Aeron was unteasable as he grinned and replied, "All thanks to you, darling."

'...'

***

After recovering to full, Aeron was ready, and raring to dive into the unknown.

Standing before one of the six huts near him, Aeron took a deep breath before he stretched his hand and pushed the leaf door.

At the corner where he opened it, Aeron only saw darkness inside.

'Looks like it's empty, but I am feeling goosebumps.'

[Don't worry. Dark Ruins are tricky like that pond. There is danger, but not imminent danger as you always get a chance and hint to avoid it or learn about it.]

Aeron pushed it a bit more...but suddenly, a black hand extended out from it, shocking Aeron as it passed through his Vitalis Aegis and grabbed his throat!

'WTF!?!'

In the next second, Aeron was pulled inside while his scream gradually turned distance as if he was going far away.

'What the actual fuck is this place?!'