They quickly let a drop of their blood fall on the access emblem that Kairos gave them to establish ownership. Unlike any artefact they had previously known, the moment the emblem registered someone as the user, it became soul bound. Meaning that they could not transfer the emblem to another person to be used; the emblem will crack if anything happens to its owner.
It took Kairos a lot of effort to find the way to do this, but to protect his friends from covetous people, it could not be avoided.
After that, the guys activated their tokens the same way Kairos did, and moments later they entered the training circle.
“Whoa, what’s this place boss?” John and the other captains who had never seen the place before asked curiously.
The scenery before them is strange, to say the least, being within a crystal ball they could see a giant cabinet around them. But, it wasn’t the view that surprised them.
The sheer size of the training ground is wide enough for 20 people to stand on. They were astounded, not only by the stratagem itself but also the grade of Time-Space Container, the crystal ball, that could store an object this large.
Storage devices with this amount of space are definitely items beyond the Mortal Realm’s runic knowledge. Having too many spectacular events to deal with at once, the captains are filled with questions they did not know where to start.
They couldn’t help but notice that the Heavenly Energy in this place is far more concentrated than anything they had experienced before. And, the same could also be said about its purity, making it far easier to refine such energy than what the one that naturally exists in the mortal realm.
“This place doesn’t seem like it merely kept us hidden. I can feel a tremendous force gathering where we stand” Feeling the Heavenly Energies, Sasha cocked her head and asked.
“That’s because it is also fitted with a cultivation circle that could increase our training speed,” Kairos answered honestly.
By now, Long, John, Silvers and Sasha had their minds already short-circuited.
The public training centre only provides training that is twice as fast as usual cultivation speed, and it costs a hefty sum to use, but Kairos simply pulled out a training ground that felt only more potent.
Alan and the others had wide grins on their faces when they looked at the dramatic reactions of the four captains.
As frequent recipients of unbelievable wonders which always manifest around Kairos, they have an urge to look at others getting the shock of their lives from these ‘miracles’.
“Have you guys gone to the training hall in Saint City yet?” Edward, adding salt to the wounds, asked with a smile.
“Of.. of course we have since the boss made it. It’s simply incredible. Twice the usual training spee….” John started.
“Oh, this place isn’t much. Just a little bit more potent than the training circle our boss made for the royal family,” Jim cut in and said proudly.
“What?!” Silvers cried out. The fact that commoners like themselves could have something better than what the royal family owns is unbelievable; the four captains realised this belatedly, much to their enjoyment.
This time, there are others besides the four boys that struggled to make sense of all things that traditions dismissed as impossible, yet happening right before their eyes.
“Well, you already know that training hall’s Stratagem is a creation of boss, so it isn’t odd that he has something better.”
“And the Stratagem he gave his Majesty grants is only three times the standard training efficiency.”
Kairos’ team finished each other’s sentences with mischievous grins on their faces.
Since the royal family did not boast that they have a Stratagem that is better than the one in the public training hall, it is no surprise that those uninvolved know nothing about this.
“I…I… I’d thought that this place is only twice of the training hall’s effectiveness. Four times at most... but... this …?!”
“It’s seven times,” Kairos finished them off with his explanation. Alan and the rest already know that the Crystal Valve’s effectiveness and they only smiled with a satisfied look on their faces.
“…Wait did you say this place is seven times?!”
“It’s not nearly enough. You recall, we have only a decade to train before the outbreak?”
If comparing this training circle to the Immortal Realm’s powerful Heavenly Energy, it is still considered slow, but here on Gaia, they are given an unfair advantage. He believes that one day, those in this place will become the pillars of Saint Empire and the rest of their mortal realm.
Kairos hopes that this would be enough when the devils roam the land freely.
Afterwards, his team asked him about how he managed to fit such a large piece of land within a small crystal ball. The answer they receive only caused them to stare confusedly as if they are illiterates told to read a textbook.
The way he stuffed such a large piece of land into a tiny crystal ball is via spatial manipulation, a distortion of actual distances while keeping everything else in normalcy.
Such a high-level technique is impossible to find in the libraries, but fortunately, Kairos had a good reference to work with; his Time-Space container, The Thunder God’s Ring.
His motive for this purpose is more easily understood; merely for the fact that such a conspicuous training circle cannot be used in public.
The difficult part was to create a method to send living things into this time-space room. He had to use a mixture of a teleportation ward and ancient runes he learned from the two libraries to make a safe method.
“However, why wouldn’t you tumble around when I shook the crystal ball?” Alan asked curiously. He knows that the rest of them had been too amazed and forgotten.
Unfortunately, this question exposed his previous mischiefs.
“Alan…,” Kairos looked directly at his friend who suddenly discovered an unhealthy interest to whistle.
But the seriousness only lasted a moment before everyone falls into laughter.
Thanks to the space distortion, Kairos had seen what had happened outside, but he would not be surprised with anything Alan and Jim come up with even without looking.
He explained patiently, for the sake of sating their curiosity, “There is a space-lock rune in this place, so it didn’t matter how you shake it. In fact, all our Space-time containers have it. Don’t you guys wonder how your things within those rings don't move about when you shake them?”
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“That makes perfect sense boss, but don’t you think the Crystal Valve needs a new name now?” Tommy who didn’t care about all these changed the topic quickly.
“A good idea! How about the Crystal Ball Valve?” Jim suggested seriously.
“That name just sounds terrible. And its name doesn’t matter. It’s the function that counts,” The Sasha commented.
“Just ignore Jim, we are already used to his antics.”
“Hey… I wasn’t joking…” Jim looked downwards disappointedly. He felt that his suggestion was a good one.
*Cough*
Kairos stifled his laughter with a cough, and then pulled some candies he had been saving to give to the sulking Jim. Receiving those colourful treats caused their saboteur to instantly brighten up again.
“W..way too easy to bribe… He’s kinda making me worry…”
Although he wanted to cheer up his friend, his ulterior motive in giving Jim sweets is because he also thought that ‘Crystal Ball Valve’ sounded terrible. Thankfully, just as he hoped, Jim had immediately forgotten about naming the place.
Finishing the tour and promising they will come to use this training circle as often as time permits, their last question is how to exit this crystal ball. And for a moment, Kairos seriously considered if he should withhold this information just for the amusement of seeing them panic.
Unfortunately, only Jim fell for his joke. To exit the Crystal Valve training ground, merely touching the crystal ball will do.
Now after skipping a few days of class, Kairos urgently resume the lessons he needs to attend. Among the students, there were quite a few who dissent with Kairos missing classes are already openly showing but Kairos himself did not bother with the rumours. Receiving such a special treatment to be late or miss classes are something none other was given in the academy’s history.
He promptly proceeded to his next lesson. The Runic Engraving Class.
Because his buddies had enrolled in all the courses together with him, they went to the auditorium together.
“Looks like somebody decided to show up,” Immediately when Kairos entered the place, a snicker ran across the class.
All five of them heard it, but they coolly went to their seats indifferently. Without receiving a response, their classmates started provoking them, but the commotion was promptly halted by the instructor.
“Ahem, settle down everyone. The class is starting now,” A young, handsome looking lady said.
Many of the senior students that had joined in with mocking Kairos held their tongues. In the academy, the instructors hold absolute authority in the classes. To go against their word is akin with disobeying a superior in the military, and the punishment is not much different.
The instructor took out several items and placed them upon the table at the centre of the room.
There are common tools like shovels, mining picks, forks, spoons and chopsticks. Alongside weapons, armours, harnesses and other gears of war.
All of those items are engraved with runic symbols.
“Class, please come down and choose your items. Don’t take more than three pieces so we can leave some for the rest.”
The students went forward as told. Squeezing and pushing others behind them.
They know that this is more than a simple exercise, their selection are all noted by their instructor and will reflect their academic score. For those who are poor in martial prowess, the things that happen in class are battles for survival.
Without saying, many of those students disgruntled with the favour shown to Kairos and his team hindered their way towards the instructor’s table.
Kairos did not lose his temper and stepped aside politely for those pushing their way in front. The rest of his team followed suit, they were told of their leader’s plan, and as much as they would like to rebuke those offending them their respect for their leader won them over.
The students rushed down to the piles. Those of them unconcerned with academic results and did not want to have too much homework took only one or two pieces of engraved items, but everyone tried to pick from the weapon and armour piles. Only those that are late and left without many choices picked the equipment used on the battlefield. None wanted to take the common tools.
When the five and those of the Snowdrifts reached the table, there were only a few pieces of weapons and armours and things that the others did not want remains.
Under the surprised gaze of everyone, Kairos immediately went forward and picked up a pair of chopsticks.
“Hahaha, choosing the lightest item. As expected of a lazy student that skips classes,” a senior said.
A member of the Snowdrifts could no longer restrain himself, and he shouted across the place, “Hey, who are you to bother yourself with what our boss picked? If you can’t contend with an Earl, you better shut your trap!”
“Funny you would ask. I am Lux Cixton of the Steel Rose family. I’ll ask in return, who are you to speak to me? Who gave you the right?”
“Lux?” Kairos asked to no one in particular.
A few of the students who recognised the person said, “He is the younger cousin of Von Cixton.”
“Ahhhh. One of the members of that loser family, Steel Rose?” Alan said fearlessly.
Lux who was intentionally provoking their group because of the grudges their family suffered at the Snowdrifts’ hands become wordless with both rage and shame.
However, before he could lash out at the group, everyone watched in stunned silence at the second selection Kairos reached for.
He walked past the left over swords, armours and even engraved tokens that most others would consider a good alternative, and instead, he went to the back of the table where the heavy items are left then picked up a large mining pick.
Lux who claimed that Kairos was lazy by choosing the pair of chopsticks did not know what to say next. This mining pick is even bulkier than a great sword since it was made with size and weight suitable for cultivators in mind.
“Hmph, I’ll see how you ridicule yourself later,” Lux spat and sat back down.
The last item that Kairos chose is silverware, a small jar use to keep food hot and fresh.
By now, every student except those from the Snowdrifts is baffled by his choices.
The instructor, however, gave Kairos an appreciative nod.
The Snowdrifts members also began to pick out the items. Similar their leader, there were those that took cutleries, some who took the harness or the shovel.
After everybody has their engraved items, the class continued.
“Your task today is to study the items you have in hand and learn their characteristics. You will then submit a report on your observation,” The instructor sat back down at her desk after giving them their assignment.
However, when every student began to research the engraved runes on their items, she looked at Kairos once again, with a smile on her face.
“This kid is truly daring. Picking the Anti-poison chopsticks, the Earthsplitter mining pick and the Entropy Adjustment jar. The select few donated to the academy by the Emperor.
Any of those items have incredible runic engraving methods that cannot be found easily. Did he truly know the value of those items?
Such a good eye for the engraving arts! No wonder he can create the Star Rune Weapons.”
Every rune inscribed on the items that the instructor brought has their purpose. What is most important isn’t just the weapons that are made for attacking, nor the armours that use runes to protect the wearers, but also items with versatile or unique functions.
As a military state, the students are not wrong at choosing items to enhance offensive or defensive functions. In fact, traditionally, those that gained the best scores in this class are those that found a way to improve on those two functions for war. However, only those that already have vast knowledge above the norm could hope to pick a plain piece of weapon or armour yet submit an exceptional report. On the other hand, such a choice is a very safe bet to get a respectable result. One can hardly get a bad mark using such tested and proven research materials.
Just choosing a tool, doesn’t mean one could write an impressive report. Most of the time, it will only result in a work that is too ambitious.
The academy had arranged the items with varying amount of difficulty. Those that researched weapons and armours have the easiest task, followed by those that research common tools, then those that could search out the items with unique functions that the Emperor donates, and finally the students that do not choose an item to research but attempts to improve on current methods.
Many great craftsmen chose the hardest path during their time in the academy, and it affected the others to follow suit. However, after many years, students of the Runic Engraving Class started believing that weapons and armours are the only way to go.
The instructor carefully remembered every student that reached for an item that could expand their knowledge. And, among everyone, Kairos saw past the value of the object and found the best items with research value.
The mark of a great Inscriptionist is their ability to give the items they engrave all kinds of effects with the minimal amount of internal energy needed as a catalyst. To achieve that, one needs to gain vast knowledge, a trait that beginners to the engraving art would not know.
However, Kairos is different from those hand-fed nobles that took up the majority of this class. He experienced climbing up with his own two hands and knew what to look for. The things that the rest of the class looked down upon are the best their instructor had to offer, and he advised his team to follow his lead.
There is no need to rebuke those that mocked him. When their group's academic results are revealed, their score will speak for themselves.
In Kairos' heart, far greater things demand his concern.