Upon leaving the meeting, Thorne did not meander around the space like Lyra and Zal. He did not wish to speak with any of the representatives; that job was more suited to the sociable Zal and classy Lyra. Instead, he immediately worked his way out of the packed camp around the farm and found a quiet area where he could sit. ‘System interface.’ He thought, and his wish was granted in a second.

Name

Thorne Kramer

Age

25 years

Race

Human (Grade 1)

Class

N/A

Titles

None

Cultivation Status

Level 74 (Late Grade 1)

Red Spectrum Status

Level 80

Amber Spectrum Status

Level 68

Red Spectrum Skills

Phantom Leap, level 6/10

The Red Nova Torrent, Level 3/10

Cross Bade Extension Strike, Level 3/10

Cross Blade Strike, Level 2/10

Blade Extension, level 6/10

Amber Spectrum Skills

Sword Shield, Level 3/10

Energy Bubble, Level 4/10

General Skills

Everlasting Linguist

Advanced Energy Circulation

Stats

Listed Below

Strength

83

Agility

85

Constitution

74<77

Intelligence

65

Perception

35

Energy Control

75

‘Wow, so the ding was a level up to a skill,’ Thorne realized as he looked at his status. Though it's strange that only now, after months of training, have I leveled a skill.’ Thinking back, Thorne realized that this was the first time his skills had changed. ‘How does that work?’ he grimaced. I’ve definitely improved in most of my skills.’

Thorne sat for a moment in silence. ‘I’ve trained different skills for long periods of time with lots of effort, and yet…nothing.’ Thorne looked back at him interface, scratching his chin, ‘Until now.’

Thorne sat for a second as he replayed the moment he had leveled. ‘Wait,’ Thorne’s thoughts froze as he remembered something, ‘This wasn’t the first time I've leveled up in a skill.’ Thorne recalled the mock battle between his team and the fifteen other students. In the finale he had been on the edge of losing against a black spectrum cultivators summoned beast. As a last measure, he used The Phantom Leap to perform something extraordinary. He had transcended travel—became formless and immaterial—for but a moment and teleported into the belly of the black spectrum beasts. From there, it was simple; he had just attacked from the inside and won the battle.

‘So why did I level only in that battle and in this one? What's so special.’ Thorne mulled over the possibility. He bit his lip and thought back to the other moment of leveling; the wall run. ‘I used The Phantom Leap in a totally new application. Never before had I utilized the skill in a way that incorporated momentum to such an extreme.’ Thorne froze, ‘I used it in a totally new way!’ He grinned wide, ‘That’s it! I understand!’

Thorne paced in joy as he connected the dots; ‘you need to progress the fundamental aspect of your usage of a skill to upgrade it. That’s incredible!’

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Previously, Thorne had simply believed that mindless training of the already known techniques would progress him. He had spent hours upon hours simply using the same ability in the same way. Sure, his skill control had improved, but the level had not. ‘I’m assuming that as I continue leveling up, I’ll be able to use the skill with more power and versatility, which opens up potential improvements and discoveries about the skill. ‘I should probably find someone to confirm it, though.’ Thorne thought, ‘Lyra and Zal will probably be busy, and I don’t really want to give Moravian an ego bump, so…Procka.’

Sighing, Thorne returned to the camp, ‘Procka better talk; I really don’t want to go back to those representatives.’

In no time, Thorne maneuvered his way through the packed streets. He avoided the clamoring individuals, ignored the shouts and loud conversations, and briskly walked toward the area where he believed Procka to be.

When Thorne had left the meeting, he had asked Zal where Procka was living. He was pretty uncomfortable because one of their members had just avoided the meeting, and he had no clue where they were. Thus, he wanted to know her location. Of course, he held no quarrel with Procka—she could do what she wanted—but it still rubbed Thorne slightly the wrong way—mostly because he hadn’t thought of skipping the meeting and wished he had.

Thorne found the building that Procka was apparently situated in. It was the most miniature building in miles. Standing only two stories tall and barely reaching twenty feet, the small sandstone house was a stark reminder of the poverty around the farm. ‘It was probably the house of some farm laborers.’ Thorne sighed as he gazed at the unkept exterior. There were cracks and even dents in the stone. It was unpolished and repugnant.

There was one small door in the middle of the building, and Thorne walked up to it. With a hard push, the door swung open. Due to the minimal windows, Thorne had to navigate based on the dual light of his spectrum crystal. That did not last long, as in the corner of the room he had stepped into, Thorne saw a low orange glow. ‘There she is.’

“Ahem,” Thorne coughed as he trudged over to Procka. He ensured he wasn’t too alarming and made his presence obvious. He didn’t know Procka well and had no clue what her reaction would be if someone randomly approached her in her own living area. “Hey, Procka, can you see me? It's Thorne," he said as he got closer to her.

She was sitting down. Her knees were on the floor, and she held her massive, pan-like palms in front of her. Inside her hands were two orange crystals that emitted a dull light. ‘Wow, they are drained.’ Thorne realized as he sensed the energy left in the crystal that there was practically nothing in either of them.

Procka’s closed eyes shot open, and her lava orange eyes bore into Thorne. She nodded in answer to Thorne’s question and continued staring at him. “Uhm, I came to ask you some questions about cultivation,” Thorne mumbled as he sat beside the Grandorian. ‘Goddamn, I forgot how weird she was.’ Thorne grimaced.

Procka continued staring at him with a blank expression. Unbothered, though a bit awkward, Thorne continued, “I just wanted to confirm a theory I had about leveling skills up with you. I'm almost certain that to level an ability up, you need to expand on its applicational usages.”

She stared at him further, and Thorne could even sense that she was still actively raining energy from the crystals, likely some method of cultivation that Thorne was unaware of. “Uhm, do you agree or have anything to say about it? You know, like the details on how to level up?” Thorne asked with pursed lips.

Procka gazed at him blankly before opening her mouth; “You right.” She rumbled.

Thorne smiled, but he knew she would say no more, “All right, thank you Procka.” He said before leaving the room.

Behind him, Procka watched on with a complicated gaze; “Wait.”

With knitted brows, Thorne turned back to Procka. ‘That’s weird. I don’t think I've ever heard Procka speak without prompting.’

He looked back at Procka and awaited her next action. Procka, who was sitting, began to move. She lifted herself up and entered a standing position. Her height was so massive that the sandstone roof brushed against the top of her head. Looking down on Thorne, she began to speak in a slow drawl, “How do you not know that?”

Thorne looked at her for a second—formulating a good response. Unfortunately, he wasn’t well versed on many aspects of the universe. Thus, he had to just wing it and hope the response made sense; “My family purposely shrouded information from me.” Thorne said with a practiced sad smile, “They said that they want me to learn organically, whatever that means.”

He didn’t like lying at all. Actually, Thorne deeply detested it, but in his scenario, he had to lie. He couldn’t simply reveal that he was from Earth. People might think lesser of him, and treat him worse, especially if it came with the implication of him being a slave.

Procka stared at him, and Thorne could notice a slight intensity in her eyes; "Do not lie.” She said with rock-hard resolve.

Thorne sighed; he knew that by coincidence, some races of people, or some individuals, would have some innate ability to detect lies. Unfortunately, he had hoped that he would never have to lie to them, especially if it was Procka. “Apologies.” Thorne said with a slight head dip, “I didn’t want to lie; I never do. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you the truth, though.”

Turning his back, Thorne prepared to leave the room, hoping the relationship wasn’t ruined. “Oath.” He heard behind him. Looking back, Thorne saw Procka still looking at him. “Oath?” he asked.

“Oath broken, I die,” Procka answered confidently, and Thorne could detect a bit of pride in her words. "I never break oath.”

Thorne scratched his chin. ‘Is it worth it? She did seem truthful.’ After a moment of thought, Thorne decided to ask another question; “How do these oaths work?”

“Swear on crystal. If oath broken system destroy crystal.” Procka answered, not hesitating one bit.

“So, it’s an oath run by the system?” he asked. For some reason, Master Khal’s warnings about the system had stuck with him, and despite its apparent benevolent superiority, he didn’t trust it completely.

“No.” Procka shook her head, “Oath is between energy. System is…accountant.”

Thorne nodded. It made sense a bit, though he hoped that it was real. Luckily, he had a way to confirm. “Take an oath that all you said was true.” he demanded with a piercing gaze.

Procka gazed at him for a brief moment before nodding; “I, Procka, swear upon my spectrum that the words I spoke previously were true.”

Thorne gaped at Procka, not because of the Oath but because of the eloquence and number of words she had said in it: ‘interesting.'

As Thorne watched, a low glow emanated from her chest—where her crystal was located. The crystal surged with energy, and Thorne could sense an eerie feeling of absolute power in her crystal for a tiny moment. Then it was gone, and Procka was back to normal.

“Thank you,” Thorne said. “I appreciate your honesty, so I'll tell you the truth as well. As we discussed though, you need to take an oath to not share the information unless I give you express permission.”

With grave eyes, Thorne stared into Procka's calm visage. “I, Procka, swear upon my spectrum that I will not share the information told by Thorne to anyone or anything unless given express permission by Thorne.”

Like the last Oath, the glow and a brief feeling of dominance shone in Procka, and Thorne could tell that the Oath worked.

Sighing, Thorne knew that he couldn’t back down now. “I am from a systemless world,” Thorne said. Procka didn’t react at all and simply watched and listened for more information. “I was sold to the academy due to my high talent, but I am not a slave,” Thorne stated, stressing the last part. “There were billions of people in my world, but only a few thousand survived because of spectrum talent.”

Every word about his planet bit at his heart, but after nearly a year away from Earth, he had grown used to its absence. He no longer felt strange by the lack of certain noises or smells. He had grown used to not hearing the sirens of police cars or smelling the uncomfortable scent of cigarettes. 'Earth doesn't exist anymore; why would I be so hung up on something that doesn't exist.'

“I didn’t know much when I came to the Zupu academy, and due to being sent to The Great Wilderness for six months, I didn’t have the opportunity to learn much about cultivation or the universe.” With a solemn frown, Thorne nodded at Procka, “That is all.” With that, Thorne turned his back and began walking out of the room.

Just like before, however, he was interrupted by the low rumble of Procka; “Gratitude.” She said, causing Thorne to turn back to her, “Need help, ask me.” she said, pointing a massive finger inwardly.

A mess of thoughts ran through Thorne’s head. There was one that reigned supreme though; ‘Why is she doing this?’ He didn’t say the question out loud, and instead opted for the more peaceful alternative, “Thank you.” he said, before finally leaving her. As he walked out, Procka watched on with a thoughtful gaze full of diverse emotions.