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Jay scrolled through every single option available searching for the perfect equipment, one that had the perfect quality to cost ratio. With 25 basic mana crystals to his name, he frivolously scoured through the armour pages, until he came across what seemed to be exactly what he was searching for.
A lightweight yet durable chest plate and leggings set for a cost of ten mana crystals seemed like a steal, the equipment was made from a level 15 Glimmerfinn Fish. The design makes me look like Aqua-man Jay thought to himself.
He confirmed the purchase, a portal suddenly appeared and Rose instructed that he was to place his crystals inside. He did so at once and out of no where a box appeared next to him. Jay opened the box carefully, and inside was his armour.
Stunned at the efficient payment method of the marketplace Rose commented that some of the more ancient champions, such as the creator of the tower had touched upon some of the rules of space, although nothing too incredible they were still able to teleport items a certain distance using space arrays.
After the box was open Jay put on his armour and to his surprise it fit incredibly well, with his spear in hand he really did resemble a superhero from the movies.
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Now that his safety was out of the way, he continued his search in the weapons section for a stronger spear. After browsing for what seemed like half an hour he came across a spear that wasn't too expensive, but provided a modest increase in power:
Basic Tier: Ember steel Lance: This basic spear is forged from a special metal known as ember steel. It has a subtle reddish glow and is slightly lighter than the average basic spear. The material provides a modest increase in damage output, making it a popular choice for beginners.
Jay immediately sought out this item, spending another ten of his hard earned crystals to pay for it. Once it arrived Jay removed it from the packaging and began swinging it around. His Spear mastery had definitely improved and it seemed like it wasn't too far off reaching the third level.
As he was very happy with his equipment, he stored the rest of his mana crystals in his backpack and returned to the office where his pet companion was waiting for him fast asleep.
Jay decided that it was getting late and he needed some rest too. Not wanting to wake his feathered friend, he decided to rough it out and sleep on the floor. Interestingly he noticed that the stronger he got, the less his body needed rest. But Jay decided to make sure he got adequate rest as his mind still needed to recover.
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Jay awoke to a chirping noise the next morning and the first thing he noticed was that his crystals had disappeared from his backpack, turning around Jay saw the bird had grown even more, and was now awkwardly making it's way around the office space.
I better give you a name, Jay thought to himself. How about Aery? Jay inquired. the little bird had a positive reaction to this, tilting its feathery head down for Jay to pet.
Well Aery, you're growing up so fast, you're already two metres long! I can't believe it. I think it's time we go back to the tower, and give you some training. It's time for you to learn how to fight.
Aery was extremely excited after hearing Jay's words, quickly gobbling down the final mana crystal before hopping downstairs towards the exit.
Hmm it seems like beasts can also feed on mana crystals. I wonder if humans can do the same. Jay followed Aery out the door, locking it before leaping towards the tower while Aery flew.
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As the two entered the tower, a unique screen appeared before them:
*Congratulations on being the first challenger to tame a pet*
*Ability Unlocked: Call and Retrieve: User can summon and send pets to and from the tower at will*
*Unique Reward: 'Aery's' bloodline will be stimulated, allowing it's potential to grow even higher*
Whoa Aery this is such a cool reward, lucky us! Jay said to his pet. Now, let's get the show on the road and teach you how to fight, I can't wait to see what abilities you can unlock.
Jay lead Aery towards the training room, disabling the training dummies as he would be sparring against his companion. As the two entered the large cuboid battleground, Jay began instructing Aery.
We are going to start with dodging, the best way to not take any damage, is to avoid any attacks. Just like boxing, you want to hit and not get hit. Jay pulled out his spear and began attacking very slowly, one strike at a time in order to adjust Aery to this.
Aery was in the midst of growing, so his body was very clumsy and he got hit more than a few times. However, he slowly began to improve at an incredible rate and several rounds later he was able to dodge Jay's strikes at around 70% speed.
Content with his companions success, Jay moved onto teaching Aery how to block. Fortunately, Aery had been surrounded by mana in his extremely short lifetime, making manipulating it extremely easy.
To block attacks Aery would imbue his wings with mana and take the hit head on, Jay taught him to only block when he couldn't dodge. They then spent a couple of rounds working on dodging and blocking, with Jay manipulating mana into small energy balls before firing them towards the growing beast.
Finally, it was time to work on attacks. Since Aery was a bird he would obviously imbue his talons and beak with mana before striking.
Jay created a mana shield and the two companions began to flow, taking their time in the beginning warming up, each taking turns attacking and defending. Working together to improve their skills.
Although Aery was a natural talent when it came to fighting, Jay's stats and experience were just far too much for the bird to ever control the spar.
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After completing their spar and cooling off, Jay led Aery to a room teeming with dense mana, hoping it would trigger an awakening of his companion's abilities.
The not-so-little bird quickly fell in love with the room, settling down and absorbing the abundant mana. After a few minutes, Aery fell asleep, his body processing the battle knowledge gained during their practice.
Jay, too, felt the strain of the exertion. Controlling his strength around his companion proved challenging, especially for someone accustomed to fighting to the death. There were moments in their battle when he had to remind himself that he faced an ally, not a foe.
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Curling up next to Aery, Jay drifted off into a well-deserved rest within the mana-infused room.
As his eyes closed, Jay's dreams unfolded.
In the dream, he found himself in a lush grassland with the sun beaming down on vibrant flowers and a serene blue pond. In the middle of the pond floated a body – Jay's own. The dream shifted abruptly as dark clouds gathered, obscuring the sun and bringing forth a torrential downpour.
Raindrops hammered the pond, winds howled, and lightning cracked through the darkened sky. Jay's lifeless body sank into the depths as the elements clashed violently. His soul felt torn, and in desperation, he urged his body to wake up.
The pain became unbearable, and Jay sensed the water and wind elements forcing their way into his soul, attempting to merge with the lightning. As his soul began to split, a shrill cry echoed, and Aery appeared, feathers on one wing resembling water, and on the other, winds dancing around.
Aery's sudden arrival brought a soothing calm, as if they were merging into a single entity. Jay felt a newfound control over the storm and, opening his eyes, returned to his body sinking in the water. No longer a spectator, he swam to the surface, calling out to Aery, who swooped down to pick him up.
Perched on Aery's back, Jay commanded the three elements to cease their conflict. Reluctantly, the elements dispersed. Jay, still uncertain about the experience, awoke in the mana room, observing Aery flying with water and wind elements sparking around his body.
Realization dawned upon Jay – Aery had unlocked these elements, and in a unique state, Jay could wield their power as well.
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A couple of seconds later, once Aery's state had returned to normal, an additional pop-up appeared:
*Congratulations! You have unlocked a new ability: Soul Tie - Through the unification of souls, you gain the abilities of your companion.*
*Abilities gained: Water Manipulation - Level 1, Wind Manipulation - Level 1, Mana Manipulation - Level 1 (ERROR)*
*As Mana Manipulation is already in use, gain a separate reward instead.*
*Reward Gained: Mana Usage (Level 1): All mana costs are reduced by 10%.*
"This is absolutely insane," Jay thought to himself. "I'm going to become the most powerful champion in the cosmos. I already have three elements before I've hit level twenty."
"I must admit that you have the most potential out of any candidates I've seen over the last hundred years," Rose exclaimed. "But remember, that talent means nothing until you grow up."
"I suggest that you train and level up fast if you hope to not get left behind. I remember, over two thousand years ago, there was a girl who naturally had an affinity for four elements. However, she tried to train them all equally and fell behind."
"In the end, one of the other challengers realized that if she was left to grow up, she would become the one who claimed the tower. So he killed her. Heed my advice and do your best to get stronger quickly."
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Jay, determined to master his newfound abilities, headed towards the training area. Summoning a training dummy, he attempted to control water and wind as he had done in his dream. However, frustration set in as it seemed like his control over these elements was abysmal, reminiscent of his initial struggles with lightning.
It became apparent that he could tap into these elements through Aery's soul, but the efficiency was lacking. It mirrored his early experiences with lightning – functional but inefficient, not yet suitable for combat. Observing others who wielded these elements, Jay began to emulate their techniques, finding some success.
For instance, he discovered that while his lightning allowed for instantaneous dashes, it drained his mana excessively. Alternatively, using the wind to enhance his speed, although not as swift as lightning, allowed for smoother movement and reduced stress on his body.
Jay's experimentation revealed that infusing himself with water acted as a shield, dampening incoming attacks. This blending of elements became his unique style – a surprise attack strategy with powerful electric surges, agile dodges aided by wind, and defensive manoeuvres using water.
While effective in the present, Jay realized the limitations of his elemental understanding. His control was too basic, and the style lacked finesse for life-threatening situations. Recognizing the need for improvement, Jay acknowledged that refining his control and enhancing his elemental power were imperative to truly harness his potential and become a formidable force in battles. The journey to mastery had just begun.
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Jay headed toward the training area, determined to test and improve his newfound abilities. He requested Rose to summon three training dummies, realizing that relying on these elements in combat was crucial for his growth.
Rose promptly set up the training area, revealing three formidable opponents.
The first was a pale archer with long blonde hair and pointed ears – an elf, indicating that the tower dummies became more lifelike beyond the fifth floor.
The second, an assassin draped in a black cloak, held sleek daggers and exuded a dangerous aura. The most imposing dummy stood in the centre – a muscular knight wielding a longsword and shield.
Anticipating a tough challenge, Jay enhanced himself with lightning and targeted the elf archer, knowing she would pose the greatest threat. Channelling the lightning within, he blitzed towards her, aiming for a decisive strike. However, the knight intercepted, blocking Jay's spear with his shield.
Jay, momentarily stunned, swiftly retreated, wary of the assassin and archer. The assassin, undetected, closed in from behind, while the archer aimed an arrow at Jay's leg.
Adapting quickly, Jay imbued himself with the wind element, kickflipping off the knight's shield, avoiding the arrow, and positioning himself above the assassin.
In mid-air, he thrust his spear down, piercing the assassin's leg. The mana leaked out, resembling blood, as Jay swiftly eliminated the injured dummy.
Although he could have channelled a lightning bolt at the archer, he wanted to practice using his other elements, and although he didn't know any elemental abilities yet, he still wanted to get used to incorporating them into his battles.
With the wind by his side, Jay dashed towards the Knight, who swung his longsword in retaliation. Jay cast a mana shield and blocked the attack, using his tempo to change his attack towards the archer.
Realising that she was his true target, the archer dashed to the side while rapidly firing arrows. Using his increased speed, Jay could sense the change in air as the arrows drew near and used this to dodge the incoming attacks.
Once he stood before her, all it took was a single slash to eliminate her. Now it was time to face the Knight.
Jay turned around and pointed the tip of his spear towards the Knight who suddenly charged towards him. Jay attempted to step back and Jab his spear, but the knight simply blocked it with his shield.
With the incoming longsword looming near his neck, Jay pushed the wind element to it's limits as he rolled under the attack.
Once he had stood back up, Jay rushed towards the knight casting his *Piercing Strike* The knight blocked it, however the force of the impact knocked the knight backwards, giving Jay another opportunity to attack.
With his new opening, Jay cast *Flurry* repeatedly attacking the Knight who barely took any damage, due to it's high health. Interestingly, the knight stood up and cast some type of blessing on itself, increasing it's speed and power.
The silver knight dashed towards Jay without it's shield and started to mix punches in alongside the sword slashes.
Jay was able to dodge most of the sword attacks, however some of the punches were connecting.
Jay realised that he had to use his water to reduce the impact and use it as an opportunity to counter attack. He quickly dodged the next sword strike thanks to his increased agility from the wind.
While imbuing his shoulder with water to deflect the incoming punch. Jay definitely felt it, however it was not nearly as bad as before due to the impact being reduced.
Taking this opportunity to counter attack, Jay cast *Piercing Strike* Once more and his spear sailed through the knights armour eliminating him.
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Exhausted and drenched in sweat, Jay collapsed to the floor, desperately trying to recover. Seeking answers, he turned to Rose, gasping, "What level were those guys?"
"They were all level 15," Rose calmly replied.
"Level 15? That's ridiculous! I could have died."
"Well, you didn't," Rose retorted, her voice steady. "And you've grown immensely, haven't you? I told you, the only way for you to grow stronger is to put yourself in life or death situations."