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Chapter 48: Experience Sharing

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“Um,”

Regaining control of their body, Krone turned to Natalia.

At the time, she was in pain. She had experienced her first backlash. Her hands on her temples, she was bearing a terrible headache. Eyes closed, veins bulged out on her forehead.

Trait backlash.

Her headache, was the kind of stinging pain, as if coldness pierced through one's head. Krone put his hand on her back, sharing with her his mana. From her back, she felt it.

A kind of warmth seeping through, easing the pain.

Not much, but it was welcomed.

‘Yup, no problem at all,’

Krone had no worry.

Even after absorbing a trait, backlash could not be avoided. It was a necessary process for the body and mind to adjust with the trait, making it fully theirs. Compared to other backlashes from High-level traits, hers was quite mild.

The reason was obvious.

It was double absorption due to being in Krone’s party, and her high affinity with the trait. If everything turned out well, she could very well receive the trait inheritance better than normal.

‘With her affinity, she won’t get a partial trait, hm?’

She stopped holding her temples.

Instead, she turned into a meditative mood, her whole body relaxed.

‘She should be fine by morning,’

Hands leaving her back, Krone silently checked her status.

Personal Info: Natalia Nierra

Health: 82/90

Criteria

Level

Type

Physique

29

Lithe

Senses

55

Heightened+

Mana Pool

40

Superior+

Mana Affinity

High

Light

Arte

Magic

Trait

‘Whoa, her senses increased by six levels? Her mana pool, by three? This, what’s this?’

He noticed the plus sign beside Heightened and Superior.

It was a clear indication that from this trait inheritance, she managed to get much more than he had imagined.

‘To even influence her natural senses and mana pool. What the heck, why not me?’

Tears in his eyes, yet he thought it over.

He consoled himself, he ought not to be greed. Besides, even if he got the trait, it might not even be half as good as hers having it. Moreover, she was in his party.

No harm having a useful party member, yes?

‘I’ll just have you work, work for me like a horse, Natalia. Pay me everything back, that’ll be justice, yeah. Kekeke,’

As he laughed within, he checked her trait.

His eyes went wide.

Trait

Name

Rank

Level

Transcended Sight

Grand (S)

1

‘Waittt, it’s not a High Trait, it’s a freaking Grand Trait! Natalia, forget working like a horse… I’ll have you work like a bull. Plow the ground, you slave! …Damn,’

Now he really cried.

He expanded the trait, checking its description.

Transcended Sight

The sight which transcends others.

Provide user with the ability to peek and influence other’s mind through sight.

Likelihood of effectiveness increased the more susceptible the target is.

Combine this with Bewitching Light to create powerful illusion within the target’s mind.

Warning: Likelihood to influence lower if subject is too complicated.

Consolidating, please wait…

Current effectiveness:

---

‘Peek and influence…’

Peek and influence other’s mind.

He read it over and over. Finding the nearest wall, he slowly, banged his head.

One, two, three…

Sniffing, he calmed himself.

‘Oh, well… It’s not for me,’

He read the part about Bewitching Light.

It was the magic Izkill’s Eye used all the time. Actually, it was its sole magic, it had none other.

He checked Natalia’s Magic.

Magic

Name

Original Name

Level

Light Base

Noir Arkh

25

Light Blending

Noir Fitta

22

Bewitching Light

Noir Copulata

32

‘There it is… Huh, level 32? That thing’s magic was level 80… This mean, she absorbed even its magic mastery by 30%. Okay, isn’t this cheating?’

Having magic from trait inheritance was quite rare.

It usually happened when the user had high affinity with it, thus absorbing even its related magic and its mastery. However, that was possible only if the beast had its own magic. Even then, the mastery inheritance was limited.

In her case, she had 30% mastery inheritance.

Krone had a feeling it was high.

Bewitching Light

Create seemingly real illusion, imaginary construct, within the target’s mind.

The more details you know on what to create, the better the imaginary construct.

Effectiveness increased if the target already had prior experience with the construct.

Warning: Risk of Overuse – Mental Burden

Usage:

Mind Manipulation.

Could be used to strengthen or shatter the target’s spirit.

Target:

Eye Contact

Individual, Area of Effect

Magic Requirement:

High

‘The warning seemed a bit dangerous. The usage is super useful though, the target too. Ah, as expected, the magic requirement is high.’

Having resigned his fate, he let it be.

The use of this trait was endless, that was the reason he wished to take it. Yet right now, he had to make do. Hopefully, it would not hinder his plan too much.

‘It’s a pity though, the Grade Point…’

As he was thinking so, a notification appeared.

Grade Achievement Completed!

Subduing residue of Izkill’s Eye, inherit its trait.

200 GP

Grade Information

Grade Points Left:

725 GP

Quest Completed

Test of Heart

Residue of Izkill’s Eye

500 GP

200 GP

Quest Within Reach

---

--- GP

‘…I see, that’s good,’

Looking at it, he realized.

He did not have to finish the quest by himself. As long as he or someone in his party was involved, the quest would still count. That eased his feeling a bit.

Placing a blanket on her back, he went to sleep on the bed, leaving her be on the floor. He had to sleep, barely a few hours left before the morning training.

On his way back from morning training, he reviewed what the recruits had done.

Yesterday, on the fifth day, he had divided everyone into seven frontline teams and one logistic team. For the logistic team, excluding Doran, Krone put all five slowest in Air Sliding within. Many envied the logistic team though, since Kristine was included.

Each team was given their set task, then to discuss on specific problem Krone gave them.

For this task, they had no choice but to sit together, and discuss all day during their free time. The task would be planning for specific mission, and identified all possible problems, expected and unexpected.

They still had to finish their Air Sliding training though, along with keeping their Aurelian Arte active all the time. Many had feeling of dizziness, experiencing mana burnout.

Kristine was especially busy yesterday, thankfully no serious incident happened.

There were eight tasks.

They were Survival Mission, Save Villagers, Break through Encirclement, Long Journey, City Defense, Dealing with Internal Enemy, Organization and finally, Logistical Challenge. Each problem was given for each team, and they had to discuss it well.

That night, they shared their findings and planning with everyone. There were many critical views being shared, as well as pointing out weaknesses. This planning and sharing opened up the mind of these youngsters, many struggling to digest all the information.

Concluding the night, Krone left them with a statement;

“Congratulations. Now you know how limited your knowledge are, that’s the first step. Listen, as long as you ask the right questions, you’ll be able to expand yourself. And remember, and remember this well – We, expand in group, together.”

He left them all with a general problem, “How forty of you could survive attacks, from a hundred beasts in three locations; in an open field, on the beach and in the mountain.”

Hearing such a problem, many of them shivered.

Well, it was indeed a cold night.

Everyone had a lively breakfast.

The cold training was quite tough, but since it was the fourth time they experienced it, they no longer had any complaint. Instead, they became confident.

“Hm, the cold training, not so bad, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I feel like my mana flows better,”

“Mine too. A lot better,”

“It’s not so difficult after awhile. Still freaking cold though,”

While they were discussing, Krone’s ears twitched.

Hearing this, he was glad. It seemed he had the timing right.

He smiled, no, smirked.

It was just for a second, but Ron noticed it. Shivers came running down his spine.

Kyril noticed him, gulping.

“Yo, what’s up? Breakfast not good enough? You shouldn’t be spoiled,”

“That’s not the case, cease your nonsense!”

He felt it, something was coming.

Yet he was scared, to even share.

Krone left them to rest.

Telling them to pack their things, he just told them to rest after, and not to worry.

Hearing him telling them this, many could not help but worry.

The sharper ones though, really took a rest.

They knew, they would need it.

Entering his room, he saw Natalia.

Still in meditation, yet she opened her eyes.

“Krone,”

“Done?”

“Yeah, odd feeling though. I could feel everything around me, even outside the room,”

“…Really? How many finger,”

“Four,”

…She knew.

He did not even meet her eyes. Most likely it was due to her senses reaching level 55. That, or her eyes could see through.

How enviable.

“Ah, well. You might still want to rest, so I’ll just tell you. We’re going to the mountain,”

“Mountain? Um, the nearest one, Mount Aaron, 30 km northeast?”

“Correct. There’s cabins there I’m renting. It’s quite cheap, no one’s coming around this time of the year. A lot of wild bison there.”

“Are you leaving a map?”

Taking out a paper from his ring, he placed it onto the table.

“It’s around the geyser area. Will you make it before dinner?”

“Do you need me for something?”

“Yes, it’s important.”

Thinking about it a little more, she nodded.

After explaining to her of her new trait and magic, he asked her to train it on small animals first. That was to familiarize herself with it.

Making sure she was aware of the risk from overuse, he left her be.

Yet before he stepped out;

“Krone, wait.”

“What?”

Placing her hand on his shoulder, she crept in, closer.

Awkward, he almost pushed her away, but her eyes caught him first.

A flash of light, came from within.

“Let me in, inside your mind…”

“…You know, that’s not going to work,”

“Eh?”

She had asked him, using her new trait.

Yet his spirit was too strong, it did not leave any effect.

“…I thought it’ll work,”

“That’s rather dangerous, you know. You’re still amateur; you could end up seeing things,”

“Oh? What kind of things?”

She held her hand on her mouth, making a teasing smile behind.

Seeing her taking this lightly, he turned solemn.

His voice, heavy;

“…Do you really want to see?”

“Ah, w-why, so serious?”

“No, you’re not ready,”

Krone changed his mood.

If he really did it, he might end up creating her a new trauma. No thanks.

Instead;

“I’ll let you in, in a certain experience. Should be mild enough,”

“Mild? You mean,”

“Yes, try using that magic again. I won’t resist this time,”

“A-alright,”

SHAA—

The sound of her entering his consciousness, dispersed.

All around her, red light.

Flashy red glow, everywhere, lava flow. The heat entered her nose, invading her lung. Hot, it was too hot. Felt as if fire, burning her inside. It was hard to breathe.

Over her head, and under her, hard ground and rocks. She was in a large underground cavern. To her side, a wide river of lava kept on flowing, as if having no end. Red light brightened up here and there.

It was a world of red fire.

As she was mesmerized by it, a voice reached her.

“Retreat, back to the tunnel!”

She turned around.

Several more people, no, dozens more people were there. Fully armored, they had various weapons on them. Most however, armed themselves short sword or short weapon, ideal for battle in limited space.

As she kept on looking, a burly man shouted at her;

“Get out of here! You wanna die?”

With that shout, he slid away.

Like everyone, he went to the tunnel. His Air Sliding was a variation, combining it along with run. That was done in order to conserve mana and stamina.

“Hey, you, you wanna be hero? Out, now!”

A lady came to her, only to leave her behind as well.

She was among the last of these people. Seeing them running away so quick, she wondered what happened.

Until a howl, reached her.

She turned.

A thick-skinned, two-metre tall hound, in front of her.

Its mouth, breathed fire. Its skin as if rocks, glowing with lava. Its tail, fiery fire covered.

As she witnessed it, ten other hounds reached her front, halting their run.

Aware of her being still, they kept vigilance.

…

Looking at them, she felt tingling all over.

Was this not supposed to be a mere memory? How could it—

Dread. She felt dread.

“Gehh, I’m out of here!”

Her feet started to move, that was the sign.

The hounds, started their hunt. As they moved, they left trailing fire, burning. One of them opened its mouth wide, fire gathered into a ball.

Already as large as its head, it launched the fireball straight ahead.

Yet Natalia sensed it, even without turning back.

She shifted her body to the side, the fireball blazed passed her, slamming onto the underground wall.

The wall exploded.

The heat, was penetrating.

The hounds kept moving, chasing her. Some of them changed direction, as if coordinated.

She sensed it.

Their fighting spirit was something else, their killing intent was piercing consciousness. Even compared to those dragons she had met, theirs were way ahead.

She could not think straight, only run was on her mind.

And one more, the culprit.

“How-is-this-mild? I knew it, fuck you, Krone!”

...

Chapter 48 ‘Experience Sharing’ End