Traves held his sword, the voyage, as he faced the northerner. Traves saw him as he approached, not bothering to hide his presence. This might get interesting. Thought Traves as the northerner got closer.

Energy started fluctuating as he got closer. Noticing his immediate action, Traves turned serious as he gathered his energy as well. When facing the unknown, one must always be prepared

Traves stood ready as energy flooded his body, he felt every muscle ready to move. One can never get tired of wind energy body enhancement huh. Smirked Traves

As they faced off, a spike of ice contrasting the sandy desert they stood upon shot towards Traves. Seeing the attack, Traves smiled and immediately swung his sword. A wave of wind extended from the blade, crashing into the frozen spike. The energy infused slash crushed the spike as it blew up into smoke, dust, and steam all around.

Traves prepared to rush in as he felt Cail trying to share his perception with him. Traves shook his head as he rejected his power. I want to teach this kid a small lesson. He thought as he smiled, activating his core.

It's not as good as his “vision”, but it will do. decided Traves as he felt the faint presence of wind energy around him. He instantly located the northerner among the rubble. Who stood confused, unable to see anything.

Traves decided to act as he used the first ability he had mastered since getting this body and core. As he felt the presence of the northerner preparing to try and find him, he shifted through the air. He popped instantly above the northerner, smiling as he swung his sword downwards.

The northerner reacted, looking surprised yet not panicked. A thick wall of ice popped in front of him. Traves concentrated his energy on the tip of the voyage as it cut through the improvised wall. Traves’ face shifted in surprise as the northerner reacted, jumping away.

Traves stood still as he stared at the panting northerner before speaking. “You know kid, It is really rude to attack someone without speaking!”

The northerner growled, “You will pay for opposing my lord!”

“Oh? That’s a lot of confidence if I say so myself!” smirked Traves as the northerner shouted in reply

“You are no Monarch, intruder. I could feel it. And for my lord, I WILL defeat you.”

What an interesting kid, what have you been up to those days Maketh, sending those kids towards me? Snickered Traves as he faced the northerner before he spoke. “Indeed, we are both candidates, peak candidates in both energy and body. But, you are mistaken on one thing, kid.”

Almost instantly, several clashes were heard as the northerner fell back. He tried to parry as Traves appeared in front of him, sending his sword forward. Traves stepped on the air as he jumped, sending more slashes from the front, side and above at the same time.

After blocking all the strikes, the northerner took a few steps back as he looked at Traves who spoke. “You may call me the Traveler, kid.”

The northerner roared. “I am no kid! You shall know me as Hjorn, as I break you for my lord!”

Traves sighed, Kids. He held his sword as he decided to take the fight seriously. He knew the kid didn’t go all out yet. He is strong. Probably the frost giants’ bloodline like that boy, huh. He thought as he remembered a certain person before his look changed as he rushed in again.

Traves shifted again as he reappeared above Hjorn, slashing as he descended. A sword of ice appeared in Hjorn's hand as he parried every strike. He punched as he blocked that last strike.

Traves parried the punch with his sword as he pushed his hand upwards. His descent sped up as a huge cloud of dust exploded as he landed.

Traves immediately sent one more slash towards Hjorn from the side. Hjorn blocked it with his makeshift sword, yet the sword broke as an invisible blade of air ran opposite to his cut. The saint’s blade thought Traves as he used the fourth technique in his style.

Now open, Traves stepped in as he prepared to slash again. A burst of bright flames exploded from the northerner. The waves of fire flew as they threatened to shred Traves.

Traves immediately burst the energy in his core as he used his fifth and last technique in his style. A storm of wind popped around him as it counteracted the flames enough for Traves to shift through the air.

Traves appeared a few meters above Hjorn as he put his sword in his sheath. He held his sword hilt in one hand while holding the sheath in the other, preparing to draw it.

He felt the northerner’s panic as his energy trembled. He felt the northerner used up almost all his energy as a gigantic ice glacier burst. The glacier reached to the sky as it threatened to skewer Traves.

He had already lost. Thought Traves as he shook his head. By using up all his energy, I could just dodge this strike and he would be finished. But this kid is interesting… I got to teach him a lesson.

As Traves was about to get impaled, his presence changed significantly. As he switched his core, traves felt blood rising to his throat. Damn, fast switching is not the best thing for one's health. He thought as he felt the bloody crimson energy of his core.

The energy that helped him and harmed him the most in his life. The energy that caused him the biggest mistake of his life. Blood energy immediately burned through him, replacing the enchantment of the wind energy.

Instead of moving faster, he would react faster. Instead of striking faster, he would strike harder. Blood energy enhanced every trait of his body. He turned in mid-air, using his hand to push off the glacier that shot towards him as he flew even higher.

As he saw the ice speed up, he knew Hjorn was still trying to push it even further. A smile shone as his grip on the hilt and sheath tightened as blood energy rushed towards the blade. Traves prepared to draw the sword as he used his forth technique. Yet it was not the Saint’s blade, it was the Saint’s slaughter.

An invisible blade of blood condensed at the sword’s edge. As Traves drew his sword as his energy accumulated in the sword. His energy, the invisible blade, and the strike’s enhanced strength condensed into one. The condensed strike cut through the steel-hard glacier like butter. Barely stopping as it cut the northerner’s shoulder.

The northerner’s face turned into rage as he was about to shout in pain and anger. Traves pressed his foot on one of the pieces of the broken glacier above him as he pushed himself down. He reached Hjorn instantly as he extended his hand to his shoulder and whispered

“It’s your bedtime now, kid”

The northerner froze as he trembled, losing consciousness moments later. As Traves looked, conflicted. A mutated bloodline huh.

Seeing the situation calm, Jorish and Cail walked towards him. Anise stood at the back as she stared at him, her fists clenched. I got to deal with her issues soon before it's too late. for both of her and Jorish, it is time to go ‘there’ before I have my talk with Maketh.

“Traves, what was that?” exclaimed Jorish as he looked concerned, yet a look of frustration hid inside his face. That guy was younger than him, yet much stronger. No doubt he would be frustrated. But that is why I decided to help you Jorish. Only from the ashes of sorrow can heroes be born.

“Ah! Well, that kid wanted to play so I decided to play along for a bit.” smiled Traves as relished in the look of absolute confusion that Jorish wore. Man, this is fun. Before he heard Cail “Traves, stopping bullying our friend.” Party pooper.

He heard Jorish exclaim as he turned and started walking. “Wait, Are we changing our route? I am sure we were walking towards that big rock last time weren’t we?”

“Well, I decided I was bored so I threw some die again… and I decided we have to go that way!” smiled Traves as he kept resisting letting out a laugh, as he heard two sighs sound behind him as the group walked.

Traves’ face shifted the moment he turned his face, thinking of his destination.

Indeed. It was time.