Decisions, decisions…
Dante looked at his progress in the Raging Blood Halberd Technique and knew that he could likely break through again soon. However, his plan was to break through both his physical methods one after the other so that when raising his stats, he could do it rapidly.
So it was good that the External Martial Art was near the peak; it would give him time to work on his Knight Breathing technique. Dante did not begin right away but fell into his energy pool and began to recharge while putting himself to sleep to make energy absorption faster.
While in a daze-like sleep, Dante couldn't help but crave a superpower or magical method that could help him either generate or absorb energy faster. If he could acquire such a thing, his progress in all of his methods would skyrocket crazily.
He woke up around 6 hours later feeling full and refreshed, walking out of the energy pool while the liquid slinked off his body and merged with the grassy earth beneath his feet, making it even more luminescent.
Dante did not return to his ship and decided to practice at the base because it was more efficient this way. He began going through the motions of the Primal Ape technique for the second level, which was for the Beginner Knight.
With a slow inhale, he set his intention, his essence attuned to the rhythm of the world around him. The stance he adopted was one of strength and readiness, a foundation upon which the technique would bloom.
His feet grounded into the earth, the energy of the land seemingly coursing into him. His arms were extended, his fingers completely splayed, and he felt the cool air caress his skin.
The first movement came to life; a fluid arc of his arm, a graceful sweep that mirrored the grasp of the ape. As he moved, his breath matched the cadence of the primate, inhaling the purity of the atmosphere. His Life Seed resonated with his actions, a pulsating beacon within his heart.
The second movement followed; a swift twist of his waist forward, a pivot that spoke of adaptability and agility. Dante's senses heightened, his agility causing a deep resonance with the swing of the ape. He felt the whisper of the wind, as if he was leaping from tree to tree.
The third movement, a fierce stamp of his foot, the earth trembling in response. The landing of the ape after swinging and hitting the ground, its leg muscles not even bothered by the fall.
The fourth, a sweeping arch of his arm, a dance of strength and grace. The action of the ape striking a tree to knock down bananas or coconuts for its sustenance.
As Dante flowed through the forms, the energy of his body responded. The grass beneath his feet seemed to pulse with each step, the very air thrumming with life that leaked from his body.
His Life Seed, a crystalline orb of limitless potential and vitality, resonated with the sequence of movements, its power growing and condensing.
With the sixth movement, a profound shift occurred. Dante's focus honed onto the Life Seed within him, the vault of vitality that held his life essence. His monstrously powerful consciousness merged with the seed, his mental power guiding its empowerment as his hands rose and his Life Seed seemed to expand, radiating a luminous glow.
The seventh movement was the apex, a culmination of the technique's quality and purpose. Dante's arms stretched wide to the left and right, his mouth open in a silent roar as he bared his fangs, like an ape about to charge and grapple its foe.
His Life Seed blazed with intensity, its brilliance rivaling the sun as Dante's vitality was converted into life essence and poured into it. As Dante exhaled, he released the seed's power, allowing a surge of life essence to course through his meridians, his flesh, and seemingly, his very soul.
This life essence tempered his body further and made it stronger. In terms of physical stats, Knights surpassed Martial Artists in the same realm, but Martial Artists wielded more methods that were magical, not to mention blood Qi was more powerful and versatile in combat than Life Essence.
If it wasn't for the necessity of the technique, Dante wouldn't even bother with the tempering, as this obviously could not increase his 1000-point SDI. At 1000 points in all stats, only Internal Martial Artists and Mages above the 6th Rank could match him.
Martial Gods or Grand Knights would have to kneel in supplication before him, hoping that he wouldn't kill them with ease. It was a pipe dream to expect any feedback for skills that his stats had already surpassed.
An hour flowed like a river, and Dante repeated the various actions continuously within this period of time. The Primal Ape technique was truly a peak knight technique and one that suited him, as despite not possessing any special resource for it, his progress was impressive.
As Dante lowered his arms, his breath steady and his pulse calm, he checked the progress he had made in the Primal Ape technique within this hour of time.
?Physical Powers: Primal Ape Technique (Level 2: Beginner Knight, 9%).?
8% progress in one hour was great. There was no need to harp on about how long an average person took; there was no point comparing anymore when Dante had 1000 points in SDI and a literal energy pool to replenish himself.
He had completely consumed all his recently replenished energy, though, which made Dante scratch his head wryly. He would definitely need to return to the Magus World in order to get that Rank 4 Vitality Potion and then have his Research AI try to replicate it so that he could speed up his knight training.
On that note, Dante thought back to his 'protagonist raising' plan and the system thing. He felt that it was not a bad idea at all, so he jumped back into his energy pool and spent another 6 hours recharging himself.
When he came out, he remotely contacted the Solaris AI and checked how much time was left. The reply he got was that there were 2 days and 10 hours to go.
Satisfied, he gave the alchemist bots a task to craft more Enhanced Energy Elixirs for him. As for the Quantum Aetherium Conduit, he would only keep one of those for now. After getting ready, Dante descended into the Magus World.
His eyes opened in the body of his virtual avatar turned real body, which was still in his meditation chamber. Dante smiled and exited his chamber. He found a nearby Magic Apprentice who had taken a mission from the faction to serve him during this time and told him to inform Master Elandor that he would be paying a visit.
Soon the apprentice hurried back and stated that Master Elandor was awaiting him. Dante smiled and used blink step to teleport right in front of the fellow's door. Before he could knock, it swung open on its own and revealed the handsome half-elven magus who was working on some documents.
"Dante, please sit." Master Elandor gestured to the seat opposite him as he raised his head from his work with a smile.
Dante nodded and sat down. Master Elandor sized him up and smiled. "Already a second-rank Adept Mage? As expected, but slightly faster than I predicted. And oh? It seems your comprehensive power has risen once more."
Master Elandor hesitated and finally asked, "You… are you really human? Are you sure you're not some Ancient Dragon reincarnated?"
Dante was speechless. From Master Elandor's point of view, this question was very prudent as Dante first appeared before him with a 500-point SDI, which was enough to make him highly valued. But now he appeared again and had not only raised his wizard rank but also had a 1000-point SDI, double that of before!
Really, only those overpowered races could achieve such effects.
Dante was about to speak but paused and pondered. Then, looking as if he had done something taboo but couldn't help but be honest, he displayed a ball of hellfire from his palm.
"I am descended from the demon race, from a Demon Supreme. The rise in my power is due to my bloodline awakening bit by bit," Dante spoke reluctantly.
Master Elandor's face changed slightly, and he put his quill down then pushed the documents away. "Dante, as your master, I thank you for sharing this secret with me, but please promise not to tell anyone else."
Dante nodded, and Master Elandor sighed with relief. "The demons of the Abyss Plane are very strong and are of equal rank to us of the Magus Plane, so many magi won't dare to touch you knowing your background."
"However, there are zealous and religious lunatics who don't care about such things and will hunt you down day and night," Master Elandor stated pointedly.
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