The First Completion

Gareth's arm was trapped and couldn't leave the embrace of a certain someone who held this certain limb hostage, holding on dearly. Not letting either of the two arms rest as she changed from one to the other as she pleased.

The two people walked through the outer court, unbothered by anyone. Their peace undisturbed by the people around them.

The outer court of the Martial Seekers sect had been very quiet as of late, with no one daring to or having enough time to stir up trouble. The whole place could be said to be strangely peaceful. After Gareth's crazy challenge to the whole outer court, and with no one being able to defeat him, the number of challengers had dropped. It was to a state where in all but a week, no one bothered to come on stage again.

Lunara being the very considerate bring she was, announced Gareth free from all challenges. From there on begun the journey of Gareth's arm being trapped by a certain someone throughout the day, and he himself being forced to leisurely wander the outer court of the Martial Seekers sect.

After the first day of his challenge to the whole outer court, Jasmine had not let him off at all. She had gone on and on about how he had almost gotten himself into danger. Touched by her concern, he hadn't minded the hours he spent placating the lovely young woman.

"Brother Gareth, how about we try another restaurant today?" Jasmine asked.

"Which one do you have in mind, just let me know."

"Hum, that one."

Seeming to point at random, Jasmine chose a restaurant from one of the many that lined up the place. A restaurant with an open air theme.

Jasmine and Gareth walked there and chose a table, sitting across from one another.

A waiter brought them a menu, and Gareth as he had promised her before let Jasmine be the one to choose their meals.

Looking at the food delivered to their table, Gareth marveled at her choice. The different exotic meals before him left him marveling at whoever thought up the meals.

"Brother Gareth, how soon is it until you breakthrough?" her voice low as she asked the question. "I really wonder how you are able to cultivate this fast."

"Just a bit of luck and some sitting down."

She snorted at his joke.

"Who doesn't do some sitting down?"

She turned silent, the both of them basking in the subtle atmosphere, before she asked another question.

"So brother Gareth, after you breakthrough what are you going to do? Will you leave the sect for some time?"

"I might not actually leave." He smiled. "I plan to seclude myself, and improve on whatever I am lacking."

"Does that mean I won't be able to see you for a long while?"

"Of course not, silly. I don't plan to spend all my time locked up in my abode. We would see each other frequently, we would only be spending less time together."

She pouted slightly.

"I will believe you, brother Gareth."

Gareth coughed, then he directed the conversation to her.

"What about you, what would you be doing?"

"Cultivating of course. I know I can't catch up to you anytime soon. That won't stop me from trying, nonetheless."

Gareth could feel the sincerity in her words, and this delighted him so much, a smile found its way to his lips.

"Alright."

Jasmine too had a smile on her lips, her cheeks involuntarily reddened, and she stared at the different foods laid on the table for a long while. Staring at them like they were the very last thing in the world.

The following moment between the two was strangely quiet. Their meal had in silence.

*

After the wonderful meal with Jasmine, Gareth returned to his own lodging.

The time he had spent at the peak of the accumulation phase of the Awakening Realm was already enough. It was to move forward.

It was the time for him to breakthrough.

He secluded himself in his room for days on end.

The breakthrough was bound to not be an ordeal for him all thanks to the soul enlightening lily he once absorbed together with Mira.

As she had told him at that time, the comprehension was already there, and now all he had to do was retrieve it.

He dug deep within himself to search for the spark he needed to push his realm to another level.

It seemed illusory at first, but with his perseverance he held on. Long enough until his unblemished foundation began to be carved with the comprehension he was attaining.

Until his cultivation of the Awakening Realm was completed for the first time. The initial completion.

It had been slightly over a year since Gareth awakened, but he was already at the initial completion of the Awakening Realm. This in itself was a great achievement.

He maintained his meditation position and focused on this breakthrough, analyzing his current state.

On his foundation, there was already the golden runes that symbolized the comprehension he just attained. This runes would keep increasing over time along with his cultivation, as he comprehended the initial completion of the Awakening realm further. This would be so until he reached the threshold where he could choose to either continue to the next completion or move up to the next realm.

Gareth would of course continue onto the next comprehension, this being the only way to assure that he would reach a higher height of cultivation.

The world energy was flowing across his body, getting faster with every cycle. The connection he felt to the world energy around him being on a whole other level on itself.

Now, he understood why he had almost died under the attacks of the initial completion cultivator he encountered when he was travelling together with Mira. Even the most casual attack he made now was going to be like a super technique from before he attained his completion.

These were just casual attacks. His techniques were going to be on another level entirely. Even when using the same amount of world energy, the effect of the completion was heaven shaking. He could only wonder what the further completions would bring.

The effect was not only limited to his foundation and how it affected his connection with the world energy. His second talent of cultivation, the soul also had some changes brought to it by the breakthrough. He felt his head getting clearer, his comprehension improving, as with every second that passed, it felt like he was in a constant state of epiphany. The little problems that he had come across with world weaving were being solved almost instantly. He felt his control of world energy getting more fluid and firm.

His first completion had truly brought with it an overall improvement of himself.

He was reveling in his new breakthrough, when he felt something.