"hmmm, this technique is [sound transmission]," chuckled Aetheris as he looked at the shivering Vedic; he was currently milking every information about light magic he could get from Vedic.
They were currently passing through the barren mountains outside the Luminous estate but within the Jura Kingdom, the Barren mountains are well known to have low Mana concentration meaning fewer monsters and magical beasts
"Is that all? I taught you everything you know, Holy Son..." Vedic stuttered, his voice laced with frustration. He looked up at Aetheris, who stood before him, unbothered.
Aetheris had been forcing him to teach him rare and powerful techniques for what felt like a pittance—low-grade mana stones. It was like receiving minimum wage in a world where power and knowledge were priceless.
'YOU CHEAP BASTARD!!, You're barely paying me enough to survive, and yet you keep demanding more!' Vedic continued, his voice strained. 'How much longer do you expect me to endure this?'
Vedic specialises in external Arts and light battle arts which are more difficult and expensive to train in because one refines the body while injuring themselves in the process.
External Arts users are close combatants, fighters, blacksmiths, and refiners, meaning they need strong bodies to survive, but it is not the same as body cultivation because they form a deeper connection with their attributes and reform their circuitry lines of pathways in the process, thus making them very rare.
"It's fine, I know I'm very generous so you don't need to feel overpaid it's my duty to help those in need" sighed Aetheris as he looked at Vedic, his sense of smell picked up a scent of poverty on Vedic so he felt pity for him, he then decided to even tip him... 2 bronze cc .
"THIS IS A ROBBERY KINDLY STEP OUT OF THE CARRIAGE OR DON'T BLAME FOR BEING RUDE" a manly voice yelled alarming both Aetheris and Yuuki
"Is he a retard, a carriage suddenly travels near an empty mountain and he decides to rob it.. hahhh I can't understand the mentality of the poor" muttered Aetheris as he looked outside the window and began to nod
"Seeing the skinny physiques and poor bone structure of these fellows gives me an idea..hey Vedic catch "
A quick fist landed on Vedics face Thus knocking him out, this act surprised both Yuuki and Sebastian
"Yuuki we still have a lot of time before the trials, can I deal with these people first," requested Aetheris with begging eyes, Yuuki slightly shivered as she remembered the events of the ripper forest
"These people look too poor to have any 'donations' so investigate before taking things too far" Yuuki sighed as she saw Aetheris leaving the carriage, Vedic was sleeping soundly surprising Yuuki about the peacefulness around him
"You look unfazed about his shenanigans, aren't you worried..." Yuuki questioned as she saw Sebastian looking eagerly outside the window observing his young master, but she could only sigh as she heard no response
....
"HEY HEY HEY!!!, Back the fuck up and give us the carriage or don't blame us for being rude" yelled a man with horse-like legs as he pointed a spear at Aetheris
Aetheris looked at 15 people who were looking like beggars but at the center, there was a man..an elf, the group was dressed poorly which surprised Aetheris
"Hmmm... [Magic Sense]." Aetheris focused on the Mana fluctuations around him, quickly noticing that most felt like they were at the initial stage of the 10th order, unlike like him.
However, the man in the center stood out, he felt as if he was at the 10th order at the mid-stage. Yet, what truly caught Aetheris's attention was that, despite their rankings, they all felt weak—oddly weak.
"Ok firstly I'll spare you but I need to know Who are you and what are you doing here, "Aetheris asked as he activated [Menacing gaze], which caused the men to shiver except the one holding the spear and the one in the middle
"Hmph! A mere junior dares to question a man holding a spear? Your life is in my hands. Be a filial junior and hand over the carriage," the man replied arrogantly. From his perspective, only weaklings would take this mountain route, known for its safety and low mortality rate.
' well, his arrogance makes sense since strong individuals have refined senses, and this place is like a wasteland to them...
I can't sense any killing intent meaning there's no animosity from them...they want the carriage because they're lost...but why...Remiel, give possible ways I can neutralize them without killing them,' pondered Aetheris as he looked at the beggar's crew; information began to flood his mind as he revealed a little smile.
"Senior, this handsome junior comes from far away; therefore, I have no mode of transportation if you take away my carriage...we can talk this out and reach a common understanding.."
"This handsome junior is Courting death, do you know who we are... just hand over the carriage and I'll spare your life"The man rudely interrupted Aetheris as he pointed at him with the spear, Aetheris noticed that the man was oddly aggressive as if he was hiding a weakness
"Yes, tell him, leader," roared all the surrounding mob characters except the elf at the center; he was assessing the situation while looking at Aetheris.
"They say handsomeness is the universal language of peace, but I guess my radiant beauty hasn't yet achieved world harmony.
Perhaps you all aren't enlightened enough to be mesmerized by my divine looks. Ah, the burden of being a misunderstood masterpiece!" sighed Aetheris as he took out a coin and tossed it into the sky; all the men looked at the coin with confusion.
*Crack Crack Crack Crack Crack Crack Crack*
"I guess you're the one they are protecting.. am I spot on? "muttered Aetheris as he instantly appeared near the elf; the surrounding man began to fall on the ground like flies.
"WHAT DID YOU DO, YOU KNOW WH..Oh God am I going to die " inquired the elf as he saw his team on the ground, their limbs were dislocated very oddly
"Don't worry with thanks to my speed and precision I just broke their cervical spine no.. I messed with the (C1-C4) to paralyze them from the neck down, (C3-C5) to make it difficult for them to breathe and (C5-C7) to cause a temporary loss of their limbs but to be safe I also dislocated their joints
Don't look at me like that I know what I'm doing I practiced with 'willing' participants back at the ripper forest, In this case, they didn't suffer since their weak bone structure made it easy now talk or I'd leave them like that
Now who are you and how did you become a mere mortal"
...
Thank you for reading 🙏 😊
Question ❓
Harem or not, by harem I mean eternal companions meaning a maximum of 4 women who can be seen as his equals not an unworthy Pokemon collection and damsel in distresses
[Yes
No]
If yes decide the number