Stride

"Yo, Captain. Is what I am seeing true?" Asked Theo.

It has been almost ten hours since they all got up from recuperating. Von was the first to stand up, and he felt that his body has a new power flowing through it. He then walked towards his brother who was busy attaining a new Talent.

Of course, no one knows about System inside Vin. They just know that he is a bit abnormal and a monster. Theo was the last one to wake up as he has Water Seal and Lightning does not suit him well.

He saw that they are all under the surface, and there are small vents to let the air flow. There are also some things like a small hut and some stagnant water. The illumination inside is an orb of light and there are torches to let the place brightly lit.

"Yup, we are going to train here. And there will be no objections. You also saw the new theme, right? It is defense magic. Use of auxillary is now prohibited, and can only defend, and if we can, run." He explained in a low voice.

The others looked gloomy too, and they all understood that these all are for the sake of training. He then wiped his sweat using his shirt, and then he sat down.

'System, what is the best training we can have here?' He asked in his mind.

[Solution : Vacuum Palace]

Vacuum Palace : Turns a 500 meter radius into a place without mana, aether or hex.

[Additional Solution : Power Weights.]

Power Weights : Bands of metal that are worn as additional weight. Can be put on wrist, ankle, shoulder and waist.

'How do I keep Vacuum Palace if it is something without energy?' Vin asked again.

"Vacuum Palace is energy entrapment. It means that there are walls of energy that prevents the others from going inside the sphere. It is not provided with energy for the energies it trapped are the ones it used. It can go on for a month or two if there are no energy signatures inside. It means that unless you produce mana, hex or aether on your own, it will not break for the place will bot provide you with any of it." Avalon answered.

'So if we cannot produce energy, we cannot leave the circle?' Vin said.

"Yes. It is basically to isolate the outside and the inside." Avalon answered.

"Guys, we will begin training three days from now. I want you to hunt and bring food here that will last us for three months at most. We will make it last for us. Do not ask questions first, we have to move quick." He said and clapped his hand twice.

They did a meeting for over an hour. Vin then gave them assignments. Also, they have to go back when the sun is down, and must flee in face of opposition.

As he sent them off to collect things, he made sure that the place will be habitable. He made some boxes of metal, covered them with earth to make the temperature won't make the food spoil. He also made some cushion from plants fibers and he rebuilt the hut into rooms.

After that, he made some arrangements to the place where they are gonna train and put some practice materials on it. He also added a good amount of sand so everybody would have a hard time moving and jumping around.

"Guess it's time for me to finish that thing before the three day collection is done." He then went to a corner of the underground place he built and steadied his mind.

"Rush, Boost, and then Split-Second, then deactivate it before it can suck me into it." He looked at the surroundings and then he started to move when he saw that he is the only one there.

"Boost! Rush! Split-Second!" And then he cuts off his energy from flowing, but then, he failed.

The Split-Second was not activated. The energy was too little that it did not have time to activate.

From the mistake he did, Vin then made calculations in his mind. Next thing he did was to wait for one second to deactivate it. It activated Split-Second completely and he was sucked in.

It was between the zero and one second. He tried again and again, trying to find the right timing, but was always rejected.

"If I do not get it in the hundredth try, I will give up." And then he did a hundred tries, but still no effect.

Of course he was joking. He was kidding fate as to give him a chance and luck because he always roll the die. Its just a shame that number seven is not in the die. Basically, luck is not a part of getting this Talent.

'I have to calculate it accurately. I have to know when the timing will be ticked on and off. I also have to analyze the situation first if I must activate it or not.' He spoke in his mind.

"Wait. Analyze, I say?" He then got the answer he was looking for. He sat first, and then he put his mind into the best condition.

"Let's start again." He said.

"Boost! Rush! Analyze!" He shouted. As he said that, energies came slow in his sight. He then looked out and saw the flow of energies.

As he analyzed it, he saw that there was a time where energies tend to disperse and form a new flow. As the energies were making a cycle, he stopped and ingrained the cycle to his mind.

"I see." He said. After that, he did it again, and the same kind of rhythm can be seen.

"I'm ready." He smiled as he saw the trick behind the instructions.

"Boost! Rush! Analyze!" He shouted in succession.

After that, he waited for the energies to form the flow and then

"Split-Second." The flow was then disrupted, and a new flow was made.

Before the flow can change again, he deactivated the energy from his body to stop, and the flow he did remained.

[Talent : Stride has been acquired.]

Stride : A Talent that heightens a Passive of choice.

[Unique Talent unlocked.]

[Unique Talent : Mega Stride.]

Mega Stride : Heightens two Passives of choice.

[Ultimate Talent Unlocked.]

[Ultimate Talent : Ultra Stride.]

Ultra Stride : Heightens three Passives of choice.

[Passives has been unlocked.]

[SYSTEM]

[INVENTORY]

[SKILLS]

[ABILITIES]

[MANIFESTATIONS]

[TALENTS]

[PASSIVES]

[CLASSES]

[TITLES]

[AVA MODE]

[FUNCTION]

[CLOSE]

"Open Passives." Vin declared.

[Passives]

Strength : 0/10

Defense : 0/10

Speed : 0/10

Dexterity : 0/10

Intelligence : 0/10

Accuracy : 0/10

Control : 0/10

*Level up Passives by using Manifestations, Skills, Abilities and Talents.

"This is good. I guess I can be busy everyday thinking of how can I level up." He said while smiling.

"Let's see if we can use this." He looked excited as he drew his swords and then he went outside for a moment.

He walked around and saw some monsters roaming around. Maybe it was because of the System Notifications he received when he killed the Centaur.

"Stride : Speed." And then he rushed out in a single direction.

Whoosh, whoosh.

He darted around and then...

BAM!

He hit a tree. Although his speed was fast, he cannot control himself well.

"Mega Stride : Speed, Control."

He darted out once more. Now, he can freely jump from one place to another. He can now do some maneuvers, and eventually, flash out from one place to another without sound.

"Nice addition to my kit." He said as he jumped around.

Once again, he forgot something due to the excitement.

Scorching fire, freezing ice and sharp metal assaulted him. The Outbreak this time is far worse than the first one.

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"That kid." Yano shook his head. He saw their master, Vin, convulsing and shaking, though after a few minutes he stood up and rested a bit.

"Zeke, what buttons did you press?" Yano asked Zeke who is just beside him.

"Defense theme, three Outbreaks, thin mana, less recovery and no helpers." Zeke scratched his temple as he said that.

"You..." Yano stopped and breathed first. "You said there were helpers, and in the month we watched them, there are no helpers that were seen. What were the helpers anyway?" Yano is furious.

"The helpers are some people who cleared one trial of the labyrinth. They leave pieces of themselves. Like I said, it was on the moment they were in. It was also on a difficult level, and the labyrinth chose it. I cannot control anything other than this board." Zeke explained.

Yano just sighed and looked at the young man who was now travelling back to the place where he came from and check on the people he's with.

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Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!

Rhythmic sounds can be heard on the halls of the castle. It has been days since the two stayed at the place and every maid was afraid of them now. Kids were kept inside the maid's house and won't go out unless the two are out of sight.

Today, Darion is practicing in the grounds. He is using a wooden sword against a wooden puppet and was busy thinking about the maids he made a move every night inside the castle.

Darius and him saw that the helpers inside of his brother's castle are all young. There are some of them that are old and wrinkled, but the majority of them are almost thirty years old below.

Darius fancied a teen named Shiella. She is a tough girl that is mad all the time. When he and Darion sees each other, he would talk about how would he conquer her body and make the fiery temper of her to be as senile as sheep.

Darion, however, always looked for the maid that was almost twenty-five years old, a delicate, soft and elegant young nun that serves as an oracle of the castle. He tells Darius that he is excited to see an angelic person turn into a demon in bed.

They will laugh with their stories, but in the recent days that they can't make moves on their targets frustrated them and their libido went to their heads, and raped almost fourteen kids in a span of four days, and gender was not a problem to them.

"The sword will break before you can even make a move to her." Dariel's voice resounded behind Darion. The latter just ignored it and just hit the puppet again and again.

"Those delicate young ladies, you are bot their cup of tea." Dariel chuckled.

"Then I will make them need to drink that cup of tea." Darion answered in fury. He then slashed down the puppet, cutting it to half.

"Impressive." Dariel clapped. "But why would you spend your time on them when you have a niece to take?" He taunted.

Darion froze for a moment, and suddenly, his face made a dangerous grin.

"Every hole is a goal. And brother, that brat of yours won't do anything I want unless she is curious about it. Seeing me doing it to others nay pique her curiosity and become obedient." Darion laughed.

"Oh? Then let me give you a hint." Dariel said.

"I will pay you for the price you want, just give me the hint." Darion said.

"Now we're talking." Dariel laid out his hand and rubbed his thumb to the other fingers back and forth.

"Here." Darion gave him a piece of metal that has a different glow in it.

"Arcaia." Dariel said as he saw it.

"That's only a portion of it. I used some in my sword. Pretty good if you ask me." Darion added. "Now for the hint." Darion said as he pointed on his ears.

Dariel did not waste any time. He whispered something to his ear, and they both laughed evilly.

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"Cel!" An eighteen year old boy called out to the girl in front of him.

The girl in front is a slightly tall, slender, elegant girl that has her hair tied into a ponytail. The sideburns were glossy as they reek of color silver. The roots of her hair is blonde and the rest is black. Her spear was in her back and she is in proper wear like a uniform of army people.

"What do you want, Homer?" She asked.

Homer was a bit startled but he chuckled a bit and smiled at Cel. He scratched his temple and then...

"P-Please, g-go out with m-me." He said as he stutter. His heart was a bit nervous, and his back is drenched in sweat.

"Sure, I don't have anything to do anyways." Cel answered plainly.

"Are you sure?" Homer asked.

"Yes." Cel nodded.

"Can we go on Saturday then?" Homer was giggling a bit and seemed so happy.

"Sure. See me at six in the afternoon, at the plaza under the clock tower. I won't wait for you if you are late for even a minute." Cel said as she turned around and walked.

Homer then jumped in delight. Cel was his long-time crush and he wants her for life. Contrary to what he is feeling, Cel was sighing.

It was her father's idea that she has to date guys and sift out who is the best for her. She needs to say yes to every invitation to her, and she might as well copulate with them as to make Axami bloodline go on. She is the only daughter of the Duke of Axami. It does not matter if she marry a baron or a viscount, just to have a son and be entitled as the Heir of Axami. It hurts her because she was being used as a bearer of the one that will get all the attention of the people she cherishes.

Due to her prowess, she was sent to the army. She trained there until she had an idea of fighting in the tournament, and making his father acknowledge her as a person and not as a tool for hierarchy.

After knowing it, her father said that if she loses, and a male wins the tournament, he has to marry him. Cel was frustrated and decided to agree to every invitation she receives, and then she will marry as soon as possible so that if she loses, she still has a lifeline.

The warrior Cel was now gone, she is just a girl that is being used to bear the name of their family. It is six months til the tournament, but somehow, she feels down deep inside. She can't see anyone worthy of bearing a child with. At least for now, she must carry the burden and know more people, or know people more. She just hopes that someone will win her heart no matter what.