The King Integrates (4)
Integration in Ginaia was classified into five stages.
Novice, Apprentice, Specialist, Master and Prime Master or Prime for short.
A Novice was one who had managed to make a seed bloom within their souls, gaining a significant boost to their physical ability and soul strength.
An Apprentice was one who had managed to make the seed grow into a World Tree sapling. A small tree within their souls that produced a distinct Essence that would be characterised as their own.
At this stage, one would awaken what was known as a Halo.
It was distinct aura that would surround their bodies and increase with their level. It usually held special properties that were harmful to others and beneficial to the user.
With a subsequent increase in levels above Apprentice, more abilities would be awakened simply by Integrating while those who were rich or opportunistic would find Renewal Arrays to further consolidate their strength.
"The Seed Forging stage..." muttered Denva as he felt the strong energy which raced within his soul, making the hollow feeling he had been experiencing disappear.
This was the name of this stage when it came to cultivation in the Immortis. Forging a seed was also necessary when one began their path after they had transcended the Mortis.
He revelled in the feeling as the week he had spent while being powerless felt like a lifetime. Being in vulnerable state was not something he was used to but he had quickly adapted.
As the energy spread through his soul, he suddenly felt something amiss and then a excruciating wave of pain sprung from his shoulder and he cried in pain, dropping to the ground.
Sweat dropped from his brow to the ground and he snarled.
The pain he felt was immense, almost driving him into unconsciousness but Denva used every fibre of his being to hold himself together.
His vision had turned blurry, but it began refocusing moments later when the pain from his soul lessened.
'What in the world?!' he thought as he inspected himself.
Even though at this current time he didn't have the means to look within his soul, he could still feel what was going on.
The wound on his soul from the spear had reacted violently when it came in contact with the Essence that was now rushing within his soul with a white hue.
However, this was not the only observation he made.
Even as all parts of his soul were brimming with the Essence, only his arm, where the wound from the spear was, was devoid of Essence!
The Essence couldn't pass into his arm.
'Damn it! I still have to deal with this?!' Denva boiled with rage at this.
This would be problematic for his future endeavours.
Emenidas as his side was still ringing while producing a soft white light. It was no ordinary sword anymore and Denva would never unsheathe it without a valid reason. It had begun to draw Esssence on its own, though very miniscule amounts.
Denva stretched his right hand and could feel that it was as powerless as it had been minutes ago while the rest of his physical body was getting stronger.
He raised his hand and slammed it into the ground, a small crater being formed under the force!
The frustration had got to him.
'I'll make you pay dearly for this,' he thought, directing these words at a certain being he hated more than anything else. He stood and handled his swords.
He had wanted to give attention to his Jian sword but unfortunately, time was running out.
Denva quickly began scaling up the slope as he returned to the surface. This time, he didn't bother with observing caution as he knew what was ahead terrain wise.
When the surroundings became lighter, he increased his speed even more, finding that he was faster than before, which was not a surprise to him.
He quickly climbed up to the mouth of the pit and waited for a bit.
He heard the signs of battle, footsteps and sounds of harsh impacts which were more vivid as being from World Essence.
Traces of smoke could be seen as well, which led Denva to assume that the fellows who had come to distract the guards were still using the same tactic which they started with. It would probably be hard for him to manoeuvre.
'I guess reinforcements came. I wonder how they are holding up,' thought Denva. It was not surprising that reinforcements on the other side had been called, though he assumed them to not be too strong as he had heard that scuffles like these were common in the lower IDs.
The sounds of conflict reassured him that Bazzard and the others hadn't ditched him yet. He had a relieved expression under the gas mask he wore and waited.
In a situation like this, he knew that he was supposed to get some sort of signal. Surely, the Double Underground was a bunch of idiots right?
Bazzard should have told him all this before!
Denva waited a few moments before he saw a bright flare light rise into the sky with a bright red colour!
'That must be it,' he thought as he climbed out of the pit and raced towards the direction of the light cautiously.
The jump suit had the unique property which allowed him to hide his presence, so he was a bit more confident with running around unnoticed.
He saw figures that raced through the smoke and weaved away from them.
They were...many.
'Just what the hell is happening here?! There's too many of them,' Denva thought as he grew anxious.
This seemed like too hopeless of a situation.
From the blue, he felt a terrible impact on his shoulder which launched him a few meters forward where rolled and finally managed to stop after a few moments.
He turned to see a figure take two steps forward and then rush towards him like blur.
'Damn it!' Denva cursed as he drew back, being watchful of his surroundings. 'I thought this suit was supposed to mask my presence! Did he just see me running around?'
The individual who closed in on him was strong!
His presence was definitely above him and fighting would be him would be suicide.
Unfortunately, now that Denva had been hit, the effects of the suit were wearing off.
Denva could only run as he weaved between the figures that could barely be seen within the smoke.
He didn't allow the miniscule amount of strength he had cultivated to get to his head as he knew full well that the difference between levels.
Then again, this situation was quite... enjoyable.
He felt the raw and rough atmosphere similar to his first Worlds and a deep sense of nostalgia struck him.
The pounding of his heart, the excitement of being in danger after having stolen some gains.
It was quite exhilarating!
As he dashed, Denva felt a solid punch strike his back and he grunted, flying a distance and knocking down some of the individuals who were battling in the smoke.
As all this occurred he never let go of his swords, firmly gripping them to make sure they were not lost.
Denva quickly rose to his feet, but the eyes of many were already locked onto him!
He was in trouble!
Yet...
As he was considering what to do, he felt a surge of Essence under his feet and then... he found himself seated in passenger seat of the vehicle Bazzard had been driving.
The man with a cigarette stuck to his lips looked at him with a brow raised.
"I had half a mind to leave your ass if you didn't show up in the next few moments. I'm surprised you even had the courage to run around on your own in that chaos," Bazzard said, a soft light dying down around his body.
Denva breathed out and took off his mask as he looked at Bazzard.
'That must have been a Renewal Array ability. It doesn't seem like a weak one too,' he thought before retorting.
"I wanted to join the party. I can still feel an adrenaline rush from the thrilling atmosphere out there," Denva said as he turned to look at the smoky image ahead where chaos was ensuing.
"Heh," Bazzard gave a short laugh as a small part of him began to see this kid in a favourable light. "Thrilling, huh?"
Just a small part.