Training

Desire was sitting in the garden with his eyes closed.

His hair has grown a bit longer, and his body was bigger now.

This was proof that time was passing even in the world of Skinjur.

However, for Desire, that wasn't important.

What he wanted to do was etched on his mind.

It was to learn how to survive. After that comes whatever he wanted.

In fact, Desire was so focused on learning the Cold-blooded trait that he never gave a thought about what he wanted to do in the future.

Is he going to meet the human that wanted to meet with him? Will he beg Jarina to ask her mother for Desire to stay here longer?

Either way, Desire only had one goal, one plan for now.

And that was to leave Jarina's garden while having the Cold-blooded trait.

He spent days trying to figure out the first page. He spent weeks trying to understand the second page.

He spent hours after hours trying to decipher what All Brain means on the third page.

He spent months learning the Cold-blooded trait. He tried every method possible, except for the killing of the loved ones.

His innate skill has developed and came out now, but Desire didn't mind it.

He promised himself that he wouldn't take a look at another candy if he couldn't even finish the lollipop in his mouth.

He even put off the process of becoming one with the water just to learn it.

After all, every time Jarina visited or rather went home to her home, she always reminded Desire of what he will become if he doesn't finish this right.

That Desire was powerless.

That Desire was going to die.

That Desire was going to end provoking someone he shouldn't have provoked.

'I don't want that!' Desire thought every time dark thoughts came over his mind.

To be honest, if Desire wanted to be himself, he just needed to become stronger. He didn't need to take this roundabout way.

He just needed to crush the guys that would dare attack him. There was this option too, however...

'I... I'm not strong enough.'

Desire knew that he wasn't strong enough. He couldn't even protect himself when a threat comes, yet how dare he even begin to think he can crush the world's top forces?

What's more, even if he does become the world's strongest man, it would become useless if he ends up provoking everyone.

The humans would gather their forces together just to kill him. Even if he did and treated the monsters well, after all, Desire was a human.

Before thinking about the rosy future of becoming able to defeat anyone, Desire should just think slowly and surely take one step at a time.

In that way, he would be able to live his life and perhaps achieve his goal too.

His future goal of being able to destroy anything that would dare threaten his monsters.

Either way, Desire has already invested a huge amount of time in practicing the Cold-blooded trait.

There were many other things Desire could do, like completing the unification with the water, knowing the world, finding more monsters, but Desire decided to put all of his time into this one task.

To make sure that his investment pays off, he needs to make sure that he achieves it.

He needed to achieve it.

But, alas.

Every time he felt that he was about to get the trait, he always falls a bit short.

'Why?' Desire thought as he concentrated deeper. His mind was clear of anything. Even Jarina, who was watching him intently nearby, wasn't on his mind.

He's been stuck in this process for almost 6 months now. Time was quickly passing, and only half a year was remaining for Desire.

It was then.

While he was concentrating deeply on his mind, Jarina walked towards him and poked his side.

"It's time to eat, Desire."

Jarina said as she gestured for Desire to follow after she saw that he opened his eyes.

"Already? Hmm, I thought I had more time."

Desire spoke with a parched voice. His whole body was sweating, and thanks to the clothes provided to him, his body was covered somewhat.

"That's right. Do you have any questions for me? I said I'd teach you, but I haven't been doing it since day one."

"It's fine. I feel like if I don't do it myself, I will get influenced by you. Besides, I'm already very thankful that you're letting me stay here."

Jarina had a bit of a disappointed look on her face before sitting down on the table she prepared.

"So, do you think you grasped it already?" Jarina asked while proceeding to give the tableware to Desire.

Desire accepted it without a problem and answered after sitting.

"I don't know...I don't even know if what I'm doing is correct."

Desire didn't have any clue about how to go about it. However, Jarina once reassured him that what he is doing was correct.

This made him more confused.

Every time he was about to grab the trait called Cold-blooded just by concentrating and erasing everything about himself, Desire could feel that he was 'lost.'

In fact, he only based his way on two things.

One is the book, which said that Desire must kill one of his loved ones.

He used that to 'kill' his emotions, not just for monsters but also for humans.

He erased everything regarding 'love' that he basically achieved his goal of hiding his emotions.

However, it isn't perfect. Monsters like Liya, Lyra, and even Percia appear from time to time to disturb him, making him hesitate to erase his love.

Even the one who saved him from way back then appears too.

Anyway, the other one is based on what Jarina said, "It is a skill."

The Cold-blooded trait is a trait, but it falls in the All Brain Skill in the end.

As long as Desire could grasp even a fraction of the All Brain Skill, the Cold-blooded trait will soon follow.

Using those two key points, Desire was able to advance in such a short amount of time.

Even Jarina was impressed by his progress because Jarina took 3 years just to master this point.

In fact, Desire could probably freely control his emotions so well now that he could go and live his life now without worrying about potential dangers.

However, Desire wanted to have the system recognize that he has the Cold-blooded trait.

In a way, he wanted to achieve what he has set out to do.

Desire was focused and determined.

"It's alright. A trait is a part of your personality. No, it is correct to say that it is your personality. That is why it is only natural to get lost in it."

"Hmmm. I understand that part, but did you really do this way? I can't begin to fathom how you did it. It's more normal to...lose your mind."

Jarina laughed a little bit before answering Desire.

After all, what Desire said was correct.

The method she used and Desire was using was insane, that it wouldn't be wrong to say that it is a suicide method.

"Yes. I'm actually impressed by you. Well, I never told you about the danger and all, so maybe that's why you didn't mind it at all."

"Now that I think of it...you didn't tell me."

Jarina raised an eyebrow as she heard Desire's tone. Her expression showed interest, but that didn't last long as she erased it.

"Well, even if I do tell you, we have no other method than this. So you'll eventually do this." Jarina said as she prepared the tea to drink.

Desire was already eating without minding her. After all, this was for him.

The Suckus had placed so many resources into him that Desire, even when he was in a state where his emotions were erased, was feeling embarrassed.

No, he was already embarrassed since before Lyra took care of him.

However, the debt that he has towards the Suckus couldn't be denied.

Even he was surprised that they were willing to go so far for him.

What's more, since Desire was practicing the Cold-blooded trait, he could just forget the debt he has whenever convenient.

'Aren't they afraid?' Desire always thought about this every time he was talking to Jarina.

Well, Desire wasn't that kind of person, and Desire plans to pay the debt that he has accumulated over the past months.

However, now that Desire had begun to practice the Cold-blooded trait, his eyes were a little bit 'open' now.

That was why he thought that maybe the Suckus were stupid, but with Jarina with them, he could only shake his head.

Jarina was a monster who has perfected the Cold-blooded Trait, according to her.

There's no way she wouldn't know about trivial matters such as betrayals and forgetting debts and all.

Anyway, Desire was just that grateful to them since they showered him with much trust.

"I do get it. Anyway, I think I'm there. In another three months or so, I would get the Cold-blooded trait."

"You sure about that? Don't rush it, or you would get bitten."

"I know, I know. I'm saying this because I'm confident."

Jarina didn't answer as she knew Desire wouldn't boast about something like this.

However, she just couldn't accept it.

'He may be a human, but his talents are just monstrous.' Jarina thought as she finished her tea.

"Alright, I'll look forward to it."

Desire just nodded his head while eating his fill. After a while, he finished eating and said his thanks to Jarina.

He went back to the garden where he was sitting and plopped down.

Although he didn't show it on his face, he was excited.

"It's time."