Superior Grade, Fiery Fruit

A week had passed by quickly. The three had prepared extensively for this and on the final night, actually rested.

Tanner checked his skills.

[Skills]

Energy Manipulation LV 5

– Allows the user to manipulate all forms of energy in a 50m zone.

They were all prepared for this. Tanner now had a 5 Star Inferior Grade Heaven Ranked Phantom Armor, which was disguised as a 4 Star Royal Blue Armor, alongside a 3 Star Trident which possessed binding features. Basically, if he threw it, as long as it was not too far, it would come back to his hand.. It's sharpness also increased by fifty percent when thrown, a passive skill called Impale.

Allen had contacted his sect, and he had his horse evolved to Grade 13. It's mane now had a tint of green, and it could move two hundred metres in an instant. With all it's speed, it could reach Mach 5.5. He had also eschewed his green robes, and had gotten a 6 Star Inferior Heaven Ranked Swift Battle Armor. Even without his horse, his full speed could reach Mach 3.5.

Arnold had his armor hastily upgraded. It had taken three days, but it was worth it. His flying speed had reached Mach 4.5 and it's defense had reached an insane level and it was now a 5 Star Medial Heaven Ranked Lava Armor. It's look had also changed, as streams of orange were added, making it look like he wore pure lava.

They all rested for a bit. As the sun began to rise, shining it's warm rays on the large expanse of land.

Tanner, Allen and Arnold stood before some formations, which had been laid down from a scroll.

Mana began to gather, and they started to use their various Cultivation Techniques to progress.

A fiery vortex appeared above Arnold's head, sucking in the mana incredibly quickly. The vague figure of a phoenix was being formed behind him.

Allen's hair began to flutter, and small breezes, all light green in colour revolved around him.

Using his cycle technique, Tanner revolved both his Mana and Energy, filling up his wide foundation steadily. Unbeknownst to all of them, time and space began to fluctuate a bit around him. However, it was extremely subtle, so much it couldn't be felt.

After the formation exhausted itself, they stood up with renewed gazes. Allen and Arnold had both advanced to Expert. Tanner had too vast of a foundation, so he had reached only the Advanced realm.

As it finished, Tanner sat back down and began to familiarize himself with his new realm. By the time he finished, five hours had passed, and the sun had risen fully, burning with full splendor. His body felt extremely hot so he rushed back to the exchange center and took a bath.

He met up back with Allen and Arnold, who were already prepared to leave. They had already told the team that the next few days were days off, except for people who wanted to go on solo missions.

"I rented three Earth Worms, Grade 3. They move especially quickly when in the ground. We can use it to obscure ourselves, not revealing too much." Tanner led three fierce looking worms towards them.

"I also got us some masks, based on our elements." Arnold brought out a blue mask, depicting vast waves on it, and three holes where his eyes and nose were.

Suddenly, a wind blew, and the masks flew upward, then were shattered by a sharp wave, which came from 'nowhere'.

Allen and Tanner had seen the masks before. They looked incredibly terrible and had bright colors, defeating the point of obscurity.

"Let's go." Riding the worms underground in an already prepared underground transport system, they reached the place after ten hours.

Commanding the worms to tunnel up, they reached the surface and sent the worms back to the beast taming center, where Tanner had rented them from.

At the surface, they stared at a lava lake, which was extremely active at the moment. Several beasts had begun to fight already, and the Grade 5 Lava Golem had attacked.

To ordinary people, the lava was extremely hot. However, when the mages stepped on it, it seemed like solid ground. They circulated mana in their feet and steadied themselves on the lava.

"The fight has begun already! Let's go!" Spotting several mages in front, Arnold immediately blasted forward, leaving the two behind. Several golems which stood in his way we're immediately slashed in half by him.

Allen sighed. His Grade 13 Green Tinted Wind Horse galloped on the air, and instantly went two hundred metres forward. His saber flashed and a Grade 2 Fire Demon was instantly split into half.

"Royal Blue Armor, equip!" Tanner sprinted towards the two. A Grade 3 Lava Fanged Snake hissed in his direction, and a jet of lava was sent at him.

Not even bothering to evade, the lava struck him, achieving no effect but making his body hot. He instantly dissipated the heat energy and summoned his trident. Throwing it with a great amount of strength, it instantly reached Mach 2, leaving three extremely bloody holes where the core was supposed to be.

He continued to sprint casually, killing everything in his way. They had already prepared a tactic beforehand. Tanner would invade from the west, Allen from the south, and Arnold from the east.

Mages who were having a difficult time fighting the beasts stared at them with various emotions, some spite, some defeat.

The exception was the Iron Glory sect members who had come for the fruit. They easily defeated the beasts. As a Grade 3 Lava Fanged Snake sent it's tail swiping at one of them, he stopped the tail with a palm and struck out. A massive fist made of earth struck it's head, turning it's brain into mush.

Some other mages were also doing well against the troublesome snakes or demons.

"Light Sword!" The Mid-Tier spell of the Light Element was cast. An extremely bright, glowing sword made of light struck a Grade 3 Fire Demon's chest, and it fell into the lava.

________

Tanner, who had steadily killed his way forward had finally reached the area where several Grade 5 beasts were fighting for dominance.

Among these beasts, a bright flame burned fiercely and flew toward one of the twenty odd Grade 5 beasts, which happened to be an Iron Clad Golem.

Seeing a mage rush forward, the others who had made it this far attacked, leaving only a few who hid and waited patiently.

Tanner occasionally moved from his position, sending out Water Dragons toward the Iron Clad Golem which Arnold fought.

Each one of the beasts fighting was huge. So much that Arnold resembled a dwarf when he landed on the lava. The others were much worse, as some could not fly, and could only helplessly look for opportunities to attack their opponents.

Swish!

A mage was sent flying by a massive fireball. The impact sent him flying deep into the lava pool. He died without a body.

Many mages died through impacts which sent them into the lava. Although they could step on it, breathing in the extremely hot magma was near impossible.

[Data]

Name: Michael Tanner

Level: 7

Mana: 300/300

HP: 100/100

EXP – 45/1000

[Stats]

Strength – 19.9

Agility – 26.9

Speed – 26.9

Intelligence – 20.9

Energy – 200/200

[Magic]

Water

– Advanced realm

– Beginner stage

[Miscellaneous]

Points – 0

Stealth – 4.9

Magic Control – 25.9

Charm – 5.9

Bravery – 4.9

Resistance – 7.9

His stats had improved again, both by levelling and by his personal effort.

His Royal Blue Armor started to fluctuate silently. He stood still, waiting for an opportunity to arise.

"Damn it, let's go! Wind Chop!" Allen shot out. To most mages, they only saw a pale green beam collide with the Iron Clad Golem, covering it with cracks.

"Phoenix Wing Slash!" Arnold swung his arm, and a phoenix appeared behind him. It swung it's fiery feathers vertically, and the golem split into two equal halves. It's core dropped, and several mages moved.

This was a Grade 5 Iron Clad Golem Core. It could be used for cultivation or sold at a high price. Either option was alluring.

However, at this moment...

Plop!

For some reason, the moment it fell, everywhere became deathly silent.