After Artemia and Gracier left the forest of intermediate, they appeared in another forest.
The forest was enormous, luminous, and diverse. Its canopy was monopolized by beech, maple, and cedar, and abundant dancing lights bounced through their crowns for scattered mushrooms to reign the fertile soils below.
Bundled branches hung from a couple of trees, and a potpourri of flowers, which were seen occasionally, enriched the otherwise dark scenery.
A variety of noises, most belonged to foraging animals, added life to the forest, and overpowered the occasional sounds of birds of prey gliding in the air.
Strangely, Gracier felt no presence of monsters.
Having noticed Gracier's confusion, Artemia smiled and explained.
''This a special forest at the other side of the capital. As you have noticed, this part of the forest doesn't have any monsters only ordinary animals. This is the outer edge of the forest; only in the forest's depth will you see monsters. You can fight to your heart content here, unleash whatever skill you want without fear of damaging the forest because it will regenerate afterward.''
''I see. Where are we going?" Gracier asked this.
''Follow me,'' Artemia said and walked deeper until they saw a platform; using this platform, they appeared in the depth of the forest, in an arena-like space.
''What is your current level?" Artemia asked the moment they stood atop the platform in the middle of the open space.
''Level 78,'' Alex answered while checking her status.
『[Gracier Alexandra Touch]
「 Rank 8」
Level 78
Class: Fire Empress
Age: 14
Female
Race: High Half-Elf
Experience Value: 10200/37000
Magic Power: 3500/3500
Magic: Fire Magic
Attack: 1310 ➤ 1335
Defense: 700 ➤ 725
Agility: 800 ➤ (+50 BP) 875
Intelligence: 800 ➤ 825
Luck: 700 ➤ 725
BP: 0
SP: 10
Gift: Ignia's Bracelet
Skills: [Cooking Level 4] [Sewing Level 3] [Fireball Level 5] [Fire Arrows Level 4] [Meteor Level 1] (New) [Fire Snake Level 4] [Flame Shield Level 5] [Presence Detection Level 5] [Chantless Magic Level 8] [Fire Lotus Level 5] [Archery Level Max] [Blaze Steps Level 5] [Golden Arrows Level 1]
Special Ability: [Dragon Eye Level 10 Max] [Flame Wings Level 3] [Dragon's Breath Level Level 2] [Lord of Hundred Flames] (New) {Dark Mode (Sealed due to its instability)}
Titles: [Avenger] [Child of Fire] [The Awakened] [The Diligent] [Lord of Flames]』
''I see, that's good. I hope you still have not used your SP yet?" Artemia inquired.
''No, I still haven't used them. I'm waiting for your instruction.'' Gracier responded, she still doesn't understand why Artemia forbade her from immediately using her SP; however, she knew she was about to get the answer to this question soon, and indeed she was not wrong; Artemia began to explain the reason behind her order.
''You see, most people often mistook immediately spending their SP on their skills as a normal thing to do; however, it isn't the right thing to do. Let's me explain to you why I have said this.''
Artemia's words had caught Gracier's attention; she nodded her head, ready to listen to Artemia's full explanation.
''Why is it not a bad thing to immediately distribute your SP. You will acquire more benefits if you practice your skill, having the minimum mastery over it before spending SP on it; this increases the overall capacity. More than anything, you will have perfect mastery over it. For example, if two persons have the same skill and one spends more time practicing his skill before using SP. The other only spend SP doing nothing, at the Max level, the person who practices hard before spending SP will have his max skill power will be doubled compared to the other that only use a shortcut, it's why I have suggested not to use your SP yet on your meteor skill.'' Artemia explained why she had stopped Gracier from spending her SP on her meteor skill; if not for her, Gracier would have used all her SP on her meteor skill as she believes that it was her strongest skill with the more destructive force among her skills.
''I see; I understand your reasoning. Does my brother know about this?"
Gracier couldn't help but think about her brother after hearing Artemia's explanation, she wanted to know if Alex knew about this information and the answer was negative.
''I doubt it, don't worry, I will tell him later. You should also know that your brother is special, possesses special training methods, so there's no need to be concerned about this; however, just in case, I will have to tell him.''
Smiling, Gracier said, ''I will appreciate it if you do that.''
Artemia nodded, ''Let's us begin.''
Immediately following this announcement, she vanished; two Artemia appeared, one at the front while the other at the back of Gracier they hands thrust forward.
A normal person shouldn't react in time; however, Gracier was different, especially after training under Artemia's spartan training; not dodging this attack would have shamed her master.
A crimson flame appeared under Gracier's feet, launching her into the sky like a rocket. She didn't waste time before deploying a flame shield under her foot, and flame wings appeared at her back, making her float in the sky.
Fwoosh!!
Boom!
Immediately after Gracier deployed the flame shield under her feet, a lightning spear struck it, creating an explosion that destroyed the shield. Fortunately, Gracier had fly higher, dodging the explosion.
Aiming Ignia in her bow form at Artemia looking at her.
Tuk! Tuk!!!!!!!
In a single shot, seven flame arrows were fired. Facing the incoming arrows, Artemia's expression was calm as the surface of the water; she summoned her Gift in the form of a spear and swung it, she deflected all incoming arrows to the side.
Gracier smiled when she saw this; immediately following her command, those flame arrows which had previously fallen on the ground blossom into a beautiful yet deadly fire lotus flower, and how could Artemia haven't known this?
Just as the fire lotus tried to swallow her, Artemia flicked her fingers; however, for Gracier, it was like the announcement of the grim reaper; she heard the flicking sound loud and clear, her eyes widened, it was then she came to learn that Artemia previous attempt to strike her with that lightning spear from the ground wasn't without purpose, the scattered lightning after the explosion have gathered together and unexpectedly struck her before she could deploy a shield. Like that Gracier was struck by lightning and lost the ability to fly, she pummeled toward the ground at astonishing speed.
Artemia was still standing where she stood since the beginning; she thrust her spear at the falling Gracier; five lightning spears were sent toward Gracier; the latter knew what would happen if those lightning spears struck her, so she moved her paralyzed body, the mouth was enough. Finally, struggling enough, Gracier managed to open her mouth and unleash dragon breath.
She spewed fire from her mouth toward Artemia, and because of her proximity to the ground, Artemia should have been caught off guard; however, just as the flame was about to reach her, blue lightning appeared around Artemia and parted and tried to divide the incoming in two, it was then Gracier showed why she got the title Child of fire, she changed the flame and a gigantic flame fist that struck Artemia, the latter widened her eyes, she had fought numerous times with this girl, however, her control over the Fire element, her quick decision never ceases to amaze Artemia, even though she suppressed her Rank at the same level as Gracier, she almost lost because of the sudden element of surprise.
Grinning, Artemia's figure blurred at the last moment, leaving the giant flame fist struck empty air.
Boom!
An enormous crater appeared on the ground; numerous trees were uprooted and burnt to a cinder; Gracier wasn't happy at all; she felt chill down her bones; she tried to turn around; however, it was already too late.
Bam! Boom!
Artemia, which appeared behind her, punched her to the ground; the strike was so strong that Gracier felt that all the bones inside her body almost broke as she embedded on the ground face; first, she created a small crater not too far from the one she created using that flame fist.
Artemia landed softly on the ground and watched Gracier stand up, she said.
''You lost, always stay hundred percent focused during a fight, until the last moment your opponent may use some mean to reverse the situation, however, if you are attentive enough she can cope with any unexpected situation.'' Artemia lectured Gracier; the latter lifted her head wiped the blood around her mouth, and nodded to indicate that she understood Artemia's words; she was careless; it won't happen again, she vowed to herself.
''Great, although I wish for us to continue, we will stop for today. I have something to take care of. Sorry, we will come back later.'' Artemia announced; Gracier was disappointed; she thought she would unleash her meteor skill today; I guess it won't happen.
Just now, one of Artemia's men on a mission informed her of something; she must go back and check it. It was why she canceled today's training.
''Let's go,'' Artemia said before leaving with Gracier; she thought if her subordinate information was correct, then she might be able to know the traitor's identity.