Four days passed in a flash. Varian spent time training with his 'punching bags' which Boo brainwashed to a certain degree.
His growth was significant, but he knew his strength as of right now couldn't turn the tide of war.
Varian knew that since the beginning. But for some reason, he couldn't let go of the heavy feeling in his chest.
He felt responsible. He had to do something.
Sure, he wasn't even a high awakener, but he had ghost ship, didn't he?
But what could he do facing an imminent war?
They returned to the Secret Realm in which Black Market was originally hosted. Of course, Black Market was no more.
But using it as a launch pad, they tailed space shuttles coming in and out of the realm.
While Varian continued his training, Boo found out four more secret realms.
In the training room, Varian's right arm was bent in an unnatural angle while his left was charred black.
Out of the six training bags, four fainted and only the lighting and body awakeners were left.
By this point, Varian also allowed them to use 100% of their strength.
Earlier, Varian used to restrict the strength of his opponents since they were peak level 6 and he was only mid level 6.
But things changed after last trip.
The week prior Betty's kidnap, ghost ship was visiting the cluster cities and collecting intel.
During the same period, he 'borrowed' some criminals and used them to pull his lagging paths forward.
So now, it was Varian who had to limit his strength to avoid killing these peak level 6s and maintain a sense of struggle.
Just like now, facing the lighting and body awakeners, he was only using two paths.
Body and Plantae.
Varian's arms transformed into sturdy brown branches and his regeneration skyrocketed.
Zap!
The air seared as a lightning spear reached him in the blink of an eye.
Boom!
Following that attack came a fist that crushed air itself.
Varian's expression remained unchanged as he sped up the circulation of prana.
Right when the attacks were about to reach him, his branch arms turned back to normal.
The injuries were gone!
Varian kicked the floor and his figure appeared a few meters away from the lightning awakener.
The peak level 6 reacted without delay and was about to bombard Varian with another lightning spear.
Shuaa!
Except this time, a red root pierced broke his lightning shield and pierced his stomach.
"Gah!"
The roots shrank and turned back to Varian's feet who deftly down. Right when he did, the air howled and a foot passed where his head was.
Varian swung his arm at the body awakener at lightning speed and it into a spear shaped branch.
The body awakener twisted his neck and barely avoided the attack only to be punched in the gut.
Kacha!
Breaking his bones and coughing out blood, the body awakener was blown away and collapsed next to the lightning awakener.
"Haaa~" Varian stood up and stretched his neck. The chi and prana in his body were dry at this point.
'If I use only two paths, my limit is six peak level 6s.' Varian narrowed his eyes.
He tried pushing it, but it didn't work out.
'Status'
[Body Path Level 6: 3250/4000 (+10)
Space Path Level 6: 3200/4000
Lightning Path Level 6: 3200/4000
Morpher Path L6: 3000/4000 (+20)
Telepath Path L6: 2800/4000
Telekinetic Path L6: 2800/4000]
Varian loked at the progresses (+10) and (+20) and sighed. A couple of hours and this was the progress.
His progress was already slowing down. Perhaps he was going to hit a bottleneck. During these times, instead of instinctively understanding the use of aura derivative directly through combat, he might have to study it deliberately.
Varian wondered if changing the training opponents could help.
Regardless, all of his paths were now in high level 6.
If he used his two strongest paths, he would be able to fight off a normal peak level 6.
If he used three, he would be able to defeat geniuses.
If he used four and five, he could fight on equal footing with the top 10 geniuses like Sarah, Ashtarh and Xavier.
Finally, if he used all six paths, he could rival Charles.
"I caught up…already." As the cold water washed away the blood, Varian muttered under the shower.
It was some two months since he challenged Charles and also almost two months since he awakened.
"…This is just getting more and more ridiculous."
Forget others, even he didn't believe this.
If he did participate in the Solar Trial now, he had a serious shot at winning by the virtue of his strength alone. No need to resort to strategies.
"Well, Charles is just a tick box at this point." Varian shook his head and walked into the cabin.
As it could expand and contract the space inside, Ghost ship didn't really have regular rooms.
There were some storage treasures that Boo had which held things like walls, spare metal and of course, weapons from previous master.
Of course, the star treasures all 'rotted' from celestial level and were in the mortal rank.
With some of the materials, Boo made a training room for him. Under his suggestion, it also made a cabin.
Why?
"…."
To look more like a space shuttle and not a field.
As Varian stepped into the cabin, Boo waved its hand. "Master, master~"
Laying on the couch, and glancing through the tempered crystal glass, Varian yawned.
"Yep?"
"I tailed their space shuttle and found another secret realm!" Boo reported excitedly.
"Good." Varian nodded. "This is the fifth one, right?"
"Um."
"Any useful information?" Varian sat back up and asked with a heavy expression.
War intel was crucial. His strength couldn't help them much, but if his intel was game changing, the weight he was feeling…the mountain of responsibility would lighten, if only a bit.
Boo clenched its small fists and shook its head.
"Haa~" Varian collapsed on the couch and his eyes dimmed.