The tenth day.
Time passed quickly as Emery spent all his time and energy doing his best to increase his strength. Even when there was only one day left before the second game began, he still spent the last day training inside the origin stone room at the Darkness Institute.
After receiving the abundance of spirit stones from Magus Xion three days ago, Emery thought on how he should have divided the spirit stones. It really wasn't hard for him to decide and divide them equally between himself and his four friends.
His four friends were all astonished and puzzled by the spirit stones he gave them, thus they asked him about it. Emery then proceeded to explain the source of the spirit stones to his friends, lest they refused to accept it. He told them the spirit stones were given to him by Magus Xion as a gift and the magus told him to share these with his friends.
Everyone, including Chumo was surprised by Magus Xion's generosity. Even though Julian was questioning Magus Xion's intention and looked like he didn't want to receive his share, with Chumo backing Emery's words as well as Klea and Thrax's easygoing attitude, Julian relented to them and accepted the spirit stones too.
After dividing the spirit stones among his friends, Emery and the others immediately returned to their practice and spent the next three days doing their own personal training. Emery immediately used up his new riches, 40.000 spirit stones, to buy the spirit serums.
According to his estimation, 40 serums should have been enough for Emery to push his spirit force to the maximum limit of rank 6 acolyte which was 150 spirit force. However, to his surprise, after Emery reached the 135 spirit force mark, the amount of spirit serum needed increased again. If he previously needed 2 spirit serums to only increase 1 spirit force, now he needed 3 spirit serums for the same result.
[Spirit force 142]
Emery couldn't help but sigh, when he saw his spirit force didn't reach the 150 mark as planned. Shaking his head, he decided to go do his training routine.
…
In the next two days, Emery returned his concentration to his training and spent his time meditating in the darkness origin stone room. During his time there, Emery received an increase in his spirit force again.
[Spirit force 144]
Hence, today was the last day before the game began. Despite that, Emery continued to diligently cultivate his dark element, as he still tried to deepen his understanding of it. Emery had spent a lot of his contribution points to access this room in the last 7 days and he didn't feel bitter about it. Instead, Emery felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
At the moment, Emery was seen inside the familiar dark room meditating with his eyes closed. Just like before, Emery was once again sucked into an illusion, where he stood inside an endless expanse of darkness and emptiness. As he wandered around the expanse, Emery found the familiar dark mist and went for it. In the blink of an eye, his entire body swiftly being engulfed by the dark thick mist.
With every second of time that passed inside the mist, Emery's spirit began to turn erratic and chaotic. Emery had been trying to resist it ever since the second day he trained inside the room and planned to do the same this time. However, for days now, he felt the mist had slowly started to embrace him and he was close to finally manage to subdue it.
Emery could feel something brewing inside him, right in his spirit core. Then, in an instant, an explosion occurred within his spirit core, as Emery felt a rush of spirit energy flowing through his body. His spirit core was undergoing the evolution to the next stage.
[Spirit core of Darkness - stage 2]
[Your spirit force has increased tremendously]
Emery perceived his spirit core of darkness undergoing a massive evolution, increasing its size up to two times. A spirit weave of darkness solidified in his main core in the center.
[You have reached the limit of the realm spirit force limit]
[Battle power increased by 1 point]
[Emery Ambrose]
[Battle power 38]
[Spirit force 150]
[Plant Spirit - early foundation]
[Water Spirit - early foundation]
[Earth Spirit - early foundation]
[Spirit Core of Darkness - stage 2]
[Fey Bloodline - stage 2]
[Acolyte Rank 6]
This was the first time Emery achieved a breakthrough in his spirit core of darkness. Therefore, he didn't really know and understand what it meant. But, there was one thing he truly understood, which was the fact he currently felt amazing.
He felt so much more powerful than before, as if nothing could block him anymore. Unfortunately, he was still unable to reach rank 7 acolyte despite his breakthrough.
At the moment, his understanding towards his other 3 elements were still at the early foundation level, which was quite awful to see. Emery couldn't help but sigh when he saw his three elements. If he truly wanted to increase his understanding towards them, Emery would need to spend a lot of time and so many contribution points, something he didn't have time for and couldn't afford, right now.
However, despite his disheartening situation, Emery felt the breakthrough in his spirit core of darkness was already an achievement for him, a truly meaningful one. Clearing his head of useless thoughts, Emery decided to stop his self-pitying and make the best of what he had right now for the game later.
Understanding there was not much he could achieve in this room at this point, Emery immediately got up and left the room, even though he still had plenty of time left. As he was about to walk out of the room, Emery noticed Chumo, who also had been spending his time in this room for the last few days, seemed to have just made a breakthrough too.
Emery saw Chuo was getting up, so he approached him.
"Congratulations on your advancement, Chumo. Did you reach rank 7?" Emery asked with a smile.
Chumo nodded his head and spoke, "Yes, Emery. All thanks to the spirit stones you gave me."
Hearing his confirmation, Emery couldn't help but smile wryly. Unlike him, not only did Chumo have an A aptitude, he also only had only one element, which allowed him to focus his attention. Meanwhile, Emery had a pitiful B grade aptitude and 4 elements he needed to take care of.
As if his sufferings were not enough, Emery discovered Chumo was able to increase his spirit force from 105 to 150 by only consuming 40 spirit serums, the same amount of him. The unfairness of the situation made Emery could not hold himself from cursing the fate.
Hearing this information confirmed Emery's guess that the problem was either his spirit aptitude or his body talent. He knew his aptitude was bad, but Emery couldn't help but feel bitter thinking his body talent was also inferior, when compared to the other acolytes.
However, despite the bitterness he felt, Emery was truly happy for Chumo, when he saw him manage to reach the rank 7. Emery also wondered if the others also made it.
With Chumo's new title of rank 7 acolyte, he was eligible to train the rank 4 spells. Therefore, Chumo decided to spend more time at the institute to learn them.
"See you later tonight, then." Emery said, while patting Chumo's shoulder. Chumo nodded his head and left the room.
Emery watched the back of his friend and decided to go back to Lord Izta's place. As he walked, Emery thought of ways to train and familiarize himself with his newfound power. After all, there was not much time left for him. When he reached the palace, Emery immediately went to the training ground and began practicing his spells until the rest of the day ended.
While the sun set on the horizon welcoming the arrival of the night, Emery's friends began to come to the training ground one by one. As he looked at them, Emery could tell from their aura all of them had improved tremendously. Unsurprisingly, out of the five of them, Klea also had made it to the rank 7 like Chumo.
Despite having only one less element than him, Klea still managed to cultivate all three to the mid foundation stage requirement and swiftly achieved the breakthrough. The matter of Klea reaching rank 7 was an even more extraordinary achievement compared to Chumo.
"An S grade aptitude genius is indeed different." Emery said with a wry smile.
Emery just hoped not all those elite acolytes were as talented as Klea. If they were, Emery didn't know what would happen later.
They spent two hours sparring between each other, before they all left together to go to a certain gathering.