In the battle just now, Souta didn't even use the [Element Drive]. If he used it then he wouldn't be able to control it if he activated his other combat arts just like [Night Overlord's Aura] or [Shadow Cloak]. It would be worse if he used Archetype on top of it.
"You can rest now, Eztein. I'm going to continue my training." Souta said to Eztein.
"Okay," Eztein nodded and he gave Souta one more glance before he went to the side to rest.
Souta ignored him and he closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly circulate his best feram inside his body.
[Element Drive: Dark Force]!
A huge wave of energy swept out. The temperature dropped drastically and his body emitted pitch-black vapor. The ground beneath his feet was completely black and there was some sort of black veins popping out of his body.
Dark Force was a skill unique to the people that have darkness element attributes. It will boost their overall power by forty percent when activated and the strength of any combat arts or spell with darkness attribute will have a one hundred percent increase in effect and damage.
He needed to learn this skill as most of his opponents at this moment knew how to use [Element Drive]. The woman that he fought in the auction house was an example. Also, Eztein too knew how to use [Element Drive].
In the past ten weeks in Saya's inner consciousness, aside from training his Archetype, Souta also tried to learn this unique skill. He knew that it would greatly help him in battle.
But then, he hasn't received any system prompts about this skill. Just like the Archetype, he only received a system prompt when he could finally apply it in a battle. In his current condition, it would be impossible for him to apply [Element Drive] in a battle.
Well, since he could activate it, he was close to learning this technique. It won't be long before he could use it in a battle.
After a few hours, Souta stopped training the [Element Drive]. He sat down and rubbed his chin.
'It seems that ten weeks in this place isn't enough to learn the [Element Drive]. I think I would be able to use this soon so I need more time.' He said inwardly while glancing at Eztein, Amanda, and Yenxa.
He's not the only one that improved in the past few weeks inside Saya's inner consciousness. The others had improved too.
Yenxa learned the basics of spell casting but ten weeks wasn't enough for her to be able to cast a spell. So just like him, she needed more time. Her learning ability was high and it could even rival those top students in Imperium.
Amanda reached the high level of A-rank. She liquefied more than fifty percent of her mana but she was far from reaching the peak level of A-rank. Since she ate the High Phaseless Fruit, she gained light and darkness elemental affinity. But it was useless as she haven't learned [Element Drive] or any other spells or combat arts with light and darkness attributes. So she still needed more time to make the effect of High Phaseless Fruit useful. At the very least, she used the energy of the fruit to fasten her liquefication.
Eztein was at the peak level of S-rank but he was still far from reaching SS-rank or shackled realm. He just needed some high-grade equipment and he would be fine on his own.
Then, his current power level. His released form without the equipment added stats and skills could rival a peak level of S-rank like Eztein. If he wore his equipment, he had no problem dealing with an S-rank at all.
"Another two days,"
Souta muttered. He decided to delay their departure for two days. It means that they will have ten days inside Saya's inner consciousness.
He gathered the three and told them his plan to delay their departure. Everyone agreed to them as they felt that will be a huge improvement in their ability in the next ten days. Their instincts were telling them.
After that, Souta went outside and inform Eilish and Gragas about his plan.
"I will delay our departure for two days," Souta said to Gragas while glancing at Eilish.
"Why so?" Gragas asked.
"I haven't finished our preparation. You have to remember that Witch Clan isn't an ordinary group of people. They are powerful so we have to prepare ourselves for the worse." Souta opened his arms as he explained.
"Preparation? Just what the hell are you doing in your room. You shut yourself with the other three inside your room for two weeks straight so I'm curious about your so-called preparation." Eilish said with a faint smile.
"It's simple. We're just trying to improve our power level. Amanda is an Extermination Realm master so she's focusing herself on liquefying her mana. Eztein, that new face, is an Annihilation Realm master so he's focused on solidifying his mana. I just gave them a suitable environment inside my room to help them improve." Souta said to Eilish.
"Oh, you can do that?" Eilish raised her eyebrows with interest in her eyes.
"Yes, it's a simple formation," Souta said with a plain look. Of course, he was lying. He just set up a normal barrier using his energy. He couldn't set up a formation as it was too complicated for him and he didn't even have an idea how to create one formation.
"Hmm..." Eilish stared at Souta for a while minute before she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, it doesn't matter. I will not pry into it. You just have to make sure that if you get caught you don't say anything about me."
"Thanks for your understanding and don't worry about me betraying you. You've been a huge help to me so even if those people capture me, I will not tell them anything about you." Souta paused for a moment before he inquired, "But I'm curious about your goal. Why are you helping me a monster? You must have realized from our previous interaction that I didn't belong to the Monster Dungeon. So why?"
"I already told you before, right? You're using me to gather information and I'm using you to test the Union Peace." Eilish replied to him.
Souta narrowed his eyes and slowly asked, "Is it about the Council of High Worlds?"
The smile on Eilish's face disappeared quickly. Her eyebrows knitted tightly as she stared at Souta.
"I guess I'm right. But don't worry I won't pry into your secrets. Just look at your face in the mirror, it's scary, it's reducing your charm. Your face is different compared to the time you slept with me." Souta said jokingly as he shrugged his shoulders.
"I warned you. The Council of High World is bigger than what you can imagine. They are far more stronger than the forces in this world. Also, where did you even hear that organization's name?" Eilish said as her expression eased up a little bit.
"Wait! you old hag Eilish slept with a monster!! Damn! That's too much!!" Gragas said as he looked at the two back and forth.
"Oi, do you want me to stitch your mouth?!" Eilish glared at Gragas as she released an intense aura.
"Ehe~ it seems that this little dwarf wanted to reincarnate before he could achieve his dream." Souta flashed a threatening smile as his energy started to ooze out of his body.
"Haha, I'm just joking don't be mad!"
Souta chatting with them for a little bit, he went back to his room and entered Saya's inner consciousness. He was eager to master the [Element Drive] and use it in combat.
Just like that, two days had passed in the blink of an eye.
Souta, Amanda, Yenxa, and Eztein came out of the room. They've finished their training and were ready to go at any moment.
"That's more amazing than I thought. Two weeks and two days had passed here but there..." Eztein mumbled as he looked around.
Souta ignored him and went directly to Eilish's room. The other followed him as they knew that they were going to inform the owner of this mansion before they leave. It's rude to leave without saying anything to Eilish.
"Oh, I could feel the changes in their aura. They really grew stronger in just a short amount of time." Eilish raised her eyebrows as she looked at Yenxa, Amanda, and Eztein who stood behind Souta.
"Just like what I said before, I'm preparing for the worse so we need to improve our power level," Souta said.
"Are leaving today?" Eilish asked.
"Yep, just like what I had planned."
"Do you need anything?"
"Nope, I've already had everything."
"Take this, this will help you in case you fought someone beyond your level." Eilish placed five small bottles with green liquid inside them.
"Oh, a temporary damage boosting potion." Souta quickly recognized the potion.
"It seems that you know about these potions so I don't need to explain it. Take this and don't forget how I've helped you." Eilish flashed a faint seductive smile.
"Okay, I will not hesitate and take these potions with me," Souta smirked and he grabbed the five potions on top of the table.. "If you ever need my help then don't hesitate to call me."