New Guardians (3)
Archeron's potential has risen from 5 stars to 6 stars.
Archeron's mobility has increased by one stage due to the potential upgrade.
Combat Stance Lv6 has been unlocked.
The synchronization rate of the energy core has greatly increased.
Just like last time, as the ★ rose, Archeron's mobility improved as well.
He seemed to possess power specialized in mobility.
On top of that, Combat Stance Lv6 had been unlocked.
'And that's it?'
Even after filling all the ★, there wasn't any particularly massive change.
…Or so I thought, in that instant.
Archeron's potential has reached Full Stars.
A system message popped up a beat late.
The ones that followed seized my attention completely.
Full Stars reached. Choose your path:
1. Instant Final Awakening
2. Potential Sublimation Training
'This is…?'
My eyes sparkled.
I hadn't expected choices to appear.
What were the differences between them?
As that thought crossed my mind, the system immediately provided answers.
Option 1: Instant Final Awakening grants a final skill worthy of all ★ accumulated so far.
However, potential can no longer be expanded afterward.
'I see.'
It was straightforward.
The final skill probably meant something like an ultimate technique.
I could expect a huge immediate boost in combat power.
'But…'
No more ☆ would increase.
That meant the ultimate level cap would be lower, and no further power-ups from additional ★.
'Clear limits.'
On the other hand.
Option two?
Option 2: Potential Sublimation Training opens the path to further potential expansion.
Through sustained sublimation, upon reaching the threshold of transcendence, you gain qualification to enter the Transcendence Realm.
Warning: The path of potential sublimation is arduous and distant. Choose wisely, as it is a path without end.
There it was again.
The word Transcendence.
Last time in the Guardian Room, it said only guardians who reached <Transcendence> could be summoned from now on.
As I'd guessed, beings at <Transcendence> clearly wielded tremendous power.
'That ???-level entity I saw recently at the other Dragon's Lair.'
King of Light and Crystals.
Luminarc.
A fleeting thought: that overwhelming presence might have reached transcendence.
'And there'll be more than just one or two like that.'
My instincts screamed it.
I still didn't know exactly where this place was, but there had to be more like Luminarc.
'So.'
I couldn't abandon the path of potential sublimation.
No matter how arduous and distant, Archeron would ascend to transcendence alongside me.
'Option two. I choose Potential Sublimation Training.'
With my will.
Black starlight flickered once over Archeron's body.
『Keron. I shall honor Master's will.』
Archeron respected my choice.
He bowed his head in salute.
Six stars, fully filled.
As the system warned, adding more stars from here wouldn't be easy.
'But.'
I had a plan in mind.
"Dania."
『Ung?』
The little one stared at me wide-eyed, clutching a Glacial Fruit in her hand.
I smiled and pulled her into my arms.
"That thing you did to Popo with this horn last time… Can you do it to Archeron too?"
My finger pointed to Dania's first horn.
Last time, she'd definitely boosted Popo's potential with her first horn.
If.
If this horn of hers could expand Archeron's potential too?
'Then we could reach the transcendence threshold faster than expected.'
I watched Dania's mouth intently, eyes full of anticipation.
『Uung… Dania can do it! But right now, Dania's not strong enough…』
"…!"
I clenched my fists tight at her answer.
Conditional, but.
It meant it was possible.
'As expected!'
Then.
The first horn she'd used on me before must have indeed increased my potential, just as I'd suspected back then.
Aigoo, this lucky charm of a kid.
I stroked Dania's head lovingly.
"Tell me right away when you can use it."
『Ung! Dania knows. But then Dania needs lotsa Glacial Fruit.』
I smiled at her words.
Dania insisted she needed Glacial Fruits to use her first horn.
But that was probably unrelated to actually using the horn.
She just wanted to eat more Glacial Fruits, no doubt.
Her antics reminded me of a cheeky little niece, drawing an unwitting fond smile from me.
"Alright, eat as much as you want."
『Yay! Seojun, promise!』
I stroked her head again, lost in thought.
'The system didn't predict this.'
That Dania could expand potential.
When I first saw her first horn, I'd thought potential was some vague, ambiguous ability.
But looking back now, how foolish that notion had been.
Through Dania's first horn, the path to transcendent strength would open for me and my guardians.
'So…'
Five ★ left.
Where to invest them?
After a brief ponder, my gaze turned to Azkai.
'Right now, Azkai's our main firepower.'
To deal with the bug horde outside, Azkai's performance was essential.
If he swept them away, we'd recover more than enough ★ jewels from them.
So.
Invest in Azkai now.
"AzkaI."
"Yes, Master."
Azkai sensed the serious air, his eyes sharper than usual as he looked at me.
"I'm going to enhance your potential."
I pulled out all five remaining ★ jewels.
The jump from 7 to 8 stars required exactly five, as confirmed.
"Thank you, Master!"
Azkai's eyes burned with lava-like fervor at the sight of the ★ jewels.
I used them on him without hesitation.
Flash-!
Rooooar!!
Black starlight enveloped Azkai's body.
Fierce pressure radiated from him.
Azkai's potential has advanced from 7 stars to 8 stars.
Potential has broken through the 8-star barrier.
Breaking the 8-star barrier causes Azkai's lava to boil even hotter.
Rumble!!
Lava aura poured from Azkai's body.
The red energy gradually turned yellow.
Until finally, it fully transformed into brilliant yellow lava aura.
Kaboom!!
'Whoa.'
The searing heat didn't reach me.
But instinctively, I knew.
Azkai's lava now held even fiercer heat than before.
Azkai's lava has upgraded to <Yellow Lotus Lava>!
"Ahh… Master."
Azkai bowed, his face flushed red.
Genuine admiration toward me.
"How's it feel?"
"The best."
Fwoosh!!
Yellow lava surged from Azkai's body, writhing like a living flame.
"Wanna test how much stronger you got?"
"Yes! Sounds good."
"Alright. Azkai, Archeron, Crimson, Wispent—follow me!"
I led the four to the <Guardian Training Center (Elemental Circulation Room)>.
Time to check Archeron and Azkai's upgraded power, plus Crimson and Wispent's combat styles.
"Whoa."
An exclamation escaped me.
Rooooar!!
The entire world drowned in yellow lava.
Sizzle!!
Ice golems melting within it.
Elemental (Ice) Training Stage 1 cleared.
A place for training against various elements.
The Elemental Circulation Room.
Azkai cleared the <Ice> attribute training the instant it started.
Even for stage 1, clearing in under 10 seconds was impressive enough to draw awe.
'His lava power's definitely stronger.'
I didn't know how many stages there were, but this alone showed how much stronger Azkai had become.
I clapped and shouted to him.
"Good enough, Azkai. Come back."
"Yep!"
Azkai bounded back, grinning with full confidence.
"Shall I go sweep those bugs right now?"
"Yeah, I'll let you rampage soon. Rest up."
"Yep."
Next, Archeron.
Elemental (Rock) Training Stage 1 begins.
This time, rock attribute.
The terrain shifted to rocky ground, boulders rippling everywhere.
Grrr rumble!
Rock golems rose from the piles.
What would Archeron show?
『Archeron Combat Stance Lv6. Activating <Supernova Combat Mode>.』
Archeron went full throttle right away.
Stimulated by Azkai's display, it seemed.
Kaboom!!
Immense light burst from Archeron's energy core.
Evolving to a state just before supernova explosion.
White light mixed with blue mana, emitting blinding flashes.
'Whoa.'
This was no joke.
I swallowed hard without realizing.
『Adamantium armor upgrades to Super Adamantium armor.』
『Shock absorption and regeneration greatly enhanced.』
Lightning-like energy patterns glowed across it.
Whirr!!
A highly compressed energy blade formed at his right arm's tip.
Far denser than before.
Whoosh.
The wing-like shapes on his back expanded from high-output energy blasts, now truly like an eagle's wings.
All changes in 1.5 seconds.
『Super Acceleration Mode: Light Wings activated.』
Flash-!
Archeron charged straight at the rock golems.
A streak of light slicing through them.
Blink, and he was already at the training field's end.
And.
The rock golems froze in place as if by agreement.
Then—
Kabooooom!!
A delayed massive explosion, and the golems vaporized into dust.
A scene proving his combat power had skyrocketed.
Elemental (Rock) Training Stage 1 cleared.
Archeron cleared it in under 10 seconds too.
Finishing at breakneck speed, like competing with Azkai.
"Ho!"
Clap clap clap!
Azkai applauded sincerely at the sight.
"Whoa, Archeron. Impressive."
Satisfaction gleamed in Archeron's eyes at my praise.
Azkai and Archeron.
Both showed growth worthy of the ★ I'd granted.
Alright then.
"Crimson."
His turn to check combat power.
"Ayu, with those heavy hitters going first, the pressure's real."
Crimson stepped forward, tongue clicking at the prior spectacles.
"Compared to those flashy displays, my abilities are humble, but I'll do my best."
Crimson spoke humbly.
But his oily tone made it hard to tell if he meant it.
"What attribute you want?"
"Any attribute's fine for me."
"Say that, and I might mix all attributes."
"Oh, that sounds fun."
"…?"
I'd said it in jest.
But he nodded like it was no big deal.
"For real?"
"Yes. Whatever Master wishes."
"Hmm… Alright then."
Let's try all attributes.
I was curious about the difference, and what power Crimson could show.
Elemental (Multi-Attribute) Training starts from Stage 3.
Huh?
No stage 1, apparently.
"Says it starts at 3. Maybe pick another?"
"Ayu, can't trouble Master. Stage 3 it is."
"If you insist."
Fine, as he wished.
No death on failure anyway.
Elemental (Multi-Attribute) Training Stage 3 begins.
Ruuuumble!!
Stage 3 activated, and energy on another level churned.
Light, fire, water, wind, earth, darkness, lightning.
Various attributes swirled chaotically.
Monstrous creatures of all forms emerged.
Not just that.
Ground flipped, sky collapsed.
The terrain itself writhed to devour Crimson.
'Stage 3's on another level?'
Worried if non-combat-type Crimson could break through.
I clicked my tongue, about to ask if he was okay.
No, I tried to.
"Crim—"
Then.
Crimson stepped forward.
Spread his arms wide.
"What a beautiful sight. Manifesting dimensional distortion, no less."
Even in the dire chaos, Crimson stayed composed.
He smirked, lightly flicking his thumbs and index fingers.
『Dimensional Shackles.』
Brilliant light flowed from the <Seal of Dimensions> on his right arm.
And.
"…!!!"
Before the scene unfolding before us.
We all gaped in shock.