Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Bonus Stage (3)
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The area near Sky Mirror wasn't exactly ideal for camping.
Even though it was still late summer, the high-altitude lakeside felt chilly, and there wasn't much in the way of firewood to fend off the cold.
Radica solved the issue in the simplest way possible.
If there's no firewood, just go where it is and fetch some.
In essence, the jaw-dropping idea of heading down to where the trees grew and yanking some out.
To an ordinary person, it sounded utterly mad, but the terrifying part was that she could pull it off without breaking a sweat.
"Will you come with me, Lilia?"
"Of course!"
This time, Galen opted out. Sadly, mages weren't much help with grunt work.
Like mountain goats, the pair bounded up the steep slope effortlessly and vanished from sight in moments.
It was already dusk, but before the sky turned pitch black, Lilia and Radica returned with their shoulders piled high with booty.
"This'll last us several days, not just tonight..."
"The more, the better!"
Not wrong, exactly.
Gathered around the bonfire, they polished off a simple dinner and even brewed some tea.
For a campsite kicked off with just a single backpack, the vibe was remarkably relaxed—even Radica seemed impressed.
"Do you guys always lug stuff like this around?"
"Pretty standard."
"All fits in the bag?"
"Yup!"
Skipping the bulky waterskins freed up plenty of space and weight.
No need for basic meds either—Lilia had that covered.
With all the extra room, toting a teapot was a breeze. And with on-demand water and fire, it saw even more use.
In this laid-back, tea-house atmosphere, Lilia and Radica swapped idle chatter.
Galen half-listened as he quietly summoned his status window.
Even without the win, the level-ups alone made entering worthwhile—solid gains all around.
Of course, that last drake they'd snagged by chance had given more EXP than all the other fiends combined up to that point.
Illusory Inferno was too flashy for hunting, so they hadn't used it at all. Territory Advance had limited spots to shine, so it barely budged.
But Water Flow Manipulation and Spirit Creation—their trusty mains with killer synergy—had climbed nicely. Total win.
Right now, though, Galen's focus was Earth Binding.
'Lv.69 at 100%.'
A number that shouldn't exist.
At 100%, it should've auto-leveled.
This had been going on for a while. In fact, even before the tournament started.
To be precise, it'd shot up through self-study after his first spar with Radica, then stalled here.
Like level 70 was blocked.
No clue why, same as always. No one to ask. Just guesses.
'...But this time, I can kinda ask indirectly.'
Galen's gaze flicked to Radica.
They'd met a few times before, but this was the first chance for a real, unhurried talk.
She didn't seem the type to dodge questions.
After tuning into their chat for a bit, Galen spoke up during a lull.
"Hey, Radica."
"Yeah?"
"Mind if I ask something?"
"Shoot."
"What do you think of my magic?"
"Level-wise?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm. Honestly?"
Radica sipped her tea, pausing before continuing.
"It's a bit off."
"Off how?"
"The power definitely exceeds Gold rank, but it's not Gem. Feels like you've maxed out Gold's limits and just brute-forced more mana."
Galen winced inwardly.
They'd only sparred once, but he'd thrown Water Flow Manipulation and Spirit Creation at her.
Basically a two-Gold pincer attack. Her insight was spot-on.
From a Gem's view, if it looked that way...
Probably Lv.70+ was Gem territory.
'So Earth Binding stalled at 100% because it hasn't broken into Gem realm.'
Galen's eyes narrowed slightly. He murmured low.
"Need some kind of enlightenment, huh..."
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Ah, yeah. Of course."
Bronze to Silver, Silver to Gold, Gold to Gem—all needed enlightenment, naturally.
But beyond those big leaps, warriors, mages, priests alike hit dozens of minor ones.
Galen alone skipped them thanks to the status window—levels up, enlightenment auto-followed.
That's how he'd grown so fast.
Gem rank, though? Not so easy.
Seeing Galen deep in thought, Radica smiled softly.
"The key is conviction."
"...Conviction?"
"Remember what I said? Revised World is about crafting 'allies that aid me.'"
"Yeah."
"The best way to make them aid you? Look back on all that built-up experience—you'll see it."
"Well... sure."
"Once you do, you have to believe. That the path you've walked is right, and the one ahead will be too. The moment you truly feel that conviction deep down..."
Radica raised her hand lightly.
Her Revised World encroached. Galen's senses prickled.
The difference this time? A faint, almost-there inkling of something.
"That's when you grasp how to twist the world's laws. Hence, 'revising the world.'"
Radica flicked her hand. The prickling faded.
But her Revised World lingered vividly in Galen's mind.
It echoed what Daimus had said before.
A high priest's qualification—the eighth miracle—was fanatical self-conviction, deciding right and wrong themselves.
Honestly, how to muster that infinite confidence? Still no grasp.
If he had, he'd be Gem by now.
'...At least I can guess why Earth Binding can't top Gold.'
Unlike his other spells—self-studied, spar-tested, battle-hardened with tweaks galore...
Earth Binding? Learned from Akanksha, solo'd to Lv.55, stalled, then Radica's tips and solo to Lv.69.
Too much brainless leveling. No substance.
Barely used in real fights either—just a last-resort insurance policy, no real thought.
'Never seriously pondered the best upgrade path, let alone felt conviction for it...'
Still, he'd gotten a hint. Good enough.
Serious study now, and enlightenment would come eventually.
Flip that around, though.
Water Flow Manipulation—his mainstay from day one—might hit enlightenment easier than Earth Binding.
'First, hit 100% progress.'
Gem after that.
The next day.
Up early, breakfast done, they rested till the sun fully rose. All prepped.
Like yesterday's scout, gear left behind—no wet-risk items.
All three going today, no guard needed. Yesterday proved it wasn't anyway.
Sky Mirror's desolation kept fiends away—even night watch saw none. No food, no loiterers.
"Alright, let's head out."
"Yep."
Gem or not, wyvern wings didn't thrill Radica—her smile was thinner than usual as she sat dead center.
Minutes later, lake center.
Radica—knowing only that ruins lay underwater, no details—asked uneasily.
"We don't have to jump in from here, right?"
"Save that as last resort."
"Split the lake?"
Lilia recalled parting the swamp for the basilisk. Galen shook his head lightly.
"If I could cleave the whole thing, I'd have walked across from the start. Post-Gem, maybe."
"Part by part?"
"Possible, but who knows what's down there. Saving mana best I can."
Galen flicked his left hand. A spirit zipped out, splashing into the lake.
It began to swell.
"Oh?"
First time seeing this beyond giant form—Radica was mildly awed.
Lilia'd shaped spirits into igloo-domes for tents before.
Like fusing top and bottom into a sphere.
Water formed a thick, round ceiling and walls, capsule-wrapping even under the wyvern wing floor.
Galen gripped the spirit body tight with Water Flow Manipulation.
"Radica, lend some earth power—gently?"
"Here? We'll sink."
"That's the point."
Radica obliged.
It sank, as feared.
The whole thing.
"Whoa..."
"That's how it works?"
Lilia and Radica gaped in unison.
Never imagined "submerging dry"—no wonder.
Galen, sub-familiar with subs, found it straightforward.
He gauged Radica's downward force against Water Flow's limits.
"Ease the weight in slowly."
"Tell me when to stop."
Fine-tuning, the spirit sub descended smoothly.
Light faded fast underwater, but visibility? No issue.
Pop!
Lilia conjured a glow-lamp. Bright but soft light pierced the gloom.
They ogled the novel lakescape for a while.
"That..."
Deeper, past sunless depths, danger loomed.
Lake clear, sub transparent—glow reached far.
But below, something huge and milky-white appeared.
Galen—worst eyesight—spotted it last, but guessed first.
Where yesterday's scout spirit bounced off.
"Probably... the ruins. What I found yesterday."
"What even is that? A barrier?"
"Let's get closer. Radica, drop the magic."
"Got it."
Weight off, Galen piloted via Water Flow.
Up close, his face darkened.
"Getting harder to steer."
Taming wild water took more effort than calm.
Currents surged exponentially.
Finally, close enough to make out...
"Eek?!"
Lilia yelped.
The milky haze? Water rushing at insane speeds.
Swirling currents cloaking a vast area.
"Ruins for sure. Can't be natural."
Radica clicked her tongue.
"Can you punch through?"
"Not easy."
Galen tsked.
"Gotta halt that flow, then ram the sub through... but no clue on thickness. Worst case, mana runs dry midway..."
"Game over."
"What do we do?"
"Hmm..."
Lilia fretted; Galen pondered.
"Then here's the play."
Radica said calmly.
"The flow-stop takes the most juice, right?"
"Yeah...?"
"I'll handle it."
Rising from lotus pose, she strode to the wing's edge, clenching a fist.
Tzzzzing!
The world's laws warped.
Radica grinned at Galen's paling face.
"Punch through the gap."
Then.
A massive shockwave pulverized the milky torrent.