"However, what if your skill is upgraded?"

"What?"

Grace was shocked when she heard Henrick's words.

To upgrade a skill, one has to use that skill countless times repeatedly.

Another method to upgrade a skill was with the help of a skill upgrade crystal.

However, even in Henrick's original world, the availability of the skill upgrade crystal is very rare, not to mention this world where the powerful cultivator has only the master realm.

"Yes, I can help you with your skill. You just have to help me with my right hand."

Compared to buying the regeneration medicine worth 100000 crude souls for his hand from the soul store, he can use a level 1 skill upgrade crystal that is worth 10000 crude souls.

So, of course, he was willing to give one of the two skill upgrade skills in his inventory.

"Really?"

Grace was excited when her eyes landed on a shining crystal in Henrick's hand, and her hand unconsciously moved to pick it up.

She was a mercenary and saw one or two skill crystals; however, those crystals were used by Captain Kale which helped them a lot in their expeditions.

However, she suppressed her emotions and said, "This is too valuable. So, I can't take it."

Grace knew the skill upgrade crystal is too valuable. So, she was hesitant to take it from someone who she met only an hour back.

"This is not a gift for you but a payment for my right hand. So, please don't feel hesitant."

Henrick could guess Grace's thoughts, and at the same time, he knew she wanted to take it, but she was feeling hesitant.

So, Henrick said it was a payment for his hand, and before she could give any reply, he directly put that crystal in her hands.

"Th...this..."

Grace didn't know what to do when she saw the crystal in her hands; after pondering Henrick's words, she decided to use the crystal for her recently awakened skill.

"Thank you, Henrick."

"You are welcome."

With a slight smile on his face, Henrick replied to Grace and waited for her to use the skill upgrade crystal.

'Kacha'

Grace had an excited look on her face as she crushed the crystal in her hands.

Soon, some light sparks appeared in front of her, and within no time, those light sparks entered her body.

'Is it over already?'

Grace was shocked to see that it didn't even take a couple of seconds before her skill was upgraded to level 2.

'Then why did Captain Kale take nearly 10 minutes to upgrade his level 1 skill to level 2?'

This was the doubt in her mind.

However, that doubt disappeared when she thought about her recently awakened skill which was already upgraded to level 2.

Generally, it will take a few years for cultivators to upgrade their skills from level 1 to level 2; however, there are many factors that might affect the upgrading of the skills to upgrade in a very short time.

Just like how Henrick's endurance skill upgraded on its own when Henrick was subjected to a lot of pain continuously.

"Congratulations for successfully upgrading your skill to level 2."

Looking at the excited look on Grace's face, Henrick congratulated her.

"It's all thanks to you, Henrick. Once again, thank you for the skill upgrade crystal."

Grace thanked Henrick once again, making Henrick shake his head.

"So, how confident are you in regenerating my hand back?"

Henrick didn't waste any time as he directly asked about her new skill.

"I am 80 percent sure, and for the remaining 20 percent, there was no big backlash."

This time, even if Henrick said no to 20 percent risk, Grace decided to use her skill because the side effects for the failure of her level 2 skill are minimal.

"20 percent risk? And no big backlash?"

Henrick thought for a few seconds before saying, "Okay then. Let's do it?"

"Excellent."

Grace wanted to help Henrick get his hand because he gave her a skill upgrade crystal, and from now onwards, she can confidently heal any limbs and within less time.

So, he was so excited and walked towards Henrick before placing her hands on his right shoulder.

'...'

Soon, she started muttering something inaudible, and at the same time, tiny green-colored light dots started coming out of her hands.

Within a few seconds, there were nearly thousands of green coloured light dots, and all of them flew in the air for a few moments before landing on the part where his right hand was cut off from.

'Aargh'

All of a sudden, Hernick felt a sharp pain that increased at an incredible speed. Before he could know what was happening, he fell to the ground as he groaned.

"Henrick, since you can feel pain, then my skill is working perfectly fine. So, please bear with it."

Seeing that Henrick fell to the floor, Grace became a little worried, but she didn't stop using her skill as she continued to send her pure wood energy into Henrick's right hand.

"I...its o..okay. I ca..n end..ure it."

Gritting his teeth, Henrick replied to Grace as he closed his eyes and didn't say anything after that.

'Ding,

Master, the regeneration process of your right hand started. It will take exactly one hour to finish. Please bear with the pain.

'...'

Just as he closed his eyes, Henrick got the system notification in his head, and after knowing that he had to wait for another one hour for the pain to disappear, he became speechless.

'At least, I will get my right arm without speeding 85000 (after discount) crude souls in the soul store.'

Henrick felt a little better thinking about his right arm and continued to endure the pain from his growing right arm patiently.

That's right!

His right arm was slowly growing, and just like the system said, it will take around an hour for the complete arm to be regenerated.

...…

In the training grounds.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves. The bug warriors are here."

"Ring the emergency bell."

"There are so many bug warriors this time."

Soon, the soldiers who were on watch duty shouted at other soldiers, and soon, one of the soldiers rang the emergency bell.

"Did anyone receive any news from Master Valen?"

"Did he break through to the grandmaster realm?"

"Captain Kale and Commander Zaid came out, but there is no sign of Master Valen. From the looks of it, Master Valen is yet to breakthrough."

Soon, all the soldiers prepared themselves and waited for the powerful cultivators to come out of their homes.

"Let's give our best and hold off the bug warriors from entering the city until Master Valen breaks through to the grandmaster."

After using the bug cores, all the remaining soldiers of the Valen city have gained a good upgrade in their strengths, and they wanted to test them out in the real war.

'Swoosh'

Soon, Captain Kale jumped onto the city wall.

"Archers, get into your positions."

"Gunner, prepare your artillery."

"Soldier, follow me. Let's kill the bug warriors for the sake of the city."

Captain Kale had led many beast hordes in the past, and adding to his expertise in leading his mercenary subordinates on the expedition, he was very good at leading.

Since the bug warriors never made it to the city wall, there were no casualties in archers and gunners.

"For the city."

There was some kind of magic in Captain Kale's voice, and as soon as he finished his words, all the soldiers who were already excited to test their battle prowess in the war became even more excited and followed him.

'Swoosh'

'Kacha'

'Puchi'

Soon, the war between the humans and bug warriors began.

On the humans' side, there were a little more than 200 soldiers, more than 20 mercenaries and a group of archers, and a couple of gunners.

Whereas on the invaders' side, there were more than one hundred thousand bug warriors along with more than 100 master realm bug warriors and one grand master bug warrior.

However, the human didn't know that there were 100 master realm bug warriors and clearly didn't have an idea that there was a grandmaster realm bug warrior.

If they had known about it, then they would not show their excitement, and clearly, their battle prowess would be affected by the fear.

Nevertheless, as the saying goes, 'Ignorant is fearless', the soldiers and mercenaries fought the bug warriors.

'Huh? Where did Grace disappear to?'

Unlike the excited soldiers, Captain Kale knew the exact strength of the bug warriors; however, he didn't show any emotion on his face as he kept an eye on his mercenaries because compared to the soldiers, they were too important for him.

It's not like he didn't care for the soldiers; however, for the sake of the Valen city, he had to keep an eye on his subordinates because, with the help of his team, Captain Kale can kill a level 1 grandmaster realm cultivator.

'Someone go and check on Grace. We need her help in this war; otherwise, we can't fight until the end.'

Since Grace is the healer, they could fight without any fear of getting injured because Grace can heal them.

So, Captain Kale asked someone to search for Grace.

"By the way, I forgot to say something."

All of a sudden, Captain Kale spoke, making all the soldiers and mercenaries perk their ear as they listened, "Master Valen had already broken into the grandmaster realm."

"What?"

Everyone was surprised when they heard Captain Kale's words, and soon, the surprised looks turned into excited ones.