The next morning - or rather, evening, as it was 6 PM - the girls and I decided to split up to conserve time. From now until 12 AM, one group of us would go to the Hunters' Guild to complete some quests, while another would go to the Library of Infinite Beginnings to challenge another floor, and tell the others what the Gatekeeper was like once they were done. After reconvening at lunchtime, we would then scout out the Ross Estate, and figure out what the button did once and for all.

I still hadn't figured out what exactly we would do for that matter, but there was still some time until then. I would come up with something...probably.

In any case, that was our plan for today. The majority of the girls wanted to try out the portal system I told them about after showering last night, so the only ones coming with me to the Library were Mei Gui and...Xiang Peng. Apparently, she had already experienced the Hunters' Guild's portal system within Fragment, as there was a sub-branch of the Shanghai branch in there. Nevertheless, I still couldn't comprehend why she wanted to come with us.

Well...I suppose this isn't a bad thing. Mei Gui said a while ago that I could learn Level Three spells now, so I could take advantage of this opportunity to learn some spells off Xiang Peng. Knowing her, though...she'll probably ask for something crazy in return. Eh...whatever. I'll give it a shot.

Anyway, we soon took off in our each separate ways after eating room service breakfast together. Everyone except Mei Gui, Xiang Peng, and I headed for the Hunters' Guild, while the three of us went to the Library of Infinite Beginnings. Flaria, who was still in hibernation, remained within the hotel room as usual.

Flaria...I hope she wakes up by the time for the preliminaries. A phoenix will be a useful asset, especially if the terrain we are going to be traversing through is cold, like a tundra or snowy mountain. She'll be a living source of warmth.

"Xiang Peng," I called out as we walked.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Uh...you think you can teach me any Level Three spells?" I asked hesitantly.

Xiang Peng blinked, unsure if what she just heard was right. "Level Three?! But didn't you just become an Intermediate Mage, like, a month ago?"

Since right now was early February (around the 10th to be exact), and I took the Advancement Exam at the end of last year, she was more or less accurate with that statement.

"So many questions..." I muttered in disdain. "Look, can you teach me or not?"

Xiang Peng thought about it for a moment, then her lips slowly curved up into an evil smirk. "Yes...but what's the magic word?"

"Huh?"

"I said, what's the magic word?" she repeated, smiling deviously.

"..." I stared at her with dead eyes, then turned away and began walking. "Never mind then. I'll ask Old Man Leng or something."

She blinked in surprise. "E-Eh? No, wait!"

Shocked by my response, she struggled to catch up to me, and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Wait! I'll teach you! I just wanted to hear you say something nice to me for once..."

Stopping, I glanced at her hand on my shoulder, and pried it off forcefully. "You know...back during the invasion on Shenzhen, I admired you quite a bit. But...I guess everyone has different sides, huh?"

"Well, if I was always uptight and strict like I am during battle, then I would tire myself to death!" Xiang Peng shot back. "Everyone needs to unwind every once in a while - even you."

I sighed. "Whatever...no sense in arguing with you. But tell you what - if you do teach me, I'll say thank you once we're done."

Xiang Peng's eyes immediately lit up. "Really? A thank you, from you of all people? Oh, I've gotta be the first one you've ever said those two words to!"

"Actually no, but...whatever. I'll even treat you to dinner, if you want," I replied, not wanting to argue with this girl. It was impossible.

"Oh baby, how can I say no to that? Sure! When do you want to get started?" Xiang Peng asked excitedly.

"Uh...now?" I suggested. "Let's move somewhere else though, where I can practice the spells."

"Mkay~"

"..." Mei Gui watched this whole situation unfold, unamused by Xiang Peng's dramatic emotions and movements.

*****

- A Short While Later -

We soon found ourselves in the empty slums, where we had once had that paintball battle.

"So? What elements do you have again?" I asked Xiang Peng, who was in the middle of doing some stretches.

"Sky, Gravity, Light, Water, Metal, and Sound. Since you have all 21 elements, just go ahead and pick your poison," she replied with a wink.

Well...wouldn't exactly call it poison, since I'm learning stuff here, but...perhaps with her as the teacher, it really is poison.

"Hm...which elements are you best with?"

"Well, I'm good at all six of my elements, but Sky and Gravity are my two best ones."

"Perfect. Teach me some Sky and Gravity Level Three spells to start off, then."

"Okay...well, I'll teach you a straight forward offensive-type one first, then," Xiang Peng said, before clearing her throat. "Ahem, listen closely. This spell's name is Electric Lash. You can summon a powerful whip of electricity with this, which you can then use to strike enemies with."

I nodded in understanding, and Xiang Peng moved to demonstrate. "Level Three Sky Magic - Electric Lash!"

Immediately, a bright whip of lightning appeared in her hand, crackling with electricity. She then lashed out with the whip, striking the brick wall in front of her. The whip slashed straight through, leaving behind a deep black burn mark on the wall. Xiang Peng then demateralized the whip, and turned to me.

"Just like that. Easy-peasy. But of course, don't expect to get it on the first try - this spell took me a couple of years to mas-"

Level Three Sky Magic - Electric Lash.

Holding my hand out, I chanted in my head. I couldn't instacast spells I was learning for the first time, so I had to go through this process. Immediately, a black whip appeared in my hands, sparkling with ominous red energy. I could feel it - it was stronger and longer than the one Xiang Peng had summoned.

As Xiang Peng stared, slack-jawed, I did the same thing she did to the wall, striking directly below where she did. This time, the whip sliced straight through the whole building. The structure, after a short delay, collapsed completely, melting into a heap of bricks with a loud crash. Luckily, we were deep within the slums, so no one else could hear the destruction I was causing.

"Wha..." Xiang Peng still hadn't come to her senses, so I helped her out by clapping in front of her face.

"Hello? What's the next spell?" I asked, impatient for more.

"H-Huh?! Oh, right! Uh...sorry, I was just a bit...surprised," Xiang Peng scratched her hair, frowning, as if debating whether or not what she just saw was real.

"Right...didn't the other girls tell you about my powers a long time ago?"

"W-Well, they did, but...this is still beyond my imagination," Xiang Peng murmured, then shook her head quickly. "Whoo...okay, the next spell is called Prison of Lightning."

I rubbed my chin. "Oh...that spell. I remember seeing you use it back in Shenzhen."

She nodded. "That's the one. I'll do a demonstration, so just stand bac-"

Not waiting for her to finish her sentence, I slammed the ground with my palm like I saw her doing back then, and chanted in my head once more.

Level Three Sky Magic - Prison of Lightning.

Immediately, a black and red magic circle appeared above my head, which I then moved to the area in front of me, near where Xiang Peng was standing. She immediately dodged out of the way, as numerous opaque black clouds condensed, and dozens of powerful red lightning bolts struck down, in a circular pattern, forming a cage around the target area. I remember back when Xiang Peng cast this spell, a larger, more powerful lightning bolt had emerged from the center of the magic circle, but in my case, just the lightning bolts forming the cage were already on par with that one in terms of strength.

And then, a blinding white flash appeared, giving birth to a huge red lightning bolt of unfathomable power that crashed down in the center of the cage I had created. Soon after, the cage dispersed, along with the magic circle and clouds above it. What was left in its wake was a massive crater in the concrete ground surrounded by numerous smaller craters, all created by my lightning strikes.

Xiang Peng could only stare on in shock, left utterly speechless by my insane yet unexplainable power.

Meanwhile, I dusted off my gloves as if nothing unusual had just happened, and turned to Xiang Peng.

"So? What's the next spell?"