Here's the second chapter that I said I would do. Time to get serious.

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"Upon directly achieving S rank, you are rewarded with one Gold S rank weapon and armor?!"

Kyte flinched as he read those words. At most someone would only get a Silver S armor from getting to S rank, but Kyte was able to choose a Gold S rank weapon and armor. This was simply fantastic.

Rose was completely flabbergasted. She never thought that the gift would be this. She's never once seen a Gold S ranked weapon or armor. The most she's seen is only a Bronze S rank weapon, and even that was super powerful. A Gold S weapon is at least four times stronger than a Bronze S weapon. Pairing that with Kyte's buffing abilities, well, the strength of that weapon would multiply.

"Kyte, that's amazing!" Rose instantly began to kiss Kyte repeatedly on the cheek.

"Hey, stop, hahaha, stop it. Gosh."

"Eheheh, sorry."

"Anyway, I didn't expect the reward to be so good. This is way better than a stupid Bronze S rank weapon."

"Hey, a Bronze S weapon is nothing to laugh at. The most we've been able to get is a Gold B rank weapon."

"Hahaha, well, you're right. Even if it wasn't Gold S I would still be grateful. Just getting S ranked equipment is nice."

"Check what else is there."

"Right, right. Hmm, swords, axes, spears, great swords, plated armor, cloaks, robes, there's so much to choose from."

Kyte was scrolling through the list. There were a lot of different types of weapons and armor that he didn't feel like looking through them all. Of course, Kyte was also hesitant to even choose anything. He wondered what he would get from the storage necklace once he broke through. But then again, how long would it take for him to accomplish that? Gaining more power sooner rather than later is always the best choice.

So, Kyte scrolled up to the sword category. Several sub-categories appeared but Kyte already knew exactly what he wanted. The energy swords that he creates, as well as Heavy Air, are all thick-type broadswords. Kyte didn't have to make his energy swords that big of a size, but since they are literally weightless to him it doesn't matter much. So, Kyte chose a broadsword for his weapon.

He chose it mostly because he has the potential to make it even stronger than it already is. With his Internal energy, Spirit energy, even life force energy, Kyte would be able to increase the strength of the sword to an unimaginable degree.

Thinking that far, Kyte remembered formations. He was particularly reminded of them because Heavy Air used two formations which allowed its weight to be manipulated as well as directly infusing his Internal energy with it. If he could learn how to set up formations onto equipment, then wouldn't his power increase even a step further?

Along with all of the skills, techniques, and other power-ups, Kyte also gained knowledge on formations. However, he never utilized this information, mostly because he was too preoccupied with training his skills and trying to reach a higher understanding with the black light.

When he realized the opportunity that he missed, Kyte suddenly felt at a loss. Although he can still continue to learn from where he left off, he thought back on the few months that he missed when he could've learned higher and more powerful formations.

Kyte told himself to start learning again. Although he has the information on every formation that is available to him, he doesn't have the practice on actually laying them down and manipulating them. Because of his very strong and sturdy foundation at the peak Champion stage, it will be easier to lay down his available formations. Though he'll still need sufficient practice.

After he chose his weapon, he moved to the armor categories. He swiftly chose a robed design, however, because he was choosing an S ranked armor, he could personally design it himself, to an extent. Since Kyte is a huge fan of video games, he knows a lot of different clothing models and outlines. His favorite games were actually two game series from about a decade ago. They were precisely the Assassin's Conviction and Paragon game series.

With the multi-layered robes that went down to the shins and triple-layered coat covering the torso, Kyte also added the original hood and inserted the collar to guard his neck. Although the hood could also guard his neck, the collar, while not being too present, could have a thicker design with more God Fiber woven in with it. That's mostly why Kyte decided to make the robes multi-layered as well.

Of course, that's not the only reason why. Since Kyte decided to begin learning formations again with more vigor, he began to think of different ways of implements the formations within the robes. Since there are three layers, Kyte could lay different formations within each layer which could connect with each formation and form one, single mega-formation.

This would not only greatly increase Kyte's power but it would also increase his experience with formations. Since he would be able to erase any formation, that he himself created, with a single thought, he could replace old formations with a new and improved version.

Thinking this far, Kyte got greatly excited inside. He could become a super soldier. A tank with incredible agility. Since he's never seen any Gifted with a formation-related power, or anything related to formations, then he would be the first to appear with their power. And, since he could modify the formations to only allow him to activate them, no one else would be able to use them.

"Hey, Rose."

"Yea?"

"I'm going to be training very hard now. I just realized that I've missed out on a big opportunity, so I need to vigorously train."

"Huh? But, why now?"

"Because I only now just realized my mistake. With this new technique, my power will increase to a very high level. Not only that, but I can improve my technique for later when my foundation is much more powerful."

"Oh...well, good luck then. I'll be here with the others."

"Hey, don't worry, I'll still spend time with you. I just need to prepare for the tournament, and more importantly, the future. I don't know what dangers await me...await us. So, I need the power to destroy anything that obstructs my path. The best defense is the best offense."

Yes...that's it. Having the strongest attack will grant me the power to destroy anything that comes to me. I'll completely let go of defensive measures, except for the basics, and fully concentrate on offensive techniques and formations. The S rank armor will definitely help me with that. I'll become the strongest attacker, only by leaving behind my defense.

After completing his order, Kyte put the tablet back into the case and left it on the floor. Turning back to Rose, he said:

"I'll be going now. This training requires a large amount of concentration, and if I'm going to at least try to win, I have to do this non-stop."

"...Ok. I don't have the right to stop you."

Kyte looked into Rose's eyes, only seeing a faint loneliness within them.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Kyte sat down next to Rose.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Don't say that. I know there's something, what is it?"

"...I just...it's...I don't know..." Rose covered her face with her hands as her voice slowly began to choke.

"Rose, calm down. Take in a deep breath and relax, then try talking." Kyte moved and slowly removed Rose's hands from her face, revealing her teary eyes.

Rose felt the warmth within Kyte's hands and the concern in his voice, making her emotions almost go out of control. She continued to think her thoughts and tears began to fall down her face.

"I keep..thinking...that you're...going to leave me." Rose couldn't control herself anymore and she endlessly shed tears and tightly gripped Kyte's hand.

Kyte, with his free hand, pulled Rose into him embrace. He caressed her hair as she tightly held on.

Shit.

Kyte realized earlier on that Rose was some-what obsessive, but he didn't think it was to this degree. He completely underestimated her feelings of attachment, and even ignored part of it. Although he does like her, he's not obsessed with her. Besides, his feelings for her spawned from an understanding between their depressing pasts, not their current characters. Usually, normal couples would fall for each other's characters and personalities instead of one's past whether or not it was depressing or happy. Kyte's feelings began from just that: an understanding of their past, not primarily their present.

Likewise, Rose had been searching for someone like Kyte for a majority of her life while Kyte had changed and completely given up only about three years ago. The sincerity and deepness of their feelings were completely different from each other. Kyte had been giving his energy while Rose had been taking. To have her source of love, energy, and attachment pulled away would greatly impact her.

Kyte thought that all of this might have been a mistake. Was he merely slowly seduced by her beautiful and sexy appearance, and her past only made his emotions overtake him? Was his feelings the product of lust, romance, or a mixture of both? Kyte had no idea. All he did know was that Rose was important to him. He wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt her. He would destroy anything that would harm her.

But, what if the only thing that could harm her is himself? Rose is powerful enough to defend herself from physical attacks, but what of emotional attacks? What would he do when the time comes to let her go, what would she do? How would she handle him leaving her?

"Rose, don't worry. I won't leave you. I'm only going to train with a new technique that will greatly increase my power. However, it will also greatly increase your's."

"...Really?" Rose looked up at Kyte with red eyes.

"Yea. I can apply this new technique to your equipment and you'll be able to gain a lot of power from it. So don't worry, I'll make sure I won't leave you."

"...Hehe, thank you, Kyte." Rose brightly smiled and continued to hold herself within his embrace.

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-Two hours later-

After a session with Rose, Kyte headed out to the training hall within the small city. The training hall was a giant building that held many different rooms for different purposes. Since there are a variety of different Gifted abilities, there are certain rooms for specific abilities. More destructive-type abilities would use defensive rooms while less-destructive powers would use more normal rooms.

Of course, because of this, the more defensive rooms would cost more to use. They would be approximately ten credits per hours while normal rooms would be about five per hour. The cost to make each room was very high since the used God Mineral to reinforce them so they wouldn't be destroyed.

Anyway, Kyte was using a normal room since he wouldn't be destroying things with his formations. Besides, he's not studying destruction-type formations yet, only the basics as well as buffing formations. He has already created multiple security formations, basic elemental formations and defensive formations.

The information that he has on formations expands all the way to highly advanced. The highly advanced formations requires extensive experience with manipulating and laying formations, so there is no way that Kyte can utilize those yet. He's already failed multiple times trying to create the most complex basic formation that he has. It would take quite a while to perfect these formations, however, he's only been doing this for about thirty minutes.

Besides, he still has about three weeks till the S rank tournament. Kyte's confident that he will be able to complete semi-powerful formations that will help him. Although he has no clue how to formulate several formations to create a single formation. He still has ways to go.

Also, he has plenty of credits to supply him till the tournament starts. Ten hours is only fifty credits so Kyte isn't worried about losing all of his money. Thinking of this, Kyte thought about why Akina would always gather all of the Guardian scraps left over from battles. The money from selling the Guardian scraps was actually quite a lot and the money from it could be used by the Branch that sold it. Though the apartment takes up quite a bit, there's still a lot left over.

And so, Kyte began to harshly practice formations.