-Vol 4: To The North Pole!-

-A New Skill-

It took Kenshin some time and a lot of effort to come out of that trouble situation. Since he had too much strength, controlling it was almost a chore. But in the end, it acted as the best training for the current him, making him progress faster. After coming out, Kenshin checked the time, at that exact moment he saw his shadow extending. Looking back, he saw the sun was slowly rising from the east, spreading the holy light all over the world while vanquishing the darkness. Forgetting about everything, Kenshin closed his eyes and enjoyed the first rays of the sun. Although it was north, and sunlight wasn’t that intense, it was still enough to provide warmth to this cold region.

After watching the sun for a few minutes, he checked the time and then realized that only three hours left until he meets Vera. As for the timer of his compulsory mission, there was now a day less.

“I hope those higher up were a little more cautious. Unless they send some people whose level are higher than 150, there was no surety that they could stop these cloaked people.” While watching the sun, Kenshin muttered absentmindedly. After that, he started to perform some of his sword moves. As the sword flashed according to katas, the force exerted from it began to make the misty atmosphere even mistier. Deep gashes appeared on the ground with each movement of his sword. Soon as he increased his intensity, the sword moved so fast that it became partially invisible. Only a red flash would occasionally appear around Kenshin, except that nothing else could be seen. After performing his word dance for quite a while, he sheathed his sword, even such an intense sword dance wasn’t enough to make him sweat, from this one could estimate his stamina and recovery. After finishing his training, as he was about to return to the cave, an inspiration flashed on his head.

He then turned around and looked towards the flat ground covered in snow and ice. Taking a deep breath, he narrowed his eyes and started to concentrate. Then taking his right leg forward he grabbed his sword handle and leaned towards the front. Narrowing his eyes, he took a deep breath and grabbed his sword handle tightly. He stayed at that stance for a few seconds, then suddenly as if being shocked by electric current, his whole body shook once then his right hand drew the sword from its sheath and horizontally swiped the ground beneath, then he rotated the sword and lifted it vertically above. He remained in that position for some time.

At first, nothing happened for a few seconds then suddenly the ground starting from his foot, began to rise, as if being scooped by an icecream spoon. The ground continued to scoop until twenty meters, exposing hard icebergs below the scooped portion. The thickness of the frozen piece that was scooped was around two meters. Seeing this Kenshin couldn’t help but crease his brows in surprise. Although he had expected something like this, he didn’t expect it to be this exaggerated.

[Ding* By practising hard you have learned a new way to use your power. You have gained 10 SP as rewards.]

[Ding* You have created a new skill. Please name it.]

“Hmm! Naming a skill? That’s first! Okay, I will call this skill Ground Flip.”

[Ding* you have named your skill Ground Flip]

[Ground Flip Lv 0][1200 EXP to next level up]

A sword move created from a unique usage of strength and skill. With a move, even the ground would be flipped. +500 ATK -5 STA

“Ho! It will cost me only 5 stamina points? And this attack value isn’t bad. Okay, then I will invest ten skill points that I received now into this.” with that Kenshin spent all the ten skill points he received just now into this skill.

[Ding* Skill Ground Flip reached Level 10. Do you want to use 15k EXP points to evolve this skill?]

“Yes!”

[Skill Ground Flip has evolved into Earthen Slicer.]

[Earthen Slicer][15000 EXP to next level up]

An evolved form of Ground Flip. One strike and everything would be sliced apart. +2000 ATK -10 STA Cool down time 5 seconds.

“So after preparation time, now I got a skill with cooldown time! But the attack value and stamina consumption are quite good. it could probably my strongest melee type instant strike skill.” Kenshin was pretty amazed at this evolved form of his skill. Not only it attacks value increased, but its stamina value was also low compared to similar skills with similar attack powers that he had seen in the store. He was pretty happy with his achievements.

After returning to the cave, he tidied himself up. At night he had already eaten the boar so there was nothing else to eat but he wasn’t hungry. Then he slowly sank into the ground using his skill Burrow, Its time to meet Vera.

XXX

Vera was quite fidgety after receiving the order and couldn’t wait for the appointed time to approach faster so that she could relay it to Kenshin. Thanks to that she couldn’t get a wink of sleep. But it's not like she needed one. Her vitality was so high that she could easily survive without food and water for a month, let alone sleep.

After the longest wait, it's finally the time to meet Kenshin. She immediately dressed herself and ran towards the gate.

“Wait! Kenshin shouldn’t have eaten anything, there was nothing in that cave except that bore I caught. I better take something for him to eat.” While mumbling os, she turned around and ran towards canteen. With a few rations and a water bottle in hand, she ran towards the gate to the other side.

After a brief check out, she was permitted to go out. Without being polite, she immediately flashed towards that spot. When she passed through the gate, the guy from yesterday saw her, but instead of stopping her like yesterday, he hid the moment he saw her.

After a few minutes of running at the top of her speed, she finally reached the location where they promised to meet. There she was a person wearing a black cloak was sitting with his back towards her. Without even needing to conform, she knew this person was none other than Kenshin. Seeing him safe and sound, a relief spread across her heart but then she blushed furiously when she realized what she just thought. Taking a few deep breaths, she stabilized her heartbeat and walked in a dignified manner towards Kenshin.

Hearing someone’s footstep, Kenshin turned around. In fact, he knew her location the moment he reached this location and opened the map. Seeing a pack in her hand, his eyes brightened in a brilliant light. When Vera saw Kenshin looking towards the package in her hands with brightened eyes, she couldn’t help but smile in her heart. Kenshin’s desire for food had somewhat unknowingly satisfied her vanity.

“Here.” she handed the package of ration and the water bottle to him, after that she walked to the other side of Kenshin and sat near him while facing her back towards where she came from.

“So what did the higher-ups say?” Kenshin asked while gnawing on the meat jerky bread that she had brought.

Listening to his question, Vera adopted a serious face and started recounting all the events to him.