For those that wonder, an average person need about 10-15 cores to gain a branch/fruit.

Practice was starting to become easier. Thinking that, i took a leaf out of the knight’s training. I armored up. Slapping weights all over my body, i continued to fight with the others. The idea was to keep my body stressed at all times. It becomes a reverse cat and mouse now with the support class. i am the one running now with my body weighted, every lap i make in the arena that we set up i would pick up up wore weights. It would be about how many weights i pick up before i got caught. It was a rather fun thing and useful idea that there are others also starting to do the very same. It is a very useful idea. The weight puts the users at a certain fatigue level and that alone helps make thing more effective. In a real situation, when you are running for your live the odds are that you will be tired but the enemy may not be. Knowing how to evade and react is very important skill to have. The laps and weights systems simply accelerates the fatigue level very quickly.

By the end of 2 weeks, almost everyone was carrying some form of weight. It had become mandatory to do so by the teachers but there was still quite a number who refuses. Of those, most of them are elites or nobles. The consider it beneath them to have to do so. Some of the ladies refuses also. They do not want those “big bulky muscles” to appear and ruin their beauty.

It was like a major crash course for me, 5 more weeks to the exhibition tournament. I can breakthrough anytime now actually i am just compressing for more power. What that was supposed to be used for 5 fruits ended up all in 1 fruit. The worse part is i can’t imagine just how much i would need to level up when i am tier 3.

Then it got me thinking. What if i used tier 3 cores when i am tier 1? Would that help? In theory, having a using a tier 3 core at tier 1 would flood a person’s body with too much spirit energy and cause the person to self-destruct. There was one case which almost succeeded. He was attempting to create his last fruit on tier 1 and made a gamble. He survived and used a tier 3 core at tier 1. The only price was that he became crippled. Making all his efforts go down the drain. What was the point in being strong when you end up being crippled.

Thinking back, At the rate i am going, it is highly likely that i will succeed what he failed. Maybe i will sustain some injuries but what could be worse that what i have suffered all these years.

Knowing my next steps, i re-planned my layout for the tree.

Going to the mercenaries guild, i looked up the extermination request for something what would be most fitting for me. After a flipping through numerous request, i found i was looking fr.

Request

Exterminate the nest of steel-tipped feathered octopus

Estimated number : 40

Estimated tier : Upper tier 2

Behaviour : Aggressive

Element : Wind, Air, Metal, Water

Requested by: Mayor of Zebub Town

This should be a good trip. It is near my village as well, i can visit my parents at the same time. It has been a while since i have been home. I do wonder if the bed at home is still the one i used when i was 5.

Taking up the request, i headed off to find Amy and Joyce and inform them before leaving.

After a series of planning with Amy and Joyce, i headed off alone. The deal was that i am to return within 10 days or there will be no more individual trips for me. I am pushing the time too close for comfort.

Giving a polite bow as i see him,“Hey Ivan! Nice to see you again!”

“Hey kid, nice to see you too. It has been 4 years huh. Time sure flies. Too bad my brother won’t be here, his wife is giving birth within these few days. Twins from what i hear, i hope they are both boys though, this uncle i am will not know what to get for a girl.”

Hearing that, i could only give a chuckle, all i am waiting now is for him to ask me. I did not read all that books without knowing what would be good for a newborn. In fact i have many unisex items that would have been perfect for the kid and the development of their tree in the future. Not only that, those items are cheap and affordable. One of such is an item forgotten by history. It is forgotten for 1 reason. It works only on those under the age of 1 and after that age, the effects are more or less minute.

Hearing my chunkle, Ivan looks at me once again, “what you laughing about?”

Looking at him once again, i gave him the crescent moon eyes smiling not saying a word.

It took a while before Ivan gave me an incredulous look. “You have an idea what to give?”

Giving him a wider smile, i nodding my head.

“You cheeky boy! What is the item?” ivan grabs me by a chokehold and starts giving me a noogie.

Knowing that my prank achieved the purpose it is intended for with unintended results, it took a while before i escape the hold and explained what the item was.

It is a simple potpourri bag. Made with dried petals of the some simple common herbs and some common leaves. This bag was easy enough to obtain but the difficult part was the time it takes to make. With the help of a flame element user, drying it would be of no problems for the first one but it would not be as effective as a naturally dried one. The ingredient easy to get but the ratio had to be perfect. Meaning that i would be the only one able to make it for now.

After an hour or so, the first one is made. This one would last 12 days or so. Enough time for me to get back and make a new one which will last longer. A properly made one would last half a season or so.

For now, it is one step at a time.

Of course it was not for free, the payment was a free ride. Something Ivan immediately accepted.

An item that increases spirit for a baby at a very low cost. It is something made by commoners for commoners. The nobles thought they erased this from history but they did not expect someone who can understand ancient text and bring this item back to life. why would nobles want such item to exist if it threatens their supremacy over commoners.

Luckily, it was a rather uneventful ride. Other than the light sightseeing and some small frys that i took out in seconds, we reached Zebub Town on time

Reaching the town, we headed to the mayor’s office.

Walking into the office, we were greeted by a muscled man with a steely expression

“Hi i am mayor Ekron. You must be the one who will be killing all those freaks of nature. I would have been the one killing them had i not been bogged down by paperwork.” shaking Ivan’s hand as he points to the stacks of never ending paperwork around him.

“Actually, the one doing the killing will be him.” as Ivan points towards me.

Ekron narrows his eyes as he looks towards me, “Are you sure that would be the case?”

Looking back at at Ekron, “Yes”

“Not bad kid, i like the look in your eyes. Not many at your age can look at me in the eyes and say the same. The nest is due west once you leave the office. I hope to see you return alive.”

With that, Ekron went back to his never ending paperwork.

Stepping out of the office, Ivan looks at me “no wonder my brother would not come. This guy gives even me the creeps. He outright refused upon hearing that we were coming to Zebub Town.”

I could only give him a weak smile as we headed to the destination