On Duskrice 21-25, 1850 AC (Arbiter Calendar)
During the four days of selling defective and flawed items to adventurers, soldiers from the fortress, explorers, and hunters, Alistair's business was received quite positively. What Alistair didn't know was that these items were sourced from a system that meant their qualities were vastly different from those typically found on the Freedom Continent. The system had kept this a secret from Alistair, not revealing that the items he was selling were based on major continents beyond the barrier surrounding the lesser continents. As a result, even though their ranks were classified as Defective and Flawed, the items were actually highly effective for anyone who used them. Essentially, Alistair's business thrived despite the low prices.
Alistair's first customer was a young adventurer who had been hunting snowy beasts for a year. He had recently broken his iron sword and, with limited funds, discovered Alistair's shop. He purchased an iron sword for just 25 Bronze Scales and set off to complete quests. During his journey, he successfully took down multiple snowy beasts and felt that he had grown stronger. Eventually, he left the iron sword he bought from Alistair's small shop for a different weapon that appeared better. However, during his quests, he found that it took several hours to take down a single snowy beast, which left him feeling confused.
The young adventurer brought two swords with him: one was a high-quality sword he purchased from a reputable shop, valued at 10 Silver Talers, while the other was an Iron Sword bought from Alistair's small shop. Curious about their differences, he decided to experiment with both swords.
The first sword, despite its cost, took several hours for the young adventurer to take down just one mid-ranking snowy beast. In contrast, the Iron Sword from Alistair's shop proved to be remarkably effective. With just one slash, he managed to decapitate a mid-ranking wild beast effortlessly. He couldn't help but mutter, "What is this Iron Sword? It looks so ordinary, yet it can cut down a snowy beast without breaking a sweat."
Frustrated with the performance of the expensive sword, he discarded it in the snow, deeming it bad quality. Witnessing the young adventurer's success, others became interested in Alistair's small shop. When asked about his weapon, he proudly stated that he bought the Iron Sword from the Unity Store.
Although high-ranking adventurers, soldiers, explorers, and experienced hunters didn't pay much attention to small shops, lower-ranking individuals were intrigued. They flocked to Alistair's shop and were impressed with the weapon for several reasons: it only cost 50 Bronze Scales, it was durable and didn't break easily, it could easily cut through low to mid-ranking beasts, and it was lightweight, allowing ordinary fighters to wield it with ease.
In just four days, Alistair earned a total of 575 Bronze Scales, equivalent to 5.75 Silver Tales. As he prepared to leave his Unity Store, it was time to venture into the Whisperpine Expanse. He packed up his tents and belongings and began walking outside the castle walls. To his surprise, it started snowing. When he looked back, he noticed an unexpected barrier surrounding the entire Rocky Mountain of Frostgate. According to information from his customers, this barrier blocks out snow and cold while providing a heat source inside.
As Alistair entered the outer zone of the Whisperpine Expanse, he felt the freezing temperature. He stopped at a checkpoint designed to ensure that individuals entering the area do not carry dangerous items that could provoke the wild, snowy beasts that roam the region. After passing through, the soldiers saluted him as he moved into the outer zone. With the help of the system guidance, he soon found a cave where he set up his Basic Survival Tent, which has enhancement effects.
After setting up his tent, Alistair relaxed and took a Realm Breaking Pill, allowing him to quietly ascend to the Early-Stage Aura Transformation Realm. During this ascension, his body began to reshape itself to align with the nature of his newly transformed Aura. Up until the Aura Materialization Realm, the body remains fundamentally mortal, with the Aura temporarily enhancing it. However, upon entering the Aura Transformation Realm, his Aura develops a unique nature, necessitating that his body adapt to contain and channel this new power. This triggers the Body Reconstruction process.
System: "Alistair, congratulations on ascending to the Early-Stage Aura Transformation Realm. You are currently undergoing the Body Reconstruction Process."
Alistair was confused and asked, "What is that?"
"The Body Reconstruction Process is a transformation where your body will be permanently enhanced, elevating your status from Mortal to Transcendent Mortal. Your lifespan will increase from 50 to 150 years. Your bones will become harder than steel, and your aura capacity will expand, allowing you to sustain active use for more than 2 to 3 hours. Additionally, your skin will gain a natural resistance to physical attacks. Since the Iron Body ability relies on aura usage, this permanent enhancement is beneficial, particularly when you run out of aura capacity in your body."
"You are currently in the first stage of the Body Reconstruction Process, known as Flesh Reinforcement. Once you enter the Mid-Stage of the Aura Transformation Realm, you will unlock the second stage of the Body Reconstruction Process."
"Also, because of the Body Reconstruction Process, your body structure has completely change making you stronger and taller, you might be mistaken somewhere on their 20s on how you look like. Lastly, your abilities has change to fit your Early-Stage Aura Transformation Realm, the changes are the combination between normal aura abilities and unique nature aura abilities, widely known as the Aura Elemental Manipulation. Aura Elemental Manipulation is an innate elemental authority born from Body Reconstruction, allowing a aura users to generate, control, and embody a specific element through their Aura."
After that, the system subjected him to harsh cold temperatures to enhance his stamina, durability, and strength without relying on his aura abilities. He trained his body and skills every day to perfectly align his capabilities as an Early-Stage Aura Transformation Realm practitioner. Essentially, he aimed to maximize his potential using ordinary methods, which he then combined with extraordinary techniques.