About five minutes later,
Blood coughed and Ballock saw him opened his eyes before he stood up and looked around strangely.
There was a red glint in his eyes, shimmering in delight...
"Whooa! This is it. I'm now in the Bronze realm finally." he immediately noticed. It was like a dream coming through. He remembered the time he thought he wouldn't cross the lower stages of the Iron realm and here he was, in the Bronze realm.
He didn't take the matter too far. He cupped his fist and felt the energy causing through his veins. There was nothing stopping him. There was no kid his age to be afraid of anymore.
At least, those he had knowledge of!
[Host has completed his breakthrough and successfully entered the Bronze realm]
[Host status has been modified]
[Check the Shop for sophisticated items.]
The Blood Book confirmed his breakthrough!
He shook his head with a bitter smile as different words of insult and oppression surfaced but he did well to hold them in. They were all in the past. He should just live his life and bring his friends and family close, while leaving others in the dust.
His mind was all of a sudden improved and refined. His eyes blurred for a moment, and he could see the Spiritual space without stress of which he couldn't before. He was in the outside world but his eyes cuts through all impediments and directly gazed into the Spiritual space which was impossible for others except when they meditate.
When he felt his mind lightened, the octagonal prism at the time was ousting red hues and he could feel the sensation all over his body and it was like all his previous burden had been alleviated. He felt completely new and free of impurities.
His thought was fast and clear. It was a strange feeling. He could now see the octagonal prism directly from the outside world without actually entering the Spiritual space.
"Haha, Ballock. It appears you've worked hard on your cultivation. You are now in the Bronze realm too." Blood was genuinely surprised when he noticed Ballock's energy fluctuation.
"Of course. I wasn't faineant after you entered your strange state and I've been really working hard. But why is it that I can't sense your cultivation at all. It's just as if you're a normal person but of course, I know you just broke through. How is it that your energy fluctuation has been thoroughly concealed." Ballock was genuinely perplexed.
Blood emitted no energy fluctuation which was strange and would have made others mistook him for an ordinary citizen.
Blood himself was spooked when he realized that what Ballock said was completely true. He then released his energy, and his energy fluctuation could then be sensed like normal.
"Wow, I can sense it now. So, you can conceal it as you like, it's a good skill." Ballock said with brimming smile.
Blood knew at once that this was somewhat a fake smile. It had a hint of restlessness imbued. He looked at him again and his face fell. He had been keeping too much from his buddy, and he knew he had questions to ask but was reluctant to ask him.
He didn't want to bother him.
Blood fidgeted for a moment and thought to finally open up.
"I've told my one and only love that if I were to reveal this, she will be the first I tell but it appears you've won the race, friend." Blood said as he sighs.
Ballock just smiled but remained silent. it was a gratified smile since he knew who he was referring to. He hadn't seen anyone best that girl yet.
"But first, how do we get out of here and how many minutes has passed while I was in that strange state?" Blood asked. He wanted to know how fast they could return possibly.
"BBhahahaha."
Ballock suddenly burst into laughter which made Blood looked in confusion.
How many minutes you say? How about seconds!?
'you were immersed assiduously in your cultivation that you hadn't even collected the amount of time that had passed?'
"This is the thirteenth day we've spent here and you've spent them cultivating." Ballock replied to the puzzled Blood.
These words were like a bomb in Blood's ears, and he found it hard to believe. The thirteenth day? His parents must be looking all over for him.
"I suggest we follow the adjourning hill, let's see if there's a path where we can exit this place." Blood muttered and walked along, not forgetting to stow the trident.
There was no time to waste.
Ballock said nothing about the trident and simply followed behind while explaining what he had been doing all this while when Blood was in his strange state.
He listened carefully and was amazed by many thing Ballock described and when he finished, Blood narrated the thing about the Blood Book but left some things out.
While Blood and his friend were in an incognizant stroll, someone else was in the middle of a flaming battle.
____________
"Khyaaa.."
A man whose battle robes were dyed red cried out, as he pulled his broad sword out from an enemy soldier who slammed uncontrollably on the ground.
He raised his sword and kicked the ground violently. Molded piece of earth was uprooted as they moved with force toward the incoming opponents. It engulfed them and threw them to the side without trouble.
"That man from the Sand-scale city is really overbearing. He has single-handedly killed many from my men, why won't you let me confront him." a man with whisky hair asked with distaste.
An old man was by his side who stood calmly as he watched the battle unfold. He acted like he didn't care and replied unhurriedly, "Don't worry, there are larger forces at play. The Sand-scale city really looked us less, sending just two divisions.
"Hmm, if it were before, I assume it would have been enough and even a killer. But we have others joining in secretly.
"Our goal isn't to win the battle with the Sand-scale city but to weaken them severely, only for some bigger fish to wrap it up. And by the time we crush these two divisions, let's see if they won't look at their script twice before they know that they are to defend and not to go on offense." he scoffs before darting his eyes at one corner.
"Oh, I understand." the whisky haired man nodded with newfound wisdom.
The old man nodded and added,
"When this is over, we will renounce our challenge, and other contenders would be granted the opportunity to shine. The Sand-scale city is doomed to fall." his voice was determined.
And there it was, army in large number joined the battle, which took the opposing force in surprise. But this didn't scare them as they reorganized themselves and stood in formations of two, five, ten and more.
They used the same attack after regrouping and forming formations. Their attacks immersed the enemies who were joining in.
Salza and Kamil, the seventh division commander were at the forefront where the battle appeared to be the toughest. The forces who were joining the battle made sure to appear from the other side.
Both commanders didn't relent though as they propelled themselves from the ground. They both looked at each other and nodded. Huge energy coated their weapons as they concentrated their energy.
Both of them performed the same action and unleash various attacks at the new group.
The conjoined attack was deep and powerful. It was an all-out power of stage 8 and 9 soldiers of the Silver realm.
The enemies observed the looming threat over their heads and those with shields quickly brought them over their head to resist the power of the strike.
The attack was heavy and demeaning as it slammed them into the ground while the others were swept in its wake.
Cries of pain and horror could be heard as the fierce energy crashed into them, unleashing terror as they were flung violently to all sides.
The coordinated attack was overwhelming.
Many of them were immediately reduced to smithereens.
"Sir, more enemies are coming from the west." Galock said with sweats dripping down his eyes. There were discomforted in those green eyes as he added sharply, "I think they have the support of other territories and were lying low since the beginning."
Salza had a renewed look, and a sense of interest was vivid in his eyes. The enemies played an almost perfect scheme.
"The Settlers really did this one. They didn't prevent this from happening, how shameless." Kamil roared with pure hate. He didn't know the Settlers who were supposed to be monitoring the battle could amount to this.
At least, not with the Bland town.
"Give the signal, we must retreat at once before the enemy have us encircled. There are other ways to win a battle."