MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC80: Hall
Chapter 80: Hall
Mr. Joe sat on Athena's back, looking thoughtful as he wondered why he had been brought to Apple Town.
But then, he spotted Richard.
"Boss!"
He quickly dismounted the horse and greeted Richard cheerfully.
Even though he wasn't sure of Richard's purpose, he still had to act respectfully toward him.
"Boss, is there something you need?" he asked Richard in a rather quiet voice.
"Follow me!"
Richard said only that before turning back into Apple Town, leaving Athena outside the city.
Of course, Mr. Joe followed, growing even more curious since Richard offered him no explanation.
Richard occasionally glanced at the old man, somewhat curious about what would happen to him after entering the secret place.
Would this be a turning point in his fate?
Naturally, what intrigued Richard the most was what he himself would gain.
What if he was merely considered a guide for a descendant of the Dragon Knight Clan to the secret place and only received a minor reward?
That would be troublesome.
Even filled with doubts, he would still go inside.
At worst, he would simply squeeze Mr. Joe for compensation.
After walking for a while, they arrived at a quiet garden. Richard handed Mr. Joe a cloak and a piece of cloth.
"Put this on and cover your face," he instructed.
Mr. Joe gave a wry smile at the command, doubt plain in his expression.
"This is a good thing for you. Don't you want to inherit the legacy of your ancestor?" Richard said.
"What, my ancestor?" Mr. Joe was utterly shocked at those words.
"Just follow me, you'll understand soon enough. I may have tricked you, but I have no reason to lie about this," Richard replied.
He then donned his Phantom Cloak once again, altering his body's size—but in a different form from before.
This time, he appeared as a short, stout man.
Mr. Joe could only freeze when he witnessed the transformation.
"Remember, don't speak unless I tell you to, and make sure you stay close to me," Richard said before continuing forward.
At the very least, Mr. Joe grasped the gravity of the situation. He nodded lightly and followed at Richard's side, matching his pace.
Since Richard was with Mr. Joe, he didn't run, so it took them longer to reach the location of the secret place.
After the Olivia incident, the number of people gathering had only increased.
Some appeared to be adventurers from outside who had come after hearing the noise, but they had arrived late since they weren't in Apple Town when it happened.
Richard wasn't the only one wearing a Phantom Cloak, but it seemed that anyone clad in one was carefully observed by the others.
He stopped about a hundred meters away from the dragon's head, choosing not to get too close.
Some, unable to resist their greed, tried entering the dragon's mouth—only to be forcefully repelled, just as Richard had been before.
Richard's eyes never stopped observing, especially the powerful Magi like the city lord or the Headmaster of Apple Town Academy.
Gray and Laura were nowhere in sight. It seemed they had left again, while the city lord and headmaster showed no urgency to depart after returning to witness the proof.
'Well, forget it. I don't need to bother with them,' he thought, stepping forward and signaling Mr. Joe to follow.
He acted like someone else too curious to resist attempting entry into the dragon's mouth.
But when they were close enough, he suddenly grabbed Mr. Joe's hand.
Whoosh!
He burst forth at full speed, dragging the old man along, even knocking aside some weaker Magi in his path.
"What is he doing?" people exclaimed in surprise, but their eyes soon widened in shock.
The light from the dragon's mouth didn't block him at all.
He and the cloaked figure he carried passed through it, vanishing inside.
"Damn, that's the same man as before. His Phantom Cloak is clearly of a higher tier—it can even alter his body's form," someone said.
"Then the person he brought must be a descendant of the Dragon Knight Clan? Incredible. To think there really is a relative of the Dragon Knight in our Apple Town."
"Could it be the Dragon Knight came from this region?"
"Who knows."
"... "
Meanwhile, Richard, who had entered the dragon's mouth, found himself inside an enormous hall of extraordinary luxury. He could only stand in awe.
The hall stretched forward, lined with colossal guardian statues along each wall.
They were so tall that Richard's mind went blank as he tried estimating their height.
Not tens or hundreds of meters—he concluded they stood over a kilometer tall.
They even wore real armor and wielded authentic swords or spears.
The front wall was even more astonishing: a fierce black dragon statue glared with bulging eyes and an open mouth, guarding the golden throne beneath it.
Richard narrowed his eyes at the dragon statue, drawn to the object in its maw—a floating black heart, or rather, one suspended by a faint surrounding light.
It seemed to beat endlessly.
'Is that the Heart of the Black-Hearted Soul?' he wondered, his expression strange, for he thought his own heart resembled it.
"What is this place?" Mr. Joe, standing beside Richard, was so captivated that he rubbed his eyes again and again, trying to be sure he wasn't hallucinating.
As Richard glanced at him, he suddenly heard a cracking sound from behind.
"Mm..." He was startled again, spotting a figure that looked like a man made of wood—so old he needed a staff to support his hunched body.
His mouth trembled as he struggled to open it.
"Re-relative of the ma-master, you've fi-finally come," he said, his voice so frail it seemed he could barely speak.
Even so, his eyes never blinked as they fixed on Mr. Joe, filled with joy.
"Wel-welcome to the Dragon Hall, relative of the master," he added, his words gradually becoming clearer.
"Who are you?" Mr. Joe asked.
"I-I am merely the s-servant of your ancestor, fortunate enough to be granted the chance to l-live longer so I could pass down your ancestor's Blood Essence to you, so that you may gain great talent like him. You will also be given this Dragon Hall, which shall serve as your safe home." The wooden man answered, his voice steadier now, though still breathless.
"What?" Mr. Joe could hardly believe what he was hearing.
"Who is my ancestor?" he asked again.
"The Dragon Knight," the wooden man replied, nearly making Mr. Joe jump.
"I... I'm truly a relative of the Dragon Knight?" he stammered, his mouth agape.
It wasn't as though he didn't know the rumor—it had always existed in his family.
Mr. Joe had believed it, but only as a way to console himself.
Now, standing in this hall and hearing it confirmed by a strange being, he finally became convinced.
"Si-sir, please follow me," the wooden man said before stepping toward a side door that seemed to lead to a special chamber.
Mr. Joe hesitated, not daring to follow immediately. He looked to Richard first.
But Richard gestured for him to go ahead and follow the wooden man.
The Dragon Knight's Blood Essence? Why should he care if it went to Mr. Joe? After all, his own talent far surpassed that of the Dragon Knight.
What interested him was the Dragon Hall itself—and that Black Heart.
There might be other treasures hidden here, but he could search for them later, once he had seized control of this Dragon Hall.
This was clearly a Hidden World, not just an underground chamber guarded by magic formations. It was a rare artifact that could only be created by a Magus who had attained World Magic Aether.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC81: Unexpected
Chapter 81: Unexpected
Richard continued observing the hall, approaching one of the statues and touching it.
"Ohh..." He was immediately astonished.
What he touched was the sole of the statue's foot.
He thought it was made of stone, but after touching it, he realized it was actually skin that seemed to have dried.
"So they were actually living beings. What about that dragon?" Richard stared at the dragon behind the throne, walking toward it.
If it were the dragon, he couldn't believe it had been a living creature.
He climbed the steps since the dragon statue was on a slightly higher platform.
There was no aura or danger, so he touched it without hesitation.
"Mm..." His eyes widened in amazement after touching it for a moment.
The dragon was indeed made of iron, but when he touched it, he was given an illusion as if he were the dragon itself, even though the illusion showed nothing but the sensation.
He touched it again, feeling that same sensation, a feeling filled with pride, looking down on all beings, considering them nothing but dust that could be erased.
Richard withdrew his hand, his brows furrowing.
As a human, he felt that such a feeling was far too excessive.
However, possessing the sensation of a dragon seemed to make it easier for him to master the Codex of the Dragon Emperor.
'It seems this was what the Dragon Knight relied on to master the Codex, but even he shouldn't have mastered it one hundred percent since there were no records of him actually turning into a dragon,' Richard thought.
'If only I used the Dark Black Rose while touching this dragon statue, the result would likely be higher.'
He felt regret, yet it was something already done.
His gaze returned to the door the tree man had entered.
Mr. Joe suddenly came out of it alone.
Richard was slightly surprised because he noticed that beside each of his eyes, there were strange black scales.
For an old man, those two black scales managed to make him look more dignified.
"Boss!" Mr. Joe called out cheerfully.
Richard quickly approached him.
"Where is that tree man?" Richard asked, since he didn't see him emerge behind Mr. Joe.
"He suddenly scattered into green light," Mr. Joe replied.
Despite his change, he still hadn't been able to alter his loyalty toward Richard.
This was what Richard wanted, so he felt satisfied.
"What did you get?" Richard asked again.
"I was given the Codex of the Dragon Emperor and dozens of Arcane Arts," Mr. Joe answered.
"And this, which was said to control this Dragon Hall."
Mr. Joe then showed a token in the shape of a small dragon's head that seemed to be made of iron.
"I can feel the entire hall when holding this," he added.
"Give it to me," Richard said, immediately taking the token from his hand.
The moment he held the token, he was stunned.
The hall—he could feel it.
Its size was only as far as the eye could see, with several rooms, whether bedrooms or training chambers, and the training chamber seemed to have some mechanism that absorbed Aether from outside and gathered it into the room so that training could be faster than anywhere else.
More intriguingly, this entire hall seemed to be hidden inside a very small world sphere.
And that world sphere was inside the mouth of the dragon outside, protected by a magic formation.
Richard could leave if he wanted to, and the world sphere would follow him as long as he held the controlling token.
Of course, if he left, that meant he would have to face the people waiting for him.
Even though he was inside the hall, he could now see the scenery outside.
He didn't rush, instead making more detailed observations of the Dragon Hall through the token.
He realized that it also had a basement beneath it.
Peeking into the basement, he gasped upon discovering a massive pile of Nature Spirits.
They couldn't be counted in mere hundreds of thousands. Their number might be in the tens of millions.
So many Nature Spirits—it was practically the wealth of a nation.
But compared to the Nature Spirits, Richard was more astonished by a branch that couldn't be called large, at most only as long as a human arm.
Yet that branch emitted endless golden light, as if it were an infinite source of radiance.
Richard felt the most oppressive aura from that golden light, an aura that seemed capable of tearing the sky itself apart.
It was said that the leaders of World Magic Aether, when touching something, even the most ordinary object, a trace of their power would be stored within it.
Anyone who held that object could unleash the stored power.
However, this was more like a bomb. The power could be released but not controlled.
Even those who unleashed it could be struck by the force themselves.
It could be said this was more often used as a card to intimidate enemies.
Unfortunately, Richard didn't see any weapons or artifacts.
Although this Dragon Hall itself was a priceless artifact, he felt he had gained too little if this was all he obtained from the secret place left by the Dragon Knight.
It seemed the latter merely intended to help one descendant of his clan become a true genius by relying on his Blood Essence.
Who knew if it would succeed, for in the end, the one who gained the opportunity was an old man like Mr. Joe.
'At least if danger comes, I can hide inside this hall,' Richard thought.
Now he began to think about what he should do once he went out.
"What?"
Just as he thought about that and peeked outside, he was stunned by a figure that suddenly appeared.
"Rebecca," he muttered softly.
The figure was a pale-skinned woman with black hair, wearing an elegant long black gown, standing indifferently among the crowd, letting the night wind blow through her hair.
She seemed to have appeared there out of nowhere, enough to terrify everyone until their legs trembled without end, as if wondering how she had suddenly entered their small territory.
Unfortunately, her overwhelming beauty did nothing to erase their fear.
The strongest Magi had agreed to seal the information about this secret place, but it seemed the news had still leaked to the Moonshadow Clan, causing their Lady to arrive in such a short time.
Night Valley City might seem far from Apple Town, but for a Magus as strong as Rebecca, the journey could be shortened many times over. In the end, she could even fly through the skies with her current Realm.
Seven years had certainly not changed her appearance.
She was still the same as when Richard last saw her, looking as if in her twenties, yet her aura now felt sharper and more oppressive.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC82: Harvest
Chapter 82: Harvest
'This is truly a serious problem,' Richard thought.
With anyone else, he was still confident he could escape.
But if Rebecca was there, Richard worried he wouldn't even be able to move under her gaze alone.
He was fully aware of the difference in their strength ever since he had used a Mind Attack on Lilith.
And Rebecca was even stronger than Lilith.
The only option was to use the power of the Dragon Knight stored within that wooden branch.
Threatening her with it was clearly impossible. The only feasible way was to activate it from inside the Dragon Hall and then throw it outside.
The consequence, however, was that everyone—including Apple Town—would likely be destroyed.
But Richard didn't know whether Rebecca would perish along with them.
Regardless, he wasn't ready to cause such massive destruction.
'Should I hide here for the time being?' he thought, and he didn't feel it was a bad idea.
After all, he could spend his time absorbing Aether.
Here, he could absorb it faster, perhaps even two or three times faster.
Reaching the Life Aether Realm wouldn't take too long for him.
Besides, he was somewhat intrigued by the Black Heart in the dragon statue's mouth.
He could confirm it was filled with hidden power.
The question was: could that hidden power be transferred into his own heart?
"Old man, did you get any information about that heart?" Richard asked Mr. Joe while pointing at it.
Mr. Joe looked at the heart and lightly nodded.
"The tree man said that was the heart of the Dragon Knight," he replied.
When he heard that, Richard knitted his brows.
Of course, he had suspected as much, but he couldn't help feeling astonished.
The heart of the Dragon Knight? Had he really given up his Black Heart that could grant such immense hidden power?
"What else did he say?" Richard asked.
"He said it was an inheritance for me," Mr. Joe answered.
"And you were then supposed to say it was for me," Richard replied.
Mr. Joe quickly nodded repeatedly while forcing out a laugh.
"Boss, of course, it's for you," he said.
"Good that you understand," Richard replied.
After saying that, he returned to the dragon statue, wanting to observe the Black Heart up close.
Whoosh!
He leaped, grabbing the teeth of the dragon statue's mouth before climbing up, standing in front of the Black Heart.
Its height was only around eight meters, easily reachable with his jumping ability.
Although there was a light making the Black Heart float, Richard felt no threat and was not attacked.
But what about touching it?
Richard hesitated for a moment but eventually did it anyway.
"Mm..." His eyes widened the instant his hand touched the heart.
The power was immense—he truly felt it—but it wasn't like the overwhelming power that came from Aether.
It was filled with hatred and terrifying resentment.
They seemed as if they wanted to explode, searching for a new vessel to flow into, one that could help them vent their hatred.
From initial shock, Richard became fascinated.
He then tried absorbing the hidden energy using the method of absorbing Aether, and at once, black energy seeped out of the heart, entering through the gaps in his fingernails.
They flowed into his veins, following his blood, and finally stopped at his heart.
[Soul:
Black Heart Soul]
[Black Heart Hidden Power: 110/10,000] +100
"What?"
Richard was stunned to see the number increase.
One hundred—it had actually increased by one hundred.
What did this mean?
It meant that the hidden power stored in one Black Heart could truly be copied into another Black Heart.
Although it was filled with resentment and hatred, once it reached Richard's heart, he didn't feel anything wrong. After all, even the 10 Black Heart Hidden Power he had received from the System had been like that—there was no difference.
"Absorb!"
Richard certainly wasn't going to stop.
If he could fill his heart with hidden power, then even now, he could contend with Magi in the Life Aether Realm as long as he unleashed that power.
He absorbed without restraint, watching his Black Heart Hidden Power rise at lightning speed.
In less than a minute, it had already reached over one thousand.
Richard could only be astonished, for he knew this power was truly real within him.
Ten thousand—it would be easy to reach.
Slaughter wasn't necessary; he could simply transfer the power from the Dragon Knight's Black Heart.
He wondered whether there would be some kind of consequence, but that was something he would deal with later. For now, he only needed to satisfy his desire for power.
[Black Heart Hidden Power: 10,000/10,000]
And at last, his heart was full of power.
Because of his current realm, this was the limit. He needed to advance to the Life Aether Realm to increase his capacity.
Whoosh!
He leaped down to the hall floor, passing even the throne that he now considered his.
Mr. Joe was ignored, as Richard was focused only on his training.
He stepped into the training room behind a wooden door that looked old yet majestic.
That door couldn't even be opened with his strength. He could only open it through control of the token.
Bam!
The door opened immediately by Richard's mental command, revealing a spacious room whose entire walls were made of gold, radiating endless light so that no other source of illumination was needed.
The room was empty, with a floor paved in bright red marble.
Yet it was extremely cold and refreshing, and the air was invigorating even though it was an enclosed space.
Just one breath was enough for Richard to feel a surge of energy to train.
"Truly remarkable," he said, entering the room and closing the door behind him.
He sat down immediately and began absorbing Aether.
As he expected, the result was indeed three times faster than usual.
Of course, this speed wasn't only due to the place but also because his body itself absorbed Aether faster than others, thanks to his mastery over the Codices for the Aether Will Realm.
'If I reach the Life Aether Realm and my heart's power is full, could I possibly fight Rebecca?' he wondered as he trained.
But when he thought about it, he still felt pessimistic. He believed it was still far away, because even from the Life Aether Realm, he would still be two realms lower. The difference remained vast. Rebecca had already reached the Realm where Magi could fly, merging with the entire world so that whether it was land, sky, or water, all were the same in their eyes.
Of course, the chances would be greater if he were in the Life Aether Realm.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC83: New Element
Chapter 83: New Element
LDING!
(Your mastery of the Codex of Moonshadow has increased from 14% to 20%!)
(Your mastery of the Codex of Endless Flame has increased from 10% to 16%!)
[Codex:
Codex of Dragon Emperor (40%)
Codex of Moonshadow (20%)
Codex of Endless Flame (16%)]
Richard received the notification in the middle of his training, at an hour he no longer cared to measure.
He wasn't concerned about time, only focused on pushing himself further, enduring his training for as long as possible.
From night to day, until dusk.
[Aether: 5283/10,000
[Aether Accumulation: 10,283
'Truly this much...'
Richard was astonished by himself.
If he were to tell anyone about this, no one would believe him. It would sound like utter nonsense.
If someone could accumulate this much Aether in a single day, then what use were great artifacts like the Star Wheel?
Of course, in truth he had only absorbed 300 Aether on his own. Reaching 600 was thanks to the help of the Aether Bottle—an artifact even more astonishing than most others.
"How's the situation outside?" He peeked out to check.
"What?"
Naturally, he was surprised.
There was no one outside. Not a soul.
But instead of relief, Richard only felt more uneasy and restless.
It was all too predictable—Rebecca had likely removed them.
Who knew what had happened to them now.
Though Rebecca herself wasn't visible nearby, how could Richard possibly trust his own eyes?
'She may have sealed off this entire area,' he thought.
A secret place belonging to the Dragon Knight—how could Rebecca not go to every length to seize it?
Richard even suspected she might have already discovered that it was him who entered.
With enough power, investigations were easy. Simply gather the Magi around Apple Town.
If someone was missing, then that was the one.
If no one was missing, then it must be an outsider.
However, Richard had already been exposed by Olivia. If Rebecca gathered the Magi, then he would be the only one absent among them.
Of course, even if she knew about him, Richard wasn't sure whether she would guess that he was the son she had cast away.
That might only be possible if she saw him directly. Given her Realm, she should be able to detect their bond, just as her ancestors once could.
"Aiii..." Richard was overthinking too much.
He pulled out some food he had stored and began to eat.
Afterward, he decided to sleep for a while.
His body couldn't endure anymore, and one night of sleep was a necessity he couldn't avoid.
DING!
(You have gained 2% affinity with the Void Element!)
(Your affinity with the Void Element has increased from 2% to 12%!)
For the first time, Richard was awakened by a notification from the System.
"Void!"
He was utterly shocked at the word.
Emptiness—what was emptiness?
It was simply something that did not exist, something that could not be described with words or colors, because it wasn't there. Something nonexistent was naturally not threatening.
Yet in this world's lore, this was a legendary element.
Someone who possessed it could become nonexistent.
What was called nonexistent wasn't merely disappearing, but being completely forgotten, as if they had never been.
This might not alter the past, but the past of someone who became nonexistent would vanish as if it had truly never been.
Of course, this was magic. The element did not completely erase someone.
For its wielder, they merely shifted into a world of nonexistence and could return to the real world again.
In other words, this element granted the ultimate disappearing ability.
Once nonexistent, one could no longer be detected.
Even being attacked was impossible, even if they stood right in front of their enemy.
Of course, using this element was said to consume an immense amount of Aether, even for the briefest moment.
It was not something one could use repeatedly or for long durations.
Using it on others was even harder, but if successful, the enemy wouldn't just die—they would be forgotten.
If someone possessed this element along with great talent, becoming the champion of an era and obtaining the World Magic Aether was almost certain. History had proven it. Two people had succeeded by relying on the Void Element, even though their combat power was not as great as others.
'The System seems to grant abilities that will help me when I'm in dire need,' Richard thought.
From standing, he immediately sat down and opened the door.
Whoosh!
He spread his Aether throughout the hall and then pushed some of it outward.
But soon after, Richard's instincts suddenly sensed a sharp gaze fixed upon the dragon's maw outside.
It seemed his Aether movement had been detected by someone who was watching.
However, the moment Richard thought of the Void, his body, his Aether, and even everything enveloped by his Aether instantly vanished without a trace—vanished to the point of being forgotten.
Even for a brief moment, Richard himself felt as though he had completely ceased to exist—the exact same feeling as when he had died on Earth before being reborn into this world.
Fortunately, after some time, his consciousness returned.
He could still see the world, but it felt like an illusion, as though he was no longer part of it.
"What am I doing here?" Suddenly, Rebecca appeared from behind a tree, confusion written on her face.
Perhaps never in her life had she shown such bewilderment—except now, when she truly was confused.
She knew she was near Apple Town, but she had no idea why she was there.
Everything she sought had disappeared, including her memory of the secret place of the Dragon Knight.
Without those things, how could she not be confused about standing in Apple Town?
And Richard could only be mesmerized by this effect—an effect that transcended space and time.
"Huh..."
He didn't think long before dashing away.
This was not a situation he could maintain forever.
Once his Aether was depleted, he would reappear—and Rebecca would remember everything that had been erased.
Richard ran until he reached where Athena was. Even the horse appeared bewildered at the moment.
But as soon as Richard reappeared, Athena's confusion vanished.
Richard climbed onto her back and immediately urged her to run back toward the village.
Meanwhile, Rebecca, who had been confused, regained her memory.
She was now certain of what she had just forgotten.
Others might not notice, since their focus was divided across many thoughts, so forgetting Richard and the secret place felt natural.
But for Rebecca, her attention had been locked onto both.
When they vanished from her memory and then returned, she perceived it clearly.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC84: Dragon Fist
Chapter 84: Dragon Fist
Rebecca stared at the hidden place of the Dragon Knight.
Nothing seemed wrong there now. The magic formation protecting the hidden place was still intact.
Yet, Rebecca furrowed her brows as she looked again.
Her instincts told her something was missing.
Her expression quickly darkened.
On the other side, Richard kept urging Athena to run faster.
In his hand, the token of the Dragon Hall was ready to be activated.
If anything went wrong, he would pull himself and Athena inside the Dragon Hall, where safety was guaranteed.
Fortunately, he still did not sense any sign of danger.
Even if his identity was discovered, who could know where he was staying? Around Apple Town, there were countless paths leading to various rural areas.
At least for now, he believed no one would find him in Purple Rose Village.
It was nearly morning, and by the time he arrived at the village, the sky was already brightening.
Richard directed Athena to Mr. Joe's house, intending to send the old man home first.
When they arrived, he finally released Mr. Joe from the Dragon Hall, leaving the man dumbfounded to see himself already standing in front of his own house.
"Are we back already?" he blurted out instinctively.
Instead of replying, Richard looked into the old man's eyes, instantly shifting his gaze.
He fell under Richard's control.
"Mr. Joe, you said you were given dozens of Arcane Arts. Tell me what they are," Richard ordered.
He was curious what kinds of Arcane Arts Mr. Joe had obtained. After all, they all came from the Dragon Knight—some of them might be remarkable.
Naturally, Richard wanted to secure the best among them.
Given the command, Mr. Joe immediately listed the Arcane Arts he had received.
But when Richard heard them all, he was a little surprised.
Among all the Arcane Arts of the Dragon Knight, only one seemed to be considered top-tier, called Dragon Fist.
One dragon's punch, destroying everything—that was the essence of the technique.
When using this fist, one's punch would transform into a dragon's fist, able to merge with all elements.
Even more intriguing, every ten percent of mastery would produce one shadow fist, each carrying an even stronger attack.
Richard deemed it important, for there might come a time when he could only rely on his fists.
He ordered Mr. Joe to recite the contents of the Arcane Art.
Unfortunately, the old man could not write. Richard could not have him make a copy.
Still, having him recite it quickly was enough. Richard memorized every strange word he uttered.
DING!
(You have obtained the Dragon Fist Arcane Art!)
(Your mastery of Dragon Fist Arcane Art has increased from 0% to 3%!)
Dragon Fist (3%)
Richard immediately understood the technique.
Its power was indeed terrifying, according to what he sensed.
He was satisfied, even if he had obtained only one.
After that, he released Mr. Joe from the Mind Attack and immediately left with Athena, heading toward the orphanage.
"Richard!" He was greeted warmly by Sister Lisa, who seemed entirely unaware of what had transpired in Apple Town.
His absence for more than a day didn't seem to worry her in the slightest.
"Sister, you seem to be in a good mood this morning," Richard said, noticing she could hardly stop smiling.
"I just made a breakthrough..." Lisa replied.
"Ohh, did you reach Tier 9?" Richard was a little surprised.
"Not 9, but 10. Not long after receiving armor from Lilith, I advanced to Tier 9, and then, through some opportunities, I managed to advance again," Lisa said.
"Truly?" Richard was stunned, realizing what this meant.
If Sister Lisa could unleash the power of Tier 10, then she could be considered the strongest among Magi in the Aether Will Realm.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Sister Lisa was very proud. "Anyway, tomorrow we must head to Night Valley City to meet Lilith and go to the capital. Stop wandering around."
"The capital."
At the mention of it, Richard was filled with anticipation.
Of course, he would go to the capital.
He nodded at Sister Lisa.
But for now, after a quick breakfast, he made his way to his ancestor's hut.
He did not intend to share the Dragon Hall with his ancestor, but he would still meet him, perhaps gaining something useful.
When he arrived, he was a little confused.
He did not see his ancestor—only the Queen of Fire Spirits, alone and relaxed as she sat on a chair with her legs crossed, the slit of her gown revealing them.
Her long, fair legs momentarily captivated Richard, making him forget that the first time he saw her, she had looked like nothing more than an old woman on the verge of returning to dust.
The woman was lounging with a bottle of wine, sipping it slowly.
Richard had no idea where she had gotten the wine—probably stolen from the village.
His arrival seemed to bother her, judging from the crease in her brows.
"Where is my ancestor?" Richard approached and asked.
"Gone, who knows where," the Queen of Fire Spirits replied indifferently, only glancing at him.
Remembering she was nothing more than a slave, Richard felt slightly annoyed.
"Queen, look at this," Richard said.
Buzz!
His body suddenly turned entirely into fire.
The Queen of Fire Spirits' eyes widened when she saw it. She even rose to her feet instinctively, stumbling backward, nearly collapsing as she gasped.
Richard grinned at her.
"Wh-who are you? You're not human?" the woman exclaimed.
"I am, of course, human," Richard replied. "You should realize now that your oath applies. This proves I truly am human."
Richard almost laughed at the sight of the Queen of Fire Spirits' expression—it was worse than crying.
Perhaps she could not cry, so this was the only expression she could show.
Not only was she already enslaved by Aldric, she was now bound by an oath to Richard.
And this oath was not something she could resist.
She might still struggle against the Slave Seal at the cost of death, but this oath ensured she could not even die if she wished.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC85: New Journey
Chapter 85: New Journey
Richard didn't linger long in his ancestor's hut, leaving after waiting for a while with no sign of his ancestor's return.
Even as he left, the Fire Spirit Queen still seemed filled with despair.
The vow she had spoken so casually had turned into a calamity.
When Richard returned to his room at the orphanage, he entered the Dragon Hall and continued training until he fell asleep.
[Aether: 6083/10,000
[Aether Accumulation: 11,083
DING!
(Your mastery of the Dragon Fist Arcane Art has increased from 3% to 16%!)
Dragon Fist (16%)
"If I had five more days, no, even four... I would definitely advance to the next Realm," he muttered, a little frustrated at still not advancing.
He stood up and exited the Dragon Hall, only to hear a knock on his door.
"Richard, hurry up and wake up, we're going to Night Valley City now!" Sister Lisa's voice rang out.
Richard opened the door, finding the woman already prepared in a new outfit.
"Sister, let me bathe first!"
Realizing he had overslept, Richard quickly rushed off to wash up.
Not long after, they were already on the road, riding in a larger carriage that Sister Lisa had crafted herself.
Normally it would require two horses to pull it, but for Athena, it was far too easy to handle alone, so no additional horses were needed.
Inside the carriage, Richard sat lost in thought.
If not for his new element, he would not have dared to travel outside, due to the risk of being hunted.
If discovered, he would simply enter the Dragon Hall and rely on the Void Element to escape.
Though he had a plan, he still felt somewhat tense.
Even along the way, he noticed certain areas where passage was forbidden—Apple Town and its surroundings had been sealed. No one could enter or leave. Not even birds. Any that tried would be shot down by arrows fired from the Sky Armor Knights.
No... in truth, there was one bird that could pass, though it wasn't a true bird, but rather a shadow— a Shadow Bird.
The Purple Rose Village and its neighboring villages were far enough from Apple Town, so they were lucky not to be part of those sealed areas.
Of course, even if news could be suppressed, the mastermind behind this lockdown was still known—the Moonshadow Clan.
In this province, they could be considered absolute rulers, their strength not far from that of the Royal Family. The people could only remain silent, unable to protest.
Meanwhile, in Night Valley City, at Lady Rebecca's residence, Mrs. Wilson was relaxing in the back garden of the castle, feeding birds.
She had no duties since Rebecca had gone off somewhere.
Because Rebecca had sealed the news from Apple Town, she knew nothing. In fact, none of the Moonshadow Clan members knew. Rebecca acted on her own, yet she had more than enough authority to do so in the name of the Moonshadow Clan.
"Mm!"
She suddenly spotted a Shadow Bird arriving, carrying a letter.
The Shadow Bird disintegrated as it reached her, while the letter it bore dropped into her hand.
She quickly opened the letter and read it—only for her eyes to widen in shock.
(I am in Apple Town. Order the forces under me to search for a boy named Richard. Send some around Apple Town to look for him, and give them his portrait!)
Inside the letter, not only were there words, but also a small sketch—a portrait of Richard.
"W-what exactly is going on?" Mrs. Wilson muttered, more bewildered than ever.
She thought everything was fine, but it turned out Rebecca was in Apple Town, searching for Richard.
Did she discover Richard was her son?
Richard's identity as a seven-year-old genius seemed to have been exposed, yet judging from the letter, Mrs. Wilson didn't feel that Rebecca knew about their relationship.
It seemed more like there was another issue between them.
"Did the Young Master provoke Lady Rebecca?"
Mrs. Wilson found that more reasonable, though she still didn't know how to respond to this.
"Master Leonardo!" Mrs. Wilson immediately decided to meet that man.
Only he could handle this matter—if he even could.
But Leonardo himself was already planning to go to Purple Rose Village today, to see his grandson with his own eyes.
Richard, however, knew nothing.
Athena pulled the carriage at high speed toward Night Valley City.
They entered the city smoothly without encountering any obstacles and arrived in front of Lilith's residence.
It was just like the last time they had come. Richard saw Grace and her maid just stepping out of the house.
They glanced at Richard and Lisa—Grace in particular, looking at Richard as though lost in her own thoughts.
Yet, since Richard had declined her invitation to dine with her last time, she seemed disinterested in speaking with him and left immediately after giving him a glance.
"Richard, I think that girl is interested in you," Sister Lisa suddenly remarked.
"What nonsense are you talking about, Sister?" Richard rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on. I'm a woman. At her age, I too began to feel interested in handsome boys. You're considered very handsome for your age—it's only natural that she would be drawn to you."
Richard: "..."
"Why are you still talking? Hurry and get inside!"
The door suddenly opened, revealing Lilith's glamorous figure as usual, clad in her luxurious gown.
She waved them in.
They quickly entered her house.
"Lilith, are we departing now?" Lisa asked.
"Yes, and we are already on our way," Lilith replied.
"What?" Even Lisa was stunned by that answer.
But when she looked out the window, she realized the scenery outside had completely changed.
Lilith's house seemed to be flying above the clouds.
"What is going on?" Lisa was baffled.
On the other hand, Richard had some idea.
They weren't actually inside the house, but within a Flying Magic Vehicle that had the exact same shape as Lilith's home.
It was likely fused with her house and capable of separating. The moment they entered, it had detached and soared into the sky.
The only reason they hadn't noticed was simple: they couldn't see its speed nor feel its movement.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC86: Capital
Chapter 86: Capital
'Flying Magic Vehicles truly are incredible,' Richard thought.
He had heard of them before, only owned by truly powerful Magi. Even someone like a governor wasn't qualified to possess one.
Not only were they extremely expensive, but the cost of using one always required vast amounts of Nature Spirits to keep it flying fast.
As Richard watched, he even saw that his horse was also brought in the yard.
"Boy, sit."
Suddenly, Lilith, who had been sitting, beckoned Richard to sit in front of her.
Richard wondered what she wanted, but he sat casually, showing no sign of burden.
"Use Mind Attack on me again," said Lilith.
"Ohh..." Richard's expression turned strange when he heard that, but indeed, in their agreement, as long as she requested it, he would comply.
He sent a Mind Attack at her.
This time, Richard couldn't help but be astonished. Lilith actually appeared weak to him, and the Mind Attack he sent clearly affected her significantly. She had to struggle hard to resist it, her expression changing.
"Stop!" Before long, Lilith asked Richard to stop, as though she could no longer endure.
If it went on any longer, she might exhaust her strength to resist the Mind Attack.
At that point, she could fall under its control.
"Sister Lilith, what's happening?" Richard asked with a curious expression after halting the attack.
Lisa understood nothing. She was simply confused by Richard's question.
"Curious now?" Lilith gave a faint smile.
"This is my weaker clone. I have three clones, with one always in prime condition, while the other two serve as reserves ready to replace the main clone under any circumstances."
Lilith had no qualms telling Richard this, though her expression suggested she merely wanted to boast.
Clone ability—this intrigued Richard.
However, he knew Lilith wouldn't share it, so he decided not to speak further about it.
Lilith looked disappointed seeing him remain silent.
Richard stood up and moved to the window to gaze outside, only to find many mountain ranges and great rivers winding below.
In the distance, he saw mountains whose peaks were capped with snow, even though the mountains themselves were surrounded by lush green forests.
They were snow-capped because of their sheer height, not unlike Mount Everest on Earth.
Richard grew increasingly aware of how vast this world was.
Earth was truly nothing in comparison.
And what about strength equal to the entire world itself?
That was utterly beyond imagination.
Someone with such power could truly be compared to a natural disaster.
Before long, the sun had set, replaced by countless stars in the sky.
Their light illuminated the land below, allowing Richard to still see clearly, and from time to time he even spotted large and small cities.
As time passed, the Flying Magic Vehicle only became faster, making it increasingly difficult for Richard to see what lay beneath.
He wondered when they would arrive.
But he knew that the distance between the Eight-Star Province and the capital wasn't that far. It was among the provinces closest to the capital.
Richard glanced at Lilith again, finding her speaking with Sister Lisa.
Richard couldn't enter the Dragon Hall here, since Lilith would surely notice his disappearance, and he was reluctant to train outside it. So he decided to retreat to his room and simply relax, enjoying some fruit.
From time to time, he thought about Lilith's clone ability. It was truly enviable, essentially granting her spare lives.
Even his ancestor likely didn't possess it. Who knew how Lilith had obtained such a thing?
To his surprise, not long after, the woman herself entered his room.
Richard frowned, uneasy, as his mature thoughts became difficult to control with such a beautiful woman sharing the room with him.
"What is it?" Richard asked.
"Would you kill a little prince, about your age, for me? It won't be hard if you rely on Mind Attack—he would surely die," Lilith replied.
"What?"
Richard hadn't expected her words to be a request to kill a little prince.
"Are you insane?" Richard asked.
A prince—he was practically Lilith's younger brother, since only the king's children could hold the title of prince.
At most, they only had different mothers.
"I'll pay you, so what's the problem?" Lilith said.
"I don't want to get involved in your affairs," Richard replied.
Dealing with the royal family could be far more troublesome, since they had far too many subordinates.
"Huh, coward..." Lilith sneered, but to Richard, this was just provocation meant to bait him.
He didn't respond.
If this woman were sincere, why hadn't she directly offered something enticing, like her clone ability?
She clearly wasn't going to pay with that.
Realizing he wasn't easily provoked, Lilith could only leave in frustration.
'Perhaps it's a struggle for some kind of valuable inheritance,' Richard thought.
Such things were common for heirs of great families, but Richard hadn't expected Lilith to disregard her own age and choose such a vile method to eliminate a prince still so young.
'None of my business.'
He quickly pushed the thought aside.
In the end, he chose to rest—not to sleep, but to think of nothing beyond pleasant things.
Unexpectedly, the System's notification came sooner.
(Your mastery of the Dragon Fist Arcane Art has increased from 16% to 29%!)
Dragon Fist (29%)
'Again.'
Richard hadn't expected this newest Arcane Art to surpass the others so quickly.
"Richard, Richard, come out quickly, we've arrived!"
Suddenly, he heard Sister Lisa's call.
This was sooner than he had expected.
He immediately stood and left his room, moving to the front window to look outside.
"Wow!"
In an instant, he was stunned.
He saw a great city—not built on flat ground, but standing atop hundreds of massive mountains, some of which even had snowy peaks.
What was even more astonishing was that many of the mountain peaks were connected by bridges spanning who knew how many kilometers.
The city was brilliantly lit despite the night, visible in every corner. Its size was easily twenty times that of Night Valley City.
There were no walls surrounding it. Instead, it was encircled by a vast river, more than two kilometers wide, filled with enormous ships crossing it.
Looking further, the river seemed connected to the sea.
Richard couldn't see the sea clearly due to the darkness, yet he faintly glimpsed scattered points of light in the distance.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC87: Skelton
Chapter 87: Skelton
In the middle of that city, there was an area encircled by mountains.
There stood a magnificent silver palace, adorned with countless white star symbols, surrounded by many smaller palaces.
The entire area was filled only with grand buildings that appeared to be the center of government for this kingdom.
At this moment, the Flying Magic Vehicle began to descend, though not entering the city itself.
"Lisa, I will drop you here. Let Richard explore to broaden his horizons. I'm sure you also want to look around," said Lilith.
"Yeah..." Lisa nodded enthusiastically.
She clearly wanted to explore the capital.
Though this wasn't her first time here, it had been far too long since her last visit.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, an invisible force sent Richard and Lisa downward.
In an instant, they appeared on the ground, not far from one of the bridges spanning the river.
Athena also appeared beside them, complete with the carriage she pulled.
Only when seeing the bridge from below did Richard finally realize just how long it was.
"Come on!" Lisa climbed into the driver's seat, signaling Richard to get inside the carriage.
If they walked, it would be far too exhausting.
Richard entered the carriage and opened all the windows so he could enjoy the view outside.
Athena immediately stepped forward, pulling the carriage.
The bridge was about thirty meters wide—so wide that it never became overcrowded.
What caught Richard's attention was the sheer number of people fishing from it.
Their fishing tools weren't the simple bamboo rods he had once used.
Instead, they looked much like modern fishing gear, though they only used bottles and similar objects to spool the long lines.
The fascinating part was how often the fishermen struck—and each time, they pulled up enormous fish, larger even than a human.
Even at night, there were still countless people fishing.
Though tempted, Richard restrained himself and merely watched from within the carriage.
Now was not the time for leisure.
In a city this vast, the only thing that mattered was gaining more strength.
Moreover, the farther they went across the bridge, the more astonished Richard became at how dense the Aether was in this city.
Entering the city was entirely free—no fee, no inspection.
But once they arrived inside, Richard noticed a small drawback.
The roads weren't that wide, barely enough for three carriages.
With such a dense population, these narrow streets created endless crowds. Still, he understood why: there were far too many houses and far too little open land for roads.
Even worse, because the city lay in the mountains, every street Richard saw sloped upward.
"Richard, there's an extreme rumor..." Sister Lisa suddenly spoke.
"What is it?" Richard asked in confusion.
"There's a reason the founder of the kingdom chose this place as the capital. You know, it doesn't really make sense, right? Who would build a city on mountains?"
Richard nodded. Indeed, it was illogical to make mountains into a city.
It only made things harder. He even saw many people exhausted just from walking.
"What does the rumor say, Sister?" Richard asked.
"They say there's a giant corpse beneath these mountains, as large as the mountains themselves."
"Ohh..."
Richard wore a strange expression.
The statues in the Dragon Hall were colossal and seemed to have been shaped from once-living beings. But if there truly was a corpse the size of the entire capital, even those statues would be no more than ants in comparison.
"Something like that? Is it even real? Then why build a city on top of it?"
"They say that when people train in this city, they unknowingly absorb the aura of the corpse along with the Aether they cultivate. This gradually consumes the corpse's aura, causing its indestructible flesh to slowly decay until only its skeleton remains. That skeleton is what the kingdom is waiting for."
"What kind of skeleton is that?"
"An Aether Skeleton—but of a different type. I don't know the details. It's said that it can make someone's body completely indestructible. I once asked Lilith about this, but she didn't answer, so I think it must truly be a secret."
"An Aether Skeleton that massive—who could even use it?" Richard gave a wry smile.
"This is something hard to explain, but surely those powerful figures would know," Lisa replied.
"Maybe..." Richard could only say that.
Things like this were difficult to talk about, but that didn't mean he wasn't curious.
It was simply far beyond him—after all, he hadn't even advanced into the Life Aether Realm yet.
Richard continued looking around.
The liveliness of this city was unmatched. He saw more bars than any other kind of shop. Each bar even had beautiful women serving guests—not only pouring drinks, but also offering embraces.
'This city is simply too vast to explore. We've only taken one road, but behind every building, there's another street,' Richard thought.
"What's that?" Richard asked suddenly when he noticed something interesting—a massive cave, dark at its entrance, lit only by a faint red glow, yet many people were entering it.
"The Beast Prison," Lisa answered.
"There's a prison for beasts?" Richard was a little surprised.
"Yes, they imprison Beasts and Primordial Beasts from Tier 1 to 30. It's a training ground where people can test the exact tier of their strength. For many, it's a safer option, since the prison managers can stop their beasts when a challenger is defeated, so there's no risk of losing one's life," Sister Lisa explained.
"It seems like anyone wanting to train there would have to pay," Richard remarked.
"Of course. You're not allowed to kill their beasts either—if you do, you must compensate. It's private business, after all. Are you interested in trying?" Sister Lisa asked.
"No need. I'll only try things that give me benefits, not something that makes me pay." Richard shook his head.
"There's also a place like that, but provided by the kingdom, meant for Magi in the Aether Will Realm. You pass trials, and if you succeed, you'll receive rewards. You can even choose to absorb Aether from the Star Wheel prepared specifically for that purpose. However, it's truly difficult—even the geniuses who reach the finals in the capital struggle there."
"Really? Then take me there." Richard was, of course, interested if it involved Aether.
"I've been there before, but I forgot the way," Lisa replied, trying to recall.
Richard rolled his eyes at that.
"Let's just ask," he said.
After saying that, from inside the carriage, he waved to an old man who looked poor, driving a skinny donkey, beckoning him closer while showing a few gold coins.
How could the old man possibly refuse?
"What is it, young master and miss?" he asked warmly.
Richard looked at Sister Lisa. He couldn't ask, since he didn't even know the name of the place.
"Where's the way to the Monster World?" Sister Lisa asked.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC88: Tier 11
Chapter 88: Tier 11
"Monster World?" The old man nodded, then pulled out a map.
"Miss, we are here, and Monster World is here." He pointed to two spots on the map.
Sister Lisa studied the map for a moment before taking it.
"We'll buy your map," she said.
"Of course, no problem." The old man didn't mind, then looked at Richard holding the gold coins.
"Take this!" Richard handed him a few gold coins.
The old man accepted them and immediately left, hurrying into a bar filled with beautiful women, his spirit soaring.
Richard was too lazy to care what he was up to, so he asked Sister Lisa, "Sister, can you read the map?"
Though it didn't require literacy, learning from his experience on Earth—where many women couldn't read maps—Richard couldn't help but doubt Sister Lisa.
"I know how. I've used maps often," Sister Lisa replied.
Though she said so, she studied the map for quite a long time.
She even nodded repeatedly.
Richard chose to wait rather than risk offending her.
After more than ten minutes, she finally pulled the reins.
She turned the horse to the right, heading toward a mountain that wasn't too tall but was broader than the others.
Richard saw more young people there than elders.
It seemed the Royal Academy was on that mountain.
There were also many large Magic Shops as well as parks where young people relaxed.
They were chatting about the upcoming tournament finals.
In the capital, they were supporting one person said to be the king's nephew—Luca Holystar.
He was twenty years old, but not just talented. Not only had he reached Aether Tier 3, he had also stepped into the Life Aether Realm a year ago.
This one was truly a formidable opponent. Gray and Wren were a level lower, so Richard thought even Gray would be easily defeated.
"Richard, there it is!" Soon after, Lisa stopped in front of a huge building with many entrances.
The shape of the building resembled a mountain, and each entrance looked like the mouth of a cave.
What most caught Richard's attention, however, was the massive screen, similar to the one in the Dark Forest—but this one was far larger.
(Rank 1, Rebecca Moonshadow, Tier 14!)
(Rank 2, Lilith Holystar, Tier 14!)
(Rank 3, Enzo Holystar, Tier 13!)
(Rank 4, William Anderson, Tier 13!)
(Rank 5, Luca Holystar, Tier 12!)
Richard stared at the rankings on the screen, stunned by the first and second names.
The Monster World was supposed to be entered only at the Aether Will Realm, and that was the limit of the strength they should have there. For even a Tier 10 power, the difficulty was already high for Magi at the Aether Will Realm.
Some could surpass Tier 10, but reaching Tier 14 was truly no easy feat—it was far above the realm's supposed limits.
'Their tricks must be anything but ordinary,' Richard thought.
He became less arrogant, realizing that these top geniuses were not ordinary at all.
"Richard, there's no age limit here—as long as you're in the Aether Will Realm. If you can defeat even a Tier 10 Monster, you'll already get an incredible reward," Sister Lisa said.
Richard nodded at that, immediately stepping down from the carriage.
He even intended to challenge a Tier 11 Monster straight away, and he didn't plan to disguise himself.
Though his identity had only been revealed in Apple Town, and that city was now locked down, sooner or later he would be exposed anyway. Since that was the case, he might as well reveal himself sooner.
He was less worried about dangers, because he had tricks to escape.
Lisa quickly followed him.
They went to the guards first to request a token.
That token would act as the evaluator and the connector to the Monster World's system.
Richard only needed to write his name on it.
Without hesitation, he wrote "Richard."
With that, his name was registered in the system—but since he hadn't done anything yet, nobody would know. There were far too many people with the same name.
After obtaining the token, Richard and Sister Lisa entered through the nearest entrance, finding a brightly lit space bustling with young Magi.
But it wasn't what Richard had expected.
Instead of cages or cells, what he saw were rows of portals with signs beside them, displaying the tier of the beasts within.
In fact, the lowest was Tier 7, while the highest was Tier 17.
Of course, there weren't only ten portals—there were hundreds, each with different types of beasts. Every portal even displayed a manifestation of energy in the form of the beast itself, at its true size.
Richard noticed five other huge screens inside, showing battles between young Magi and colossal Primordial Beasts like gorillas and lions.
They were fighting not in cages, but in forests or other battlefields.
"Are there Hidden Worlds behind those portals?" Richard wondered aloud.
"Yes. The founder of the kingdom was a champion of his era, and he left behind quite a few Hidden Worlds for his descendants. One of them was later used for the Monster World," Sister Lisa explained.
"But huh, all the way up to Tier 17—can a Magus in the Aether Will Realm really defeat a Tier 17 Primordial Beast?"
Richard doubted it was possible.
"I don't know. Try it first," Lisa replied.
Richard nodded before stepping toward the Tier 11 portal—where the Primordial Beast was a three-headed serpent, each head attached to a body fifteen meters long.
"What did you choose?" Sister Lisa was stunned when she saw the serpent's manifestation.
She couldn't read, but she could still recognize numbers.
The number 11 beside the portal frightened her.
"Of course, I need to choose the stronger one," Richard answered.
"Richard, there's a huge difference between Tier 10 and 11. Someone might be able to kill a Tier 10 Beast but still be killed by a Tier 11 Beast," Sister Lisa said.
"Why be afraid? I can leave the battlefield with my mind. If something goes wrong, I'll just leave," Richard replied.
"Yes—if you have time to do it."
Sister Lisa looked more worried, thinking Richard was being reckless.
But Richard simply walked into the portal before she could say more.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC89: Fight
Chapter 89: Fight
"What?"
The people around were stunned because they too saw Richard suddenly enter the Tier 11 portal.
"Does that kid want to die?"
"He thinks this is a playground."
"Hurry, hurry, show the battlefield of that portal."
One of the large screens inside the place then displayed a battle area—not a forest, but a desert that looked extremely barren.
The small figure of Richard then appeared there.
Richard was a little surprised when he found how vast this desert was, and it seemed to be only one layer of space.
Compared to this Hidden World, the Dragon Hall was very small.
Of course, their functions were clearly different.
The Dragon Hall was designed to protect as well as a place for training, while the Monster World could actually be destroyed by powerful figures like his ancestors if they acted.
Not far ahead, Richard saw a snake fifteen meters long, lying down.
It had three heads, making it look terrifying, while its body was blackish yellow.
Seeing the appearance of someone, the snake's neck instantly stood upright, like a king cobra.
Shock was clearly seen in its eyes because the one who appeared was merely a boy.
Its eyes even tried to observe more carefully just to make sure what it saw was real. And it really was.
Whoosh!
Suddenly it lunged at Richard, tearing through the desert it crossed.
It was clear that it didn't care if its opponent was only a child.
"Let's try it this way first!"
Richard was in no hurry to use the hidden power of his Black Heart.
He would fight without it first, to see if he could match a Tier 11 Beast.
Whoosh!
Richard also charged forward, and his right fist instantly transformed, as if it evolved—becoming slightly larger and sprouting scales and claws.
Buzz!
Several lightning bolts appeared on that fist.
"This kid is crazy."
The spectators were even more shocked seeing Richard charge forward instead of running away.
"No, he has power."
They quickly realized Richard was not ordinary.
At that moment, one of the snake's heads suddenly shot forward, its neck stretching out.
Richard thought this was not a venomous snake, but it might possess an extremely tough physique combined with agile movements.
BANG!
Richard sent his dragon fist forward.
Rumble!
The space trembled from that punch, while the air instantly blasted forward.
That alone could probably shred other Magi in the Aether Will Realm.
However, the snake's head, larger than Richard's body itself, only showed a brief look of surprise before continuing forward.
It realized this boy was strong, but it was also strong.
BANG!
Richard's fist finally struck the snake's head.
At the same time, two shadow fists suddenly appeared—too real to be called mere shadows.
They were massive, the size of the snake's head itself.
BANG! BANG!
They struck the snake's head from both sides, making each of its eyes bulge in shock at the sudden twin assaults.
Its huge head was smashed hard into the ground, causing the earth to crack in a spiderweb pattern.
"It worked!" Richard was delighted.
At least this showed his advantage.
But as he looked ahead, another of the snake's heads had already appeared before him, mouth wide open, ready to swallow him.
"You can't!" Richard shouted.
He unleashed an extremely dense wave forward, just about the size of the snake's head. But its density made the pushing force terrifying.
BANG!
The snake's head was instantly blasted backward, lifted high into the air.
At the same time, a golden sword appeared in Richard's hand.
Without hesitation, Richard charged toward the snake's torso near its chest.
The sword was enveloped in blazing fire, enhancing its sharpness.
And Richard slashed it hard toward the snake's body, producing a cut mixed with fire and lightning that crackled explosively.
Swish!
That slash instantly split the snake's body open, but Richard could not be happy because the slash only split it halfway—it did not cut the snake entirely in two.
Moreover, the wound began healing in a process that was clearly visible, as if the snake did not consider it a fatal injury.
'The energy isn't enough,' Richard thought.
His Aether Accumulation was only slightly over eleven thousand.
Compared to a Tier 11 Beast, this was far too low.
However, the quality of his power made the fight fairly even.
With the same amount of energy, Richard could have killed the snake in one strike.
Even so, Richard still felt no need to use the hidden power of his Black Heart.
After all, he still had something else to rely on—something that could not be grasped by human eyes: Mind Attack.
"This boy is actually that strong," the spectators murmured.
"Not inferior to a Tier 11 Primordial Beast, he can already be considered Tier 11. Magi in the Aether Will Realm would not be able to fight him."
"How did he train? Is he really still a boy, or does he simply have a bodily condition that stopped his growth?"
"Who knows, but look at that lightning and fire—so dazzling. I've never seen anything like it. His affinity with them must be extremely high."
"Wait, what's happening—why is the snake slowing down?"
At this moment, the snake indeed looked slower—or more precisely, it seemed to struggle controlling its massive body. Even its aura looked chaotic and weakened.
Richard had used Mind Attack on it, and the effect was extraordinary.
He chose to end the fight quickly, because if the battle dragged on, he would likely tire first.
Whoosh!
With his sword, he slashed again at the snake's body at the area already split but starting to heal.
Of course, its regeneration slowed since the Mind Attack struck.
This time, Richard's sword strike was not only imbued with lightning and fire. It was fused with darkness, making its aura even more terrifying.
Richard did not hold back, unleashing a vast amount of Aether.
With its weakened defenses and the strike aimed at its wound, the snake was instantly cleaved in two—and the slash seemed to lose no strength, splitting the air behind the snake until a long rift appeared, resembling a tear in space.
That sight mesmerized the spectators outside, making them swallow their saliva hard.
Although in this city it was not rare for Magi in the Aether Will Realm to defeat Tier 11 Primordial Beasts, this one was done by a boy far too young.
People might doubt his true age, but in fact, it was still difficult for them to think he wasn't a kid.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC90: Reward
Chapter 90: Reward
BANG!
The three-headed serpent's neck slammed heavily to the ground, its life instantly extinguished as its body was cleaved in two.
At this level, survival in such a state was impossible—unless one possessed an extraordinary trick.
Richard smiled at the result.
Then, suddenly, a voice rang inside his head.
(Congratulations on defeating a Tier 11 Beast in the Aether Will Realm. You are also considered to have defeated Tier 7, 8, 9, and 10 Beasts. You may choose from this reward list!)
The voice did not come from the System. It was the voice of an old man.
Right after that, Richard saw an energy screen appear before him, displaying a list of rewards.
(Tier 3 Weapon!)
(50,000 Nature Spirits!)
(1500 Tier 3 Aether from the Star Wheel!)
(Absolute rulership over a small city!)
The list Richard saw contained more than fifteen choices, but only a few caught his interest.
Of course, he was only truly interested in one.
1500 Tier 3 Aether—such a generous reward.
With that boost, he was confident he could face even a Tier 12 Primordial Beast.
"I want this," Richard said, touching the Aether reward.
Buzz!
Suddenly, his body was pulled into another space.
He appeared in a small training chamber, completely sealed off and filled with Aether.
(You may absorb your 1500 Aether here!)
The same old voice echoed again.
Without hesitation, Richard sat down and began absorbing the dense Aether he felt around him.
The Monster World—it seemed this place was specifically designed if one chose training-related rewards.
Though it looked like he was confined, Richard didn't care much.
He thought, What bad could possibly happen? He might be new to the capital, but his supporter was none other than the princess herself.
What he didn't know, however, was the commotion his actions had stirred in the capital.
---
Far away in Apple Town, Rebecca was sitting in the city lord's residence, furrowing her brows again and again as she remained alone in the best guest chamber.
It was already late at night. Yet her letter to her head maid, Mrs. Wilson, had still not received a reply.
Not even a single letter had come back. How then could any troops be dispatched to aid her?
She wondered if something had happened to Mrs. Wilson by chance—something that prevented her from replying.
But what could possibly happen? Even across the entire kingdom, no one should dare lay a hand on her people, much less someone of the status of her chief maid.
"What?"
A moment later, Rebecca's eyes widened in shock as she walked to the window, gazing toward a certain direction.
Whoosh!
She vanished.
The next instant, she appeared high in the sky.
Before her stood a man in his fifties, hair partially turned white.
"Father, what are you doing here?" Rebecca asked, brows furrowed.
Though she did not drop her usual air of indifference, her tone was at least soft when addressing this man—Leonardo Moonshadow.
The latter's expression was serious as he replied, "Rebecca, you must return and lift the lockdown on Apple Town."
Hearing this from her father, Rebecca couldn't help but grow more confused.
"Why?" she asked again.
"The point is, you must not hunt that boy. If you do, you'll cause trouble you cannot handle."
Leonardo knew himself well. He could not stop his daughter by ordinary means, much less force her with strength.
He could only speak vaguely like this.
"What do you mean?"
"I cannot tell you the details, but you must stop."
Leonardo's expression grew even more serious, hoping Rebecca would believe him.
Though her talent was indeed outstanding, she was still lacking in background.
He was aware—if she acted too recklessly, she might bring ruin upon herself.
"Hahaha, your father is right, young lady. You'd best leave now."
Suddenly, a voice reverberated from afar, buzzing so that even the air trembled uncontrollably.
From the voice alone, there was a pressure that made both Leonardo and Rebecca's expressions turn grave.
They looked toward the direction of the voice but found no one.
They could not detect the figure who had spoken.
Leonardo had not expected that what he had spoken vaguely about would suddenly manifest into reality.
'Who?' he wondered inwardly.
Richard was his grandson. From Mrs. Wilson, he knew Richard indeed had an unexpected master, but he had thought that master was only around his own level.
After all, there was no existence that powerful within this kingdom.
Yet the threat he felt from this hidden figure was immense.
Rebecca's expression soured, feeling threatened as an aura locked onto her.
Of course, she was the type who despised being threatened, and the only reason she could be threatened was because her accumulation was still not enough to stand among the top.
She was still too young.
"Rebecca, let's go!" Leonardo had no desire to entangle with this figure. He only wanted to leave quickly—and that was indeed his original intention.
He even had to grab his daughter's hand and drag her into flight.
Perhaps the young woman would feel humiliated if she had to move on her own, so it had to be done this way.
Whoosh!
They vanished swiftly as Leonardo flew at his utmost speed.
---
Far away in a forest, Aldric gazed at the two of them with a faint smile.
Even as they left, his eyes could still see them as though they were right before him.
"Back then, I had just given birth to a child. Who would have thought my grandson would now appear the same age as me," he said softly.
"But if those two are considered among the strongest of the clan, then it means my clan has truly declined drastically. It seems even the Royal Family shares the same fate."
---
Meanwhile, Richard was still engrossed in cultivation.
He could absorb the Aether provided by the Monster World through the Star Wheel much faster, yet it still took time—since he was absorbing as much as 1500 Aether.
It took him nearly three hours.
[Aether: 7583/10,000
[Aether Accumulation: 12,583
This time, the amount he absorbed was exact, unlike when he was with Lilith.
Perhaps this chamber locked down every trace of Aether, so not a single wisp could escape.
DING!
(Your mastery over the Codex of Moonshadow has increased from 20% to 33%!)
Codex of Moonshadow (33%)
A notification suddenly appeared the moment he finished absorbing the Aether.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC91: Rank 5
Chapter 91: Rank 5
(Do you wish to fight a Tier 12 Beast?)
Richard suddenly received a question, and before him appeared several Tier 12 Beast manifestations.
After gaining 1500 additional Aether, he was naturally in a state ready for battle.
He nodded in response and chose a golden gorilla as his opponent.
Immediately after, he was transported by an invisible force.
This time, he appeared atop a massive tree branch, and on another branch stood a golden-furred gorilla about six meters tall, staring at him ferociously.
Although its height didn't seem excessive, its body was packed with overly massive muscles.
No one knew Richard had entered this space.
People outside were still waiting for him to appear, expecting to see if he would continue his challenge.
Since they didn't know, no one thought of displaying the golden gorilla's chamber on the screen.
Everyone assumed he was still in the training space after receiving rewards related to cultivation.
Only when the top ranking list suddenly updated did they realize.
(Rank 1, Rebecca Moonshadow, Tier 14!)
(Rank 2, Lilith Holystar, Tier 14!)
(Rank 3, Enzo Holystar, Tier 13!)
(Rank 4, William Anderson, Tier 13!)
(Rank 5, Richard, Tier 12!)
His name appeared, replacing Luca's.
Although both had defeated a Tier 12 Beast, Richard was clearly considered younger, so his rank was placed above Luca's.
"Richard, who is this?" People were confused at the sudden appearance of a name they did not recognize.
"Quick, check the Tier 12 portals," one of them said.
There were only about seven Tier 12 portals, and they were almost always empty.
Naturally, it didn't take long for Richard's presence to be discovered—standing beside the corpse of a golden gorilla, its neck severed.
"He killed a Tier 12 Beast."
That sight left everyone in awe.
Richard had no difficulty slaying the golden gorilla with the help of his Mind Attack.
When struck by the Mind Attack, the beast even struggled to leap.
Richard assaulted it with repeated waves, injuring its internal organs before severing its neck.
This battle, in fact, felt even easier for him.
Then, he was presented with another reward list, and once again he chose Aether.
This time, however, the reward was only 1100 Tier 3 Aether, lower than before, but that was because the previous total had been an accumulation from Tier 7 to 11.
He absorbed the 1100 Aether, training once more.
As a result, he drew even closer to advancing.
[Aether: 8683/10,000
[Aether Accumulation: 13,683
Now, he only needed 1317 more Aether.
He didn't even need to rely on rewards—he could reach it simply by training on his own.
And for the moment, he decided to stop.
He had missed out on many extraordinary rewards because of his impatience, always choosing Aether rather than waiting a few days. Now, he decided to change his plan: train on his own until his Aether was nearly at maximum. A mere thousand more wouldn't take long, especially here in the capital.
After that, he could return and directly challenge Tier 15, 16, or even 17 portals.
Whether he could succeed—that was something only time would tell.
When he chose to stop, he was transported out, appearing directly beside Sister Lisa.
The stares around him—awed, astonished, incredulous—were exactly what he had anticipated, so he was not surprised in the least.
He had practically become famous, at least within the capital.
"Young man, may I know where you come from? Did you study somewhere in particular?"
Someone suddenly approached Richard—a man in his thirties, clad in a black hooded robe. He seemed to be from some special organization, though his robe bore no insignia.
Richard hadn't expected someone to immediately inquire about his background.
As he was still considering whether to answer, Sister Lisa suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Let's go," she said.
Richard was slightly surprised, but naturally followed.
"Sister, who was that man?" he asked once they reached the door.
For Sister Lisa to be wary, that man was likely not good news.
"He's from the Dark Star Legion," Sister Lisa replied.
"Dark Star Legion? What is that?" Richard had never heard of it before.
Yet this was the Holy Star Kingdom—just the thought of a legion naming itself with the words Dark Star sounded almost deviant.
"As you know, this royal family once had two Great Ancestors. The first was the founder, and the second was someone who also competed for the World Magic Aether, though he failed. The Dark Star Legion was founded by the Second Great Ancestor," Sister Lisa explained.
"Then what's wrong with them?" Richard was somewhat confused.
"They're an official force, so of course we can't say they're problematic. But they are known for being extremely harsh in their training. And they're connected to the Order of the Crimson Veil, because the Second Great Ancestor himself joined that Order."
"Order of the Crimson Veil." Richard narrowed his eyes at those words.
He had heard of it before when Olivia taught him about the world.
It was a Magus organization not far from the Holy Star Kingdom, with a long and ancient history—older even than the Dragon Knights, certainly older than the kingdom itself.
It was said they ruled over a region—small, yet extraordinary—where everything there possessed magical power of its own.
One could say they were among the strongest factions in the Land of Human.
Most strikingly, in history, three people from the Order of the Crimson Veil had succeeded in obtaining the World Magic Aether, leaving them with immeasurable inheritances.
"They surely want to recruit you, considering your talent, but you should refuse. I heard from Lilith that they usually train their young members by forcing them to fight each other to the death," Sister Lisa added.
"That's so terrifying." Richard hadn't expected it to be like that.
After leaving the Monster World, they immediately headed to another district.
Richard suggested to Sister Lisa that they rent a luxurious inn that only accepted payment in Nature Spirits.
He had too many Nature Spirits, and of course, he didn't want to stay in an ordinary place.
Even when Sister Lisa tried to find a cheaper option among such inns, Richard chose one where a single room cost 200 Nature Spirits per night.
Naturally, the facilities matched the price. Its security was to the point that there was no need to worry about attacks or intruders. Each room even had formations that aided in cultivation.
Since Richard wanted to train seriously, he naturally needed such a room.
Upon entering the chamber, its luxury amazed him, and the bed was so soft that he ultimately chose to sleep first.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC92: One More Step
Chapter 92: One More Step
For the sake of one more full day of training, sleep was a necessity for Richard to ensure his condition was truly at its best.
Only after a satisfying rest did he begin his practice, entering the Dragon Hall directly from his room without bothering to eat or bathe first.
He had planned to train without pause, perhaps until the next morning.
By his estimation, that would be enough to push his Aether to nearly its maximum.
Naturally, training in the capital—in an inn with extraordinary magical formations, inside the Dragon Hall—his ability to absorb Aether increased dramatically.
That night, in the middle of his training, Richard received a notification from the System.
(Your mastery of the Codex of Endless Flame has increased from 16% to 29%!)
Codex of Endless Flame (29%)
And when morning came, Richard—who had trained relentlessly through the night—finally ended his cultivation with a wide smile he could not suppress.
[Aether: 9998/10,000
[Aether Accumulation: 14,998
He only needed two more before advancing. He could practically advance whenever he wished. After all, he still had his Aether Bottle filled with stored energy.
Whoosh!
He exited the Dragon Hall, returning to his room where he sat upon the bed.
His mind was still immersed in the sensation of power within his body. At the very least, he felt his strength had increased by a full Tier.
Defeating a Tier 13 Beast—he was confident he could do it now without even relying on Mind Attack.
As for Tier 14, he might still need Mind Attack if he wanted quick results.
'But if I advance, I'll truly become much stronger. For an ordinary Magus, advancing usually means an increase of five Tiers at once—and for someone like me, it would be even greater,' he thought.
It sounded like a lot, but the truth was that Magi in the Realm of Life Aether could reach Tier 25 in strength, sometimes even higher for extraordinary talents.
Reaching Tier 20 wasn't considered all that impressive, since from Tier 21 onward, every increase was said to be monumental.
'Basically, even Rebecca and Lilith are no longer my opponents, since they're stuck at Tier 14.'
Richard was deeply satisfied with his progress.
Even without Mind Attack, he was certain he had already reached their level—thanks to his many elemental affinities, each over 90%, combined with his mastery of three High-Class Codices for his current Realm.
Richard relaxed in his room for quite some time and eventually fell asleep again, drowsiness overtaking him.
But he woke at midday, heading straight to the bath for a cold shower.
Even the water used for bathing in this inn came from a particular mountain spring, granting a powerful refreshing sensation.
For the day, Richard chose to wear a robe—a slightly luxurious one of pure white.
It was enough to give him an elegant and scholarly appearance.
After tidying his hair, he finally stepped out of his room and into the third-floor corridor.
At the far end of the hall, there was a balcony for leisure, with a servant stationed nearby ready to serve food and drink to guests.
Richard went there after spotting Sister Lisa sitting by the balcony.
As soon as she saw him, Sister Lisa immediately gestured for him to come, while Richard could feel the curious gazes of others already seated there.
"You know, you've become very famous now. Everyone's looking for you, and many nobles are sending invitations," Sister Lisa said, her voice trembling slightly.
Richard showed no surprise upon hearing that. He only smiled and sat down.
Then, he waved at the servant waiting by the door.
"Bring me a cold, refreshing drink," he said.
The servant immediately nodded and left to fetch what he wanted.
Sister Lisa froze a little at his calm demeanor.
"Why do you seem so indifferent?" she asked.
"How should I look, Sister? Should I dance in the streets out of joy?" Richard replied, causing a few listeners nearby to laugh while Lisa grew slightly awkward.
Not long after, the servant returned, carrying not only the drink Richard requested but also snacks—fried potatoes and roasted corn.
Naturally, Richard, who hadn't eaten for more than a day, accepted the snacks. He ate leisurely, though he wasn't too hungry, having already suppressed his hunger by absorbing energy from Nature Spirits.
His gaze swept over the city below.
From that balcony, the view was clear, as the inn itself stood at one of the city's highest points.
Whoosh!
He released a soft wave of perception, observing the distance, curious about who had been watching him. After all, he had sensed many eyes on him.
Perhaps they meant no harm, but it still made him uncomfortable.
To his surprise, the same man from yesterday—the one who had spoken to him in the Monster World—was also spying on him, watching from another room through the blackened glass of a closed window.
'This is the risk of becoming famous,' Richard thought with a wry smile. Even if he felt uneasy, there was nothing he could say about it.
He pretended not to care, continuing to enjoy his snacks.
"Ohh..."
His eyes couldn't help but be drawn when he spotted two familiar figures—Gray and Laura—arriving with ten large carriages, each drawn by sturdy, powerful horses.
To his surprise, they too chose this very inn.
'So, the lockdown on Apple Town has been lifted,' Richard thought.
If Rebecca still had Apple Town under lockdown, he knew they wouldn't have been able to leave.
'But... Gray seems to have grown stronger.'
Richard's perception was sharper now. Compared to the last time he saw Gray, he could sense some sort of transformation in the man—a transformation that had boosted his power even further.
The difference was clear to him, though he couldn't pinpoint what had caused it.
A large increase of Aether seemed unlikely, since Gray couldn't absorb Aether nearly as fast as him, and sources that allowed such massive growth in so short a time were extremely rare.
Whether Gray or Laura, neither noticed Richard's presence.
They were far too occupied with the acquaintances who had been waiting for them in the capital.
"Richard, do you have a plan?" Sister Lisa asked.
Richard nodded in response.
"I'm going back to the Monster World," he said.
"What?" Sister Lisa looked startled.
"I didn't finish last time, and now I'll fight with everything I've got. Do you think I can't surpass Lilith, who defeated Tier 14?" Richard replied with absolute confidence.
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