Chapter 63: Moving Forward
Navin grunted and pulled Jaden, who was hanging at the end of his spear, with all of his strength. Jaden also used the wall to push upward, and a few moments later, he climbed the platform and collapsed while breathing heavily.
"That could have gone wrong..." he added sombrely before he sat up and began absorbing mana.
The others looked at him with frowns and questioning eyes, but none of them voiced their thoughts—for now. Jaden continued to refill his mana for minutes, having an affinity to all elementals made refilling mana take much longer, after all.
After he finished absorbing mana, he called out to the system, looking at the messages he hadn’t till now because of how things were.
’System.’
Just as he thought, a flood of messages bombarded him.
[You have slain an E-rank Mistwraith.]
[You have slain an E-rank Mistwraith.]
[You have slain an E-rank Mistwraith.]
[You have slain an E-rank Mistwraith.]
[You have slain an E-rank Mistwraith.]
[You have slain an E-rank Mistwraith.]
[You have slain an E-rank Mistwraith.]
[Congratulations! You have slain a D-rank Mistweaver.]
[Experience +60 (Kill.)]
————[System]————
Host: Jaden Cross
Job: The Shutter Summoner
Level: 10
Experience: 88/100
Mark: [Shadow]
Grimoire: Platinum (Bound – 0/7)
Skills:
• [Capture] – Seal targets into pictures using Slots (Film).
• [Picturebook] – Codex of Summons, Spells, and Arts.
• [Summon] – Manifest sealed creatures temporarily.
• [Binding Codex] – Synchronise growth with bound Grimoires.
Available Features:
• [Profile] – Status overview.
• [Epiphany Zone] – Training & comprehension mind space.
• [Picturebook] – Codex of Summons, Spells, Arts.
• [Quests] – Track active missions, objectives, and rewards.
Slots: 8
————[System]————
’Mistweaver huh... It didn’t call the harder ones with a different name either, so they were the same but different at the same time.’
Jaden concluded as he read the messages before him and dismissed the screens. He heaved a sigh before standing up as he got ready for the bombardment of questions. Much to his surprise, no one questioned him and continued to stare at him with frowns.
Navin was the first to step forward. He hugged Jaden as he spoke solemnly.
"I know you hide to not make us feel inferior... but we are not that petty, Jaden. We won’t feel inferior to your accomplishment."
’What is he talking about?’
Jaden thought as he hugged him back and gave an absent-minded nod to his words, even though he didn’t know what Navin had assumed the reason for his hiding his true strength, but it had worked out for him, since he wouldn’t have to answer their endless questions.
Navin stepped back, and Selina walked over to him. She looked into his eyes as she spoke with a faint smile.
"For me, all that matters is that you are safe and well, but..." she paused and pouted a little before continuing in a playfully angry tone, "you didn’t have to hide it from me."
Jaden also gave her a small smile before he responded solemnly.
"I am sorry for hiding it..."
She stepped back, and Arden walked over to him and hugged him.
"Thank you for helping me!"
Jaden chuckled and answered in a low voice.
"It was nothing."
Arden looked into his bright blue eyes with his yellow ones as they gleamed with admiration.
Jamie pulled him back and smirked.
"Were you even trying to hide it? It sure was easy to find out." A smug look appeared on his face as he said so.
Jaden gave him a wry smile before turning to the last of them—Shelly.
Shelly also looked at him but didn’t say anything; she simply gave him a small nod, to which he replied with a small nod of his own.
’Still nothing? ...Hah.’ He sighed inwardly at her lack of words.
Finally, his gaze landed on the enormous gateway before him. Light streamed from the other side, flooding the whole gateway.
He unsheathed his sword, and just as he did so, its blade turned into dust. He looked at the empty handle with a deadpan look before throwing it in the endless hole behind them.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue and grabbed his grimoire, which had been floating beside him until now.
Arden had both of his hands on his mouth, struggling to hold back laughter at what had just happened.
"Let’s go."
Jaden spoke as he stepped within the bright gateway. The others followed behind, and the platform began to shake and crumble.
Soon, no platform remained in the previous room—only its misty walls and an endless pit where the floor had been.
As they walked forward, the golden light started to turn blue and soon a bright hall came into their view.
Mist flowed through the vein like cracks across the walls and floor. Huge crystals, like frozen moonlight, jutted from the floor and at the centre stood a serene white altar. On top of the altar rested a sword, apparently carved from the same crystal.
From a wide hole in the roof, moonlight streamed onto the sword, making it glow like a white-blue sun that lit up the entire hall.
"Wow!" Arden exclaimed as he looked at the bright sword.
However, others were looking around to find any other path, but found none.
They also turned towards the sword; it didn’t take a genius to guess what they were supposed to do.
"Maybe I should go and get it," Jamie added with sparkling eyes.
Everyone turned towards him with a deadpan look, and Selina was the one to speak.
"It’s probably a relic... and likely highly ranked too. You do know we can’t use a high-ranked relic as an Initiate, can we?"
Jamie turned towards her with an annoyed look and argued.
"When the fuck did I say I’d use it now? I can keep it for now and use it later," A grin appeared on his face as he said so.
Navin pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head and suggested.
"I think... Jaden should take it; he is the strongest of all of us, and he doesn’t have one anymore."