Divine Beast Ascension

“The change won’t come overnight. You must apply these changes gradually and steadily, or you’ll stunt your affinity for death essence. Consider every step of the Mortal Championship as a learning experience. That way, by the time you reach the final round, the change will be complete.”

The change was also guaranteed thanks to the Toxic-shadow Clan. They had long made two versions of the Dark Abyss Technique, one with dark essence and one with death essence. Oli had already switched to the death essence version and could focus most of his attention on absorbing cores.

When that sun ended, Oli woke up in the darkness but felt no aversion or blindness whatsoever. His senses were already sharpening, so he stretched and took his time to eat some of the chasm’s homegrown food. Then, Oli looked up into the darkness. The time had come for him to exit all on his own.

He easily found where the stairwell began. With a smile on his face, Oli leaped up onto the rock wall. As his hands collided with the wall, the thin layer of essence around his fingers created divots where he could grip. This made it easy for Oli to rapidly climb and reach the first step. Oli hadn’t realized it until that moment, but he felt a tinge of disappointment as he started climbing the stairs. Despite it being a dingy, dark, murky place, Oli had grown and learned a lot while there. And he would never forget those lessons or the advancements he had made.

Creak...

Oli opened the door at the top of the giant staircase. Light immediately peeked out from the open door, welcoming Oli into Zelsh’s personal study.

.....

“So? How does it feel?” asked Zelsh, sitting on a nearby sofa.

Nodding, Oli sighed, “... Pretty good.”

“I’m glad. That means you accomplished what you had to,” agreed Zelsh. “Now, close that door. We’ve got to round up your fellow candidates for the trip to Avalanche City.”

“Okay...” Oli closed the door behind him and followed Zelsh to the room’s proper entryway. At the same time, the hidden passage resealed itself before they had crossed half the room. “So, I know some of them?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. But I’m certain they remember you better than you remember them,” jested Zelsh, holding the door open for Oli. They then entered the hallway as a proper master-student duo, amazing all the passing servants of the palace. “Even though you’ve been in secluded cultivation, you’ve still become a famous topic for rumors. That’s thanks in part to Kraz, and in part to the people you’ll see again today.”

“Hmm...” Oli kept quiet while trying to figure out who it could be.

Eventually, they reached the dorm area. Oli glanced at Tilgron’s and Vant’s doors but said nothing. Instead, Oli looked at the four doors with doormen at the side. Those doormen then bowed to Zelsh and Oli before knocking on their respective doors.

Right away, three of the four doors opened yet four figures walked out. There were four humans, and Oli already felt a wave of deja vu wash over him as he looked at them.

“Oliver!” One candidate rushed over, bowing quickly. “It’s really you!”

Blinking and squinting, a name came to Oli’s mind. “You’re... Trenk, right?”

“Yes! I’m glad you remembered,” laughed Trenk.

“Calm down, Trenk. Even if he forgot, can you blame him? We’ve only met once,” sighed Trantor, the older brother. “I’m Trantor Forell, in case you need a reminder.”

Oli bowed his head to the brothers, and to the women holding Trantor’s arm. “I wasn’t expecting to see so many familiar faces.”

“My name is Freele Forell, formerly Freele Whizek,” the woman reintroduced herself. “And, again, thank you for actually giving me a fight back then. Someone wasn’t man enough to do the same, even for his fiancee.”

“Who’s my fiancee? I only see my wife!”

As Trantor stole a kiss from Freele, the fourth human walked up and looked down the hallway. “So, Burttin’s not with you?”

“Sorry, he’s not. And... I’m sorry, what was your name?”

“Fulkar Libarn,” the man answered with a gentle smile. “I may not have fought you, but I’ll never forget the fight between you and Burttin. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to test myself against you this time.”

Turning to Zelsh, Oli asked, “Perhaps. I already feel lucky traveling and fighting alongside four friendly, familiar faces.”

“Oh, I’m not joining you in the qualifier,” Trantor spoke up. “So, Oliver, can I ask you to protect my wife when I’m unable?”

“You’re not going to ask your brother?” joked Trenk, nudging Trantor.

Shrugging a little, Oli replied, “Um, I wasn’t expecting that. But sure, if that’s alright with her...”

“If it’s Oliver, then I’ll accept,” answered Freele. “Only because he knows I can take care of myself.”

Despite her teasing tone, Freele stared longingly into Trantor’s eyes.

“Mind if I ask why you’re not joining us, Trantor?” Oli questioned, wanting to confirm an assumption.

Getting a nod from Zelsh, Trantor replied, “I’ll be joining you for the trip to Avalanche City, but I can’t join the Provincial Qualifier since I’m already a qualified candidate.”

“Oh! Then... That doesn’t make sense?!” Oli looked back at Zelsh, utterly perplexed.

“That’s right,” Zelsh confirmed. “He’ll be joining Kraz and Tilgron at the Prefecture Qualifier. So you’d better do everything you can to join them.”

“... And Vant?!”

“Oh! Master Vant is incredible!” Trenk exclaimed, “His swordsmanship is top-notch, and he can vanish without a trace!”

“Calm down, Little Bro.” Trantor rubbed his younger brother’s overexcited head.

Still confused, Oli had to ask, “Then how did he not qualify? And he’s not here?!”

“But he did qualify. You don’t know?” Fulkar chuckled and shrugged. “Vant’s a really big deal now that he’s found a better-suited master.”

Putting an end to Oli’s growing hysteria, Zelsh admitted, “You’ll see Vant after you reach the Mortal Championship’s final round.”