In the training field, Tyler was giving his analysis of the fight to Dante, something that had become routine after training. He detailed what he had found good and bad in the young man's development.
"Come on, kid. In these past four months, your use of the lava element has improved a lot, as has your hand-to-hand combat. If it weren't for our level differences, I would have lost.
Your idea of using the Spiritual Magma Armor was good, but you could have applied it better. I'd say, if you're going to use it in battle, stick to intermediate level.
As for your trump card, it's really strong, probably equivalent to a full move from someone at level 1, seven stars."
"So far, it's perfect, but you still lack experience in real combat and fights to the death. When you reach a higher level, I strongly recommend that you go hunting again. I know you enjoy it, and it's very valuable.
It strengthens your dedication, shapes your mind in extreme confrontations, enhances your senses, and makes your cultivation advance in big steps."
Dante listened in silence, unsurprised. Everyone had already come to this conclusion, but he was postponing the inevitable. He thought about the promise he made to Viviane: he didn't want to break it, but stepping out of comfort and taking risks was a natural part of cultivation.
Tyler noticed his hesitation:
"Kid, I don't like interfering in your relationship with my daughter, but I think Viviane will understand. And you don't need to risk yourself in big hunts. Do daily hunts, form a small team, and focus on improving your skills.
If Viviane insists, tell her she can join you as a high-level mage. As long as no level 2 appears, you'll be fine."
Dante was thoughtful. Taking Viviane hunting wasn't smart, especially from his point of view. Naturally, he would worry about her, even though she was stronger. Yet, it seemed the only way she would accept it.
"I'll talk to her," he said, preparing to leave. The combat was over, and he was late to go learn artifact refinement with the fifth elder.
"Until later, master," Dante saluted. Tyler only waved and vanished in smoke.
Dante quickly moved and arrived at a large building in the center of the village. Upon entering, he felt the intense heat: this was the village's forge, where all the artifact refiners gathered. Dante headed to a small room in the back and saw a man in front of a furnace.
The man stood 2.12 meters tall, the tallest in the village. Aside from the leaders and Dante, he was the only other combatant, an elder almost at level 2. This was the fifth elder, Brask, with a strong body and reddish hair and beard.
Brask had been born with great affinity for fire; the ancestor Wufeng Hai had assessed him with a pseudo fire spiritual body.
Coming from an unusual village lineage — all refiners — Brask was not an isolated case. A refiner since age 10, he was the best in the village. Upon starting cultivation, he was granted special permission to become a combatant.
He had everything to be the next village leader, but only if another talented person wasn't found. Refining artifacts was his passion. Cultivating this love, he became a second-level artifact refiner. The high council wished for him to reach level 2, to serve as a great elder during Dante's leadership.
"Greetings, elder," Dante said, observing from afar to avoid disturbing him. Brask seemed focused and only nodded.
Dante had been training with Brask for four months, already elevating his skills to the peak of low-level 1. In a few months, he was expected to become a mid-grade refiner.
It was with Brask that he invented the Spiritual Lava Armor. Seeing a Thunder Armor, Dante suggested creating a lava version, taking advantage of the explosive nature of lava. They spent a lot of time reviewing and improving it, with Brask leading the work. Now, even high-grade lava armors of level 1 could be made.
"Shhhh, shhhh, shhhhh." The sounds of flames roared, pulling Dante from his thoughts. Brask seemed to have reached a conclusion. Dante guessed it was a low-grade weapon. And he was right: a pendant flew from the furnace, hovering over Brask's hand.
"Tsk."
He huffed in dissatisfaction and called Dante:
"Test it, please."
Dante threw a simple punch toward the elder. Crack. A small barrier appeared around Brask, stopping the blow, but as soon as the pendant defended, it shattered into pieces.
"Completely useless," Brask complained.
"Why did it fail?" Dante asked, curious.
"Probably because it's still incomplete. This pendant is something I want to create for the war against the evil gods. The basic idea works, but I don't yet know how to apply it fully," he said, picking up the fragments to analyze.
He began taking notes.
"See, Dante. The structure of the pendant is correct, but when you attacked, the mana it can channel into the barrier was only a fraction. The materials are right, but the fusion process should have been different.
I couldn't harness all the generated mana, and the barrier's catalyst broke with even the slightest strike."
An unhappy expression appeared on Brask's face. As a specialist, he realized something and said:
"This pendant can only act as a second life. Regardless of strength, it can withstand only one attack. When the barrier appears, the catalyst breaks."
"It's useful, but limited. If done correctly, it can resist a full blow and then self-destruct. It probably serves to defend against fatal attacks."
A solemn expression crossed his face:
"This could change the course of the war, but it can only be used by the high council. This is an expensive prototype. If it works, its use will be restricted to elders and true level 2s — those who will decide the war."
Brask understood. Dante did too: cruel, but necessary.