Binding System

'System, tell me about the magic power ranking?'

Ace wanted to know about the magic power ranking because he was also a mage, so it was important to him.

[Host, magic tiers are divided into 10 Levels. From the lowest to highest, they are Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, Tier 5, Tier 6, Tier 7, Tier 8, Tier 9, and the strongest, Tier 10.]

The system also informed him that Tier 1 and Tier 2 were not combat magics but magics to assist in daily life, such as sweeping floors, watering plants, or something like that.

'So, combat magic starts from Tier 3, huh?'

Actually, he was surprised to learn that Tier 1 and Tier 2 were not combat magics because he thought all magics were combat magic.

'What about the Knights and Archers?'

[If mages use magic, then Knights and Archers use a skill.]

'Skill?'

He was even more certain that everything was like a game in his previous life.

[Yes. Unlike magic which has ten levels of power, a skill only has five levels. From the lowest to highest, they are common rank, uncommon rank, rare rank, unique rank, and myth rank.]

'Hmm? Why do skill only have five levels of power?'

Previously, he thought skill would also be divided into ten power levels like magic, but he was wrong.

The system said people who awakened the Knight and Archer classes could use multiple skills at the same time, while mages could only use one magic at a time.

[In other words, it's to balance everything.]

Mages attacked their enemies from afar, and they also had powerful magic. Among the three classes, magicians had the most destructive power.

And to counter that, knights and archers could use many skills at the same time.

However, they needed a strong body to support it because skill consumed stamina and caused mental strain or physical fatigue.

'I see.'

He finally understood everything.

'Hmm?'

Ace realized something when he was checking his stats.

He had one empty binding-partner slot!

'I totally forgot about this!'

He turned his head to look at Scarlett.

'System, how long is the estimated binding time if I bind Scarlett now?'

He still had not unlocked his Archer class, and Scarlett was an archer, so she was a perfect candidate.

[Ding! Estimated binding time is one day and three hours.]

Ace was stunned.

His level was higher than hers, so he thought the binding time would not take that long.

'Ah, right. Her talent is grade B.'

He remembered that the binding time depended on the target's talent and level.

Even though his level was higher than hers, but his talent was lower because his talent was grade F.

[Do you still want to bind her, Host?]

'Of course. Bind her now!'

He wanted to unlock his archer class immediately, so he told his system to bind Scarlett right away.

[Ding! Binding is in progress.]

'Good! I will ask Scarlett to teach me archer skills after getting out of this damn Death Valley.'

Not long after that, he decided to sleep.

The following morning, Ace chatted with Scarlett after waking up.

"Scarlett, there are two types of ground outside this cave; broken ground and cracked ground." Ace started to tell her about the situation outside the cave.

"Did you scout this area yesterday?" she was shocked after hearing his explanation.

"Yes." He gave an honest answer. "I used my Ice Clone magic to do it. I have marked all safe areas, so we you don't need to worry about that."

"You are amazing, Ace!" she praised him. "Looks like you really changed after coming out of the Framingburns forest with Evelyn. You're also smarter now."

Ace did not know whether he should be happy or not.

"Then let's get out of this place right now." after saying that, Scarlett rose to her feet.

"Are you sure you have fully recovered?" he was still worried about her condition because she was heavily injured yesterday.

"I have fully recovered now." she responded, "You may not believe it, but my body recovers fast."

Ace did not believe her words and stared at her.

She grabbed his right hand and pulled him up. "Let's leave this place immediately. I want to go back home and sleep in my soft bed."

Both Ace and Scarlett were currently standing at the cave entrance.

Scarlett, who was standing on his right side, uttered, "Do you mea-"

Before she had finished her words, Ace did something shocking.

He carried her!

He carried her in a princess style!

"Kya!" she let out a cute voice when he suddenly carried her in a princess style. "Why are you carrying me?"

Of course, she did not hate it; instead, she loved it. She was only taken aback by his actions earlier.

"Because I don't want my lover to be hurt by the red lightning." after saying that, Ace jumped onto the cracked ground.

*Shui…Shui…Shui…

He jumped from one cracked ground to another.

Scarlett's lips curled up into a smile. "Who is your lover? Have you forgotten that I'm your sugar mama?"

Even though she said something like that, but her heart throbbed with happiness after hearing his remarks.

The corner of his lips twitched.

'It seems like I have to punish her again later.'

He could not punish her immediately because he was carrying her.

"Hehe." Scarlett giggled when she saw his expression.

'Sometimes, he is so cute.'

She said in her mind.

After jumping about twenty-five times, they finally no longer saw the magic circle above them.

"We are safe now!" Ace did not pull her down and kept walking.

"Ace, are you going to keep carrying me?" she inquired.

Ace stopped his footsteps and lowered his head to look at her.

'Maybe I should put her down now.'

Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck when he was about to put her down.

"No! Don't put me down." She uttered, "I want you to keep carrying me, Ace."

The corner of his lips twitched.

'Women oh women! It's hard to understand them.'

Previously, she behaved as if she asked him to put her down, but she told him to keep carrying her when he wanted to do that.

He suddenly wished he could borrow his grandfather's brain because his grandpa was good at understanding women.

When she saw his expression, she giggled and made an excuse. "Ace, my body is still weak, so you have to spoil me. I'm your sugar mama, so this is your job."

"Your wish is my command, Your Highness." He behaved as if he was talking to royalty.

"Good! I love your answer." Scarlett smiled in satisfaction after hearing his remarks.

The duo began to talk again. Even though they were in a dangerous place, but they behaved as if they were on vacation.

"Hehe." Both of them laughed happily.

As they were chatting happily, something unexpected happened.

They were trapped inside the huge barrier!

'Barrier?'

Ace and Scarlett did not panic because they knew Death Valley was a dangerous place where anything could happen to them.

He instantly put her down and skimmed his surroundings.

"I will try destroying this barrier." After saying that, she took her bow and arrows from her space ring.

Deadly Shot!

She used Deadly Shot skill.

Her shot was ten times stronger than a normal shoot.

However, it took her ten seconds to shoot her arrow because she needed to use her intense focus to shoot the arrow.

Not only that, but she also needed to use the energy of heaven and earth in his arrow.

She used the energy of heaven and earth in her awakening points and channeled it into her arrow.

Every awakener had the energy of heaven and earth in their awakening points. The higher their levels, the more the energy of heaven and earth in their awakening points.

Ace looked at Scarlett without saying a single word.

*Crack…

A crack appeared on the barrier.

'The barrier is cracking!'

Scarlett thought she could break the barrier after shooting arrows a few times, but she was wrong.

She was utterly wrong because the cracks disappeared, and the barrier returned to its previous state as if she had never attacked the barrier.

'Hmm?'

Ace touched his chin when he saw the crack lines on the barrier disappear.

"Ice Clone." Ace decided to use his magic.

Five ice clones appeared on his right side. His clones nodded their heads before finally attacking the barrier.

Like before, Ace did not attack the barrier and only paid attention to his clones and the barrier.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

All of his clones attacked the barrier continuously.

[Several divine beings want to know how you will solve this problem.]

[A Goddess, who holds a spear and shield, stares at you.]

[A divine being who is good at strategizing looks at you.]

[Five new divine beings say, interesting.]

After being attacked by his ice clones, the barrier returned to its original state.

'Hmm?'

Ace noticed something after paying attention to his clones and the barrier carefully.

Scarlett stopped attacking the barrier and walked toward him. "Ace, I can't destroy this barrier. Do you have a way to destroy this barrier?"

She had used all of her skills to attack the barrier, but her efforts were in vain.

She failed to destroy the barrier!

Ace looked at Scarlett before returning his attention to his clones and the barrier.

'I see.'

Instead of answering her question, Ace asked, "Scarlett, did you notice it?"

Scarlett tilted her head to the left. "I don't get your words. Can you explain it to me?"

"I think I know how to destroy this barrier." He gave an honest answer.