Cultivation Through Artifacts

After accepting Alde's offer to do the Group Mission together, Khal followed him onto Moon Mountain while listening to his 'amazing' stories in silence.

However, Khal didn't let his tales influence him nor make him drop his guard down as he knew clearly that was exactly what Alde wanted; make him feel comfortable around him and when he expected the least, attack him from the dark.

He was no fool to be tricked by something like that obviously, thus that is why he pretended to listen intently whilst remaining sharp, ready for the unexpected at any given moment.

As he knew, Crystal Bats inhabited the caves of Moon Mountain, but in contrast to other creatures, they never emerged during the night. They were active Beasts 24/7 both day and night, but with the sole exception that they were never leaving their caves, thus Cultivators had to go and find them instead.

"Before I accepted this mission, I looked into Crystal Bats' weaknesses into greater depth and they are surprisingly an easy type of creatures to kill." after reaching the foot of the mountain and starting their ascension, Alde started to say.

"Crystal Bats are Beasts on the Fourth Cultivation Stage yet a single sword strike can kill them as their body was made out of fragile crystals. However, exactly because of this, they liked to be in groups that can easily reach the hundreds if not thousands, hence they are quite a tricky type of species to deal with."

Khal listened to Alde's speech intently, while made sure to survey his surroundings without rest. He even signaled Rubie to watch their backs as he could easily imagine Alde hiring an assassin that ambushed them from the dark.

Alde naturally noticed this but decided not to say anything about it. If he chose to ask Khal not to do what he was doing, his plan could easily go awry and he could even become suspicious.

But how bad for him, he didn't know that he already became suspicious and even seen right through his act.

After walking for about one and half an hour straight without meeting any Beast as it was still daytime, Alde glanced at the cave's entrance and said, "We arrived. This will be the one."

Khal inspected the entrance, but except for the small yellow crystals that illuminated the interior, he saw nothing out of ordinary; the cave seemed to be just like any other, a normal, wide, and dark cave filled with mystery that waited to be discovered for others.

"Let's go." Alde didn't think for a second more and summoned a longsword into his grasp before walking inside.

Khal glanced behind him for one last time and only after scanning no one was around did he follow Alde into the cave with his Devil Fangs already readied in his hand.

"This is way bigger than I have first thought," exclaimed Khal with awe as he noticed that once inside, the cave became three times bigger than it seemed to be from the outside.

The walls were rigid, filled with yellow stones that looked more like pebbles than crystals, while a gentle breeze continuously flew in from behind them from the exit.

"In the first few miles we won't meet any Crystal Bats, but after that, we will see a ton, so get ready," said Alde quietly bit clearly, while his eyes pried for any kind of movement in the distance.

Khal did the same, but not in the hope to see Beasts, but to find any hint about traps or enemies.

With steady steps and serious gazes, the two walked in the maze-like interior in silence and soon Alde stopped, signaling for Khal to look into the distance.

"Crystal Bats, about a hundred of them," whispered Alde as he stared at the Beasts that hanged upside down from the cave's ceiling.

Each of them was as big as a human child, with bodies made out of orangish material that was similar to crystals.

As for their facial features, Khal couldn't see them as each of their wings covered them.

"We should attack at the same time. Like that, killing 50 will be a piece of cake or maybe we can kill all of them."

Khal heard this and nodded while the fan in his hand began to slowly glow with silver light.

Alde noticed this and smiled, thus he raised his sword too while white light began to envelop his blade in the same manner as Khal's.

"Whenever you are ready," said Alde calmly.

"Let's do it," nodded Khal, and once Alde swung his weapon only then did he followed suit.

Swish!

Two crescent arcs, one silver, and one white appeared in the air, and with speed similar to teleportation both appeared in the middle of the hord, exploding with a loud 'BAM' sound!

TREMBLE!

"SQUEAAK!!!" 

Several Crystal Bats turned into debris and Beast Essence, but at the same time, several others woke up and rushed at them with bared fangs!

"Hmph!" Alde only snorted upon seeing this and waved his weapon once again, this time sending not one, but several crescent arcs toward the creatures at the same time!

Khal didn't hold back either and began to swing his fan from side to side, while avoiding and slicing up all the creatures that were able to get through both of their assaults.

However, the whole process didn't last more than 2 minutes as both Alde's and Khal's attacks were way too overwhelming!

In a flash, all the hundred of Crustal Bats were reduced to nothingness, while their body gradually turned into Beast Essence ready to be consumed and become the part of either the two.

"This wasn't a challenge at all. It couldn't even be called as a warm-up." sneered Alde as he finished off the last Crystal Bat.

Khal only nodded upon that statement as for the first time he had to agree. Even though these Beasts were on the Fourth Stage, he was able to kill each of them with relative ease, even without his either of his Talents.

Even Rubie killed a few with her Third Cultivation Stage which further indicated just how weak these Beasts truly were!

After looking around to make sure no one was left alive, Alde turned toward Khal and smiled, "Now as I have promised, all these Essences are yours!"

Khal shifted his gaze at Alde, and after pondering for a while shook his head, "No, I would feel bad if I do consume all of them all by myself."

"But-"

"I insist, so I hope you can at least consume half of it," said Khal, his eyes showing firmness.

Alde remained silent as he didn't what to say, thus only could nod and start consuming Essence.

Khal seeing this formed an unnoticed smile on his face and proceeded on consuming the Beast Essences together with Rubie too while also looking out for unwanted dangers.

Sometime later, both of them consumed their final Essence, while Khal felt as his power fell back to 212 units because the last time now reached 473 thanks to the average of 11 Beast Essence he was able to consume.

"What do you think, do you want to go deeper?" asked Alde once he opened his eyes and finished consuming his Essence, starting at Khal who was on his side.

"We completed the Mission right?" 

"Yeah." nodded Alde and even showed his badge to show it.

/Group Mission: Slay 50 Crystal Bats/

• Slayed Crystal Bat: 50/50

~Requirements~

- At least 2 Cultivators on or above the Fourth Cultivation Stage: 2/2+

~Rewards~

- Healing Potion (Each Cultivator Receives 1 piece)

Khal glanced at it and nodded, then asked, "And what do you want to hunt? Are there other creatures in here?"

When Alde heard this a mysterious smile appeared on his face and began to walk away, going even deeper into the caves.

"You will see it, come."

Khal raised a brow but as he was curious he followed Alde, his weapon still tightly held in his hand.

The two walked deeper and deeper into the caves, and if Khal was right, right now, they were about 10 miles below the surface, even lower than Moon Mountain's foot.

After walking for 2 hours straight and killing the Crystal Bats that came in their way, making Khal's power grow once again, reaching 659 units, Alde stopped and pointed forward.

"Down there, an Alpha resides." 

"Eh?" Khal was surprised to hear this and looked at the huge hole before him that was so big and deep that its bottom couldn't be seen from the dense darkness.

It was so dark down there that it could even be called a bottomless pit akin to an abyss!

"And Alpha? What type of Beast? Is it also a Crystal Bat?" asked Khal as he was curious because if an Alpha was killed one could acquire a Beast Core!

However, to his surprise, Alde shook his head and smiled, "It's not a Crystal Bat but something way scarier and hazardous than that."

"A Blood Centipede!"