At first, Malik didn't know what else to say to them; he simply agreed. Arguing wouldn't be necessary and would be a waste of ti for both of them. So, like a lucid person, he just went along with what those two demons were planning, even if it ant the end of one or two cities. He had nothing to do with it.
"[Mission is updating]," Strax read the ssage, but at first, he didn't understand. After all, he hadn't done anything, he was just talking. So, he ignored it.
"I think it's best if we go," said Samira, pulling both n out of their thoughtful state. In truth, she wanted to get out of there before Malik had a heart attack; he was already too old to deal with youth. Although Samira wasn't that young herself.
"Yes, you're right," Stax nodded as he looked around. "Old man," he comnted, and Malik looked at him. Samira was still nearby and felt a sudden shift. Malik rose from his chair and looked directly at Strax.
Strax looked at Malik seriously; his eyes shimred slightly as he spoke: "Samira is an amazing person, Malik. Since I t her, she has changed my life in so many ways. I can't imagine my life without her from now on." As he said this, Malik arched his eyebrows while Samira slightly recoiled.
Strax ignored them both and nodded in gratitude. "Malik, I'm willing to take on these responsibilities. Samira ans everything to , and I'll do whatever it takes to protect her and make her happy."
Strax already knew that Samira's father would never approve of him, which is why he's speaking this way to Malik. Despite doing what he wants, he still knows how to value those who might be of great help in the future or who have helped a lot in the past, and Malik fits both aspects. Since Samira considers him a father figure, he will consider him even more.
Malik smiled, looking more at ease now, even after hearing all the absurd things Strax had said. "Well then, I wish you both all the best, Strax. And may you make this scared little girl happy." Strax smiled back, feeling grateful for Malik's understanding and support. "Thank you, Malik. It ans a lot to to hear that from you."
Samira watched the scene; the embarrassnt had passed, but it was as if she felt sothing different, sothing even more binding with Strax. She felt that the best thing she did in her life was to accept that contract to escort a noble idiot. With a handshake, the two n bid farewell and returned to the task of preparing the horses for the journey.
Samira returned quietly, but finally broke the silence as she approached him and held his hand. "That was reassuring," she comnted with a sweet smile. Strax just nodded and continued walking, holding her hand tightly.
"Are we ready to go?" Jason asked, the three horses already well stocked with supplies like water and food. He had prepared almost everything.
"Why isn't my horse ready?" Strax questioned, and Jason said, "I'm still too young to die." Strax looked puzzled, but he grabbed the saddle and placed it on Apocalypse's back; the mare neighed slightly in refusal, but he stroked her fur and quickly cald her down. "You're a good girl, it's okay," he soothed her and looked at Jason. "Simple, isn't it?"
"Tsk, you think I didn't try? She only likes you," Jason said, and Strax laughed. "Well, usually won only like , isn't that right, my love?" he said with a mischievous smile, addressing Samira, who just huffed and ignored him.
"Tsk, I hate living," Jason thought. He really couldn't stand seeing this lovey-dovey couple anymore. Well, Strax in love, since Samira barely showed any affection; she just got embarrassed.
As they finally got ready, Strax and his companions set off for the Duchy again. Although... well, Strax was starting to get paranoid about what his sister wanted with him. He learned that apparently, she's even more brutal than he thought, and Samira was afraid of her. This was sothing he really considered.
The road was really quiet; nothing had bothered them for the last two hours. But now they were traveling a rather narrow path within a forest. The landscape was truly beautiful, but as they advanced, the dense vegetation of the forest closed in around them.
"Are we going the right way?" Jason asked Samira, who was theoretically the leader of the group at the mont. "Yes, we should be able to reach the next town around 4 p.m.," she said. Since they had left early, there was still plenty of daylight left, even though they were currently isolated in a forest.
After this brief conversation, they continued in silence as Strax mounted Apocalypse; he began to think about his strength.
"Fire Manipulation..." Strax thought, reading the ssage from the System, which appeared in front of him again. The ssage was again about the Copy Love ability (SSS); he was unsure about sothing. "Could this affect Glacial Ice Manipulation?" he wondered. "Fire and Ice are supposed to be opposites and can cause conflicts... Damn, it's damn complicated to think about this.
I don't want to affect my developnt and delay my progress. This damn system already prevents from advancing quickly," he thought. Fortunately, in front of him, there was an older, more experienced woman...
"Samira," Strax called out. Samira turned to face him, imdiately sensing that sothing was bothering him; his expression said it all. She simply asked him, "What's troubling you?" Strax hesitated to speak. After all, he wasn't sure if he could discuss system-related matters, even superficially, but he gathered his courage and said, "I'm thinking about sothing...
If a person has two opposite abilities, could that cause any issues with their developnt?" He questioned. Samira didn't fully understand, but he explained: "For example, if I were to end up with an ice ability and a fire one..."
Samira listened attentively, wondering why Strax would ask such a thing. However, she had knowledge about the subject, so she didn't mind discussing it with him, knowing that he would eventually tell the reason behind his question. "Opposing techniques are quite common, but if you have affinity for both elents, there's no issue at all. It's even possible to find a way to harmonize these abilities.
My sister, Stela, can use fire and lightning and has created a technique that involves a dance of fire and lightning," she explained. Strax pondered for a few seconds, while Samira continued to ride calmly ahead of him, returning her gaze to the path as she saw he was lost in thought.
Strax tried to analyze all the information he had about himself, but one thing was clear: his physique.
"Demonic Dragon... Dragons are known for their enormous affinity with magic and all elents, and being demonic, that would lean towards the negative side, but... What if a Demonic Dragon is an advanced version of a Dragon?" He wondered. But he was sure about one thing: a dragon was sothing that manipulated all elents, so... Why couldn't he do sothing like that?
"[Do you wish to use the Copy Love ability (SSS) to copy Samira Blaze's ability - Fire Manipulation (5*)? Yes or No?]"
"I hope I won't regret this," Strax thought as he agreed with the System and again...
"[You have used the Copy Love Ability. You have forfeited the right to copy any future abilities from your companion Samira Blaze. Fire Manipulation (5*) has been implanted into your body.]"
[Fire Manipulation: Allows the user to Create and Manipulate Fire. However, the user cannot manipulate fire created from other mana sources, other than nature itself.]
Strax felt sothing warm entering his body, at the sa ti as he felt sothing cold colliding. "Mana," he thought. When he acquired Glacial Ice Manipulation, he felt the sa sensation, and the cold air was more noticeable in his perception. Now, however, the warm light was what he felt, as if his world was more perceptive...
"This... doesn't seem like it's completing the ice ability, does it?" He questioned, as he began to pass mana throughout his body to try to verify if anything had been damaged. However, he felt nothing. It was as if... "Everything is in perfect harmony.
"[You have gained knowledge about your physique. As a Dragon, your strength over nature is supre. You mold nature as your ruler; your bond with nature has grown stronger.]"
He read. Then, another ssage appeared in front of him.
"[You have initiated the ACT - (???)]"
[Acquire all abilities from the "Manipulation" scale to fully evolve the Demonic Dragon physique.]
[Manipulation Abilities Obtained: 2 of (???)]
[Completion Ti: Indeterminate.]
Strax looked at that notification, and a smile spread across his face. After all... "Affinity with all elents," he murmured. That was the best thing he could obtain now, after all... "Infinite Strength Scaling. If I can obtain all manipulation abilities...
Astral Manipulation, Spatial Manipulation, Temporal Manipulation... Obtaining this practically makes a God..."
The System aligned with what he wanted... To be the Strongest.
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