Under normal circumstances, one day wouldn’t seem that long to be training, especially when most high-leveled individuals trained nonstop to perfect whatever techniques they wished to create.

However, Kieran’s circumstances were far from normal.

For starters, his environment was unparalleled in terms of creating a suitable environment to train in, with the surrounding green and blue lights creating a serene atmosphere.

Moreover, when they came in contact with his body, Kieran found that he felt rejuvenated, as if the fatigue was forcibly drained away from his body.

Considering that these lights were powerful enough to allow Gaea’s spiritual manifestation, it wasn’t odd that they could remove Kieran’s fatigue, allowing him to train far more efficiently than normal.

In addition to these lights, Nameless also modified the Archaic Verity Compendium to release energy that helped maintain his focus.

With all these abilities assisting him in his training, Kieran’s progress through his unabated practice became somewhat shocking.

‘This strange sensation…’ Kieran inwardly muttered, his expression overcome by marvel.

As Kieran continued to strengthen the link between Blood Mania’s Source Rune and his blood, which was similar to putting a patient’s blood through a dialysis machine, Kieran felt a growing connection to every facet of his body that his vitality touched.

Eventually, a significant change transpired.

As if a detonation had occurred within his body, a bloody typhoon erupted from Kieran’s position the moment he completed the link between his Blood Mania Source Rune and his refined blood.

Before he engaged in this training, however, Kieran made sure to familiarize himself with the effects of his Refined Blood passive to better understand how it would affect all of the skills in his arsenal.

「 Refined Blood (Lv.1)

Skill Rank: SS

Skill Type: Enhanced Passive

Mastered (100%)

Description: Due to the purified blood that runs through the user’s veins, their vitality is now stronger than their typical State of Being. This passive increases the degree of the user’s vitality by one. (Effect is applicable until the user completes their Awakening.)

-Grants a 100% Health modifier.

-Increases natural regeneration rate by one degree. (Limited to Health.)

-Improves vitality and stamina consumption by one degree. 」

Following the eruption of this dense blood energy, Kieran discovered that the burden of moving his blood had lessened greatly.

Though it was nowhere near comparable to his former level of manipulation, Kieran was more than satisfied.

Thanks to the changes that occurred, this smaller amount of impressionable vitality maintained a greater value to him. ‘How incredible. This takes the belief that the body is an organic machine to an entirely different level!’

Since Gaea had given him the freedom to practice as he saw fit, Kieran didn’t hold back. As soon as he could activate Blood Mania, he did so.

But, when he created the Vampiric Blood Encrustation, Kieran noticed that none of Argexes’ Blood comprised the skill.

‘Oh? What do we have here?’ Kieran thought, his gaze flashing with deep intrigue.

This outcome was beyond his expectations. Although the blood was partially sealed, the connection between Blood Mania and Argexes’ Blood was somewhat impossible to sever.

As he continued to practice with Blood Mania, particularly creating and dismantling his Vampiric Blood Encrustation, the formation period continued to lessen.

“So this is part of the power that lurks within your body. It’s quite powerful given its origins, but it’s not something that you’ve mastered. I can see you still struggle to make it yours,” Gaea commented.

Since there was nothing else to do, Gaea chose to watch Kieran and attempt to understand his power and destiny in greater detail.

However, she struggled with the latter.

As it stood, Kieran’s inexplicable abilities were hidden beneath layers of obstructions that Gaea simply could not penetrate.

Despite his possession of an Aspect, Gaea couldn’t specify its existence, meaning Gaea couldn’t see it germinating in his soul.

Then again, the fact that she failed to glean any concrete about Kieran fortified Gaea’s belief that he could become the greatest presence in Xenith.

After all, even in her weakened state, Gaea’s existence existed at the epitome of Xenith’s power structure.

Roughly two hours later, after Kieran finished testing his limits with Blood Mania, noting how long the skill could remain active before his control of his vitality slipped, Kieran canceled Blood Mania and withdrew all of his vitality.

“You’ve made remarkable progress in such a short period. I suspect you’ll continue to make great strides, but I get the impression that you wish to leave this place,” Gaea voiced.

“You’re not wrong. Although it’s somewhat foolish of me to abandon this heavenly training space, I don’t have much time on my hands. There are things I must accomplish,” Kieran answered.

It was clear from his conflicted and remorseful expression that he truly wished to stay here and benefit from the unmatched exuberance the current setting produced.

Unfortunately, he needed to obtain the remaining piece of the quest.

Additionally, he also needed to check on Agatha’s progress to see if she was ready to leave the elves.

“This is all understandable. However, may I ask why you’re in such a rush? Pardon my lacking awareness of Xenith’s transgressions,” Gaea said.

“You’re asking me for a pardon? I’m not worthy. Though, I must find something known as the Heart of Nature. Aside from that, I must prepare to conquer the War Deity Council’s challenge,” Kieran answered.

Since Gaea had been so generous, he had no intention to hide the truth from her. Not after learning the ranking that Quintessential Aether was given—a genuine Divine Item!

Not even the spark in his soul was a genuine Divine Item. In fact, Kieran began to question if this ranking could even be found within Xenith in the first place.

If it could, then what did that mean? As far as he understood, there were no celestial presences inside Xenith… well, no living ones, that is.

Gaea could be considered a celestial presence, but due to her circumstances, she was confined to the Almighty Tree of Provenance. The moment she left this tree, her quintessence would leak at a rate that almost guaranteed her death.

“Heart of Nature, is it? If that’s something that you require, then you may visit Vitalia in the Great House of Viviscosa. She’ll handle your needs as per my request,” Gaea said.

After considering it, Gaea felt that she shouldn’t let history get in the way of her race’s future, thus she also left Kieran with another set of instructions.

“You should also alert the War Deity Council of the threat that I’ve sensed through the Ring of Undying Quintessence. I have been silent since I arrived in this world, but the weakening is upon us. Too much time has passed.”

Ding!

〈System: You have received the Objective Quest: «Grim Prophecy».〉

The quest was quite special. Surprisingly, it didn’t appear as a separate quest. Instead, it appeared as one of the objectives of the Calamity Quest that he was given.

Thus, while the Objective Quest appeared in his Quest Log, he couldn’t access anything aside from that single objective for the time being.

‘Warn and convince the War Deity Council? Doesn’t that mean they’ll doubt my words in the beginning? If that’s the case… it’s not something I need to bring up immediately,’ Kieran thought.

Wasting his breath trying to convince the War Deity Council to listen to his warnings was not something Kieran intended to do.

At most, he would only speak with them once.

Since that was the case, Kieran decided the best time to bring this matter up was when his authority within the organization had reached an all-time high.

Of course, he could request Scar’s assistance, but the higher-ups merely tolerated his presence. After all, they weren’t exactly fond of his presence. Not after all the hiccups he caused in his youth.

Nevertheless, since Kieran had voiced his desire to leave, Gaea didn’t keep him within her Atavistic Dwellings.

Soon, she waved her hand and created a growing platform that brought him toward the ceiling.

But as he learned earlier, the ceiling was strange. As long as Gaea permitted the entry and exit of an individual, they wouldn’t be obstructed by the defenses she placed in her dwellings.

…

Soon enough, Kieran arrived back on the surface.

Whereas Vitalia had left to perform her duties, Ayduin waited patiently within this special area inside the Sacred Temple of Al’khira.

When he noticed that Kieran had returned, Ayduin opened his eyes.

Shock but also conflict appeared in Ayduin’s eyes as he gazed at the young human before him. “You have succeeded… Congratulations are in order. You’re the first human to partake in the glory of Gaea’s quintessence.”

“Thank you, Great Sage,” Kieran replied.

“Please, refer to me as Ayduin. That is my given name, after all. The Great Sage is simply what my people have grown to call me thanks to my methods of nurturing our descendants,” Ayduin responded, modestly waving his hand.

Ayduin was single-handedly responsible for turning several Sacred Leaves into Emplenans thanks to his ingenious training methods, deepening their connection with their “blessing.”

“Very well. I’ll refer to you as Ayduin,” Kieran conceded.

Ayduin motioned for Kieran to follow before clasping his arms. “Follow along. First, you should meet with the queen, and then you may convene with your guide.”

“Oh? My guide? She has completed her duties already?”

“We were shocked as well. It appears that, in the years that we haven’t seen her, her skill has grown immensely,” Ayduin replied.

Afterward, he led Kieran through the Sacred Temple of Al’khira until they came across a colossal tree manor.

Although Kieran was inexperienced with the native elven language, the first Supreme Cipher of Eni worked wonders in helping him decode the markings across the manor’s front gates.

Once he created it and peered through it, Kieran read the words: “Great Viviscosa Manor.”

Upon entering this place, Kieran laid eyes upon many Lowborn and Noblebloods that tended to the manor’s upkeep.

They greeted Ayduin respectfully, but nervously avoided Kieran by his side, who paid this behavior no mind.

Eventually, Ayduin brought Kieran to the queen’s parlor.

Inside that parlor, Kieran watched as Vitalia doted upon a faintly familiar face, combing her fingers through the young girl’s hair.

“Mother… must you coddle me like this all the time?” the gentle voice complained. But during her complaints, she soon turned her head and felt deeper embarrassment.