Jon had heard a few ideas from both Schwarz Eis and Ashvattha Rana, nodding as the two-summons pointed out quite the number of gaps in his combat style. Jon had reserved a handful of empty slots for the integration of certain fragments that he had been suggested, such as a Fragment Of Contract and a Fragment Of Transcendence.

Jon still planned on leaving the following morning to go north and explore the areas around the enormous lake Wilheim had found several days back. With that in mind, Jon felt torn between integrating a powerful offensive fragment or one that might find greater use outside of the battlefield.

"I would suggest a Fragment Of Eradication, all things considered," said Ashvattha Rana, causing Jon to peer at her with a strange expression on his face, "The connotations aside, the Fragment Of Eradication alongside the Fragment Of Annihilation almost guarantee powerful mana-intensive abilities capable of releasing a single incredible burst of damage. It would round out your lack of powerful finishing abilities."

Schwarz Eis nodded, albeit suggested another fragment as a potential answer.

"If you are serious about continuing to fight alone, then you will definitely need both a Fragment Of Abundance and some sort of Fragment Of Armour. The former often increases the maximum amount of mana someone can store, while the latter speaks for itself, summoning a piece of armour the same way your Fragment Of Spear summons Assail," said the winter demon spirit.

Both were excellent opinions, ones that Jon did not expect from them.

Although Schwarz Eis had pointed out certain inadequacies regarding his build and combat style, all three fragments that they had suggested this time focused on other areas where he could still develop himself.

Jon made a new mental list based on the information both Ashvattha Rana and Schwarz Eis had given him. Although his previous list of top ten fragments were based of just the names and the conceptual weight behind each of them, this one was based off the information and knowledge that his two summoned companions had given him.

'Fragment Of Superbia.'

'Fragment Of Avatar.'

'Fragment Of Space.'

'Fragment Of Displacement.'

'Fragment Of Armour.'

'Fragment Of Annihilation.'

'Fragment Of Abundance.'

'Fragment Of Eradication.'

'Fragment Of Resurrection.'

'Fragment Of Transcendence.'

These ten fragments were ones that Jon would not hesitate to integrate if he received the chance to obtain them. Although some possessed connotations similar to other Fragments, such as the Fragment Of Annihilation and the Fragment Of Eradication, Jon thought about it for a moment before thinking about integrating the both of them.

Considering how Ashvattha Rana explained the nature of both fragments, one was more suitable towards striking a single enemy with an enormous amount of spiritual energy, the other was more focused on producing an incredible explosive effect, capable of targeting multiple enemies at once.

It was actually this reason, and the fact that Schwarz Eis had pointed out his distinct lack of "crowd-control" that Jon leaned towards the Fragment Of Annihilation. It seemed to fit his Ice Mana Core quite well and although Jon wanted the Fragment Of Abundance for his War Mana Core, decided against doing so for the time being.

He still had to expend spiritual energy in order to manipulate the shape of his five Mana Cores. After that, Jon still had to experiment to see how it was possible to absorb the ambient spiritual energy into said Mana Cores.

Hopefully that would lead him towards the completion of his third mandatory task.

"I think I know what I am going to choose," said Jon, selecting his task reward.

Schwarz Eis and Ashvattha Rana turned towards Jon, both of them noticing the dark green coloured gemstone in his hands, emanating a destructive and powerful spiritual energy. Although it felt remarkably like the Fragment Of Destruction, the spiritual energy it released was perhaps even more potent.

After careful consideration, Jon used the final task reward he had received from the completion of the first mandatory task and exchanged it for a Fragment Of Annihilation. The bodhi tree nodding its branches in affirmation, while the winter demon spirit raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting. I'm guessing that this will fill the final empty slot within your Ice Mana Core," Schwarz Eis guessed, watching as Jon nodded in return.

"The Fragment Of Annihilation should produce an ability with tremendous area-of-effect damage. Combining it with the debilitating effects of ice and cold, then it should also inflict some sort of damaging affliction to those that somehow manage to survive the initial blas," voiced Jon.

The bodhi tree and the winter demon spirit agreed with his thoughts and watched as the human integrated the Fragment Of Annihilation into his Ice Mana Core. The entire process took no longer than a minute to be completed.

[Fragment Of Annihilation] [Frozen End Art; Envelop Seas And Mountains In Ice And Snow] (Ice, Annihilation, Spell, Technique, Ability, Curse, Debuff)

Effect (Mortal): Chant, gathering chaotic ice natured spiritual energy within the palm of one's hand. After accumulating a certain amount of ice natured spiritual energy, release it shooting forth towards your target. Upon impact, envelop everything within a defined radius of the point of impact in a frozen explosion of piercing-ice and chilling-snow.

Enemies struck with [Frozen End Art; Envelop Seas And Mountains In Ice And Snow] are inflicted with an instance of [Frozen End Curse] and [Glacial Revelation].

[Frozen End Curse]: Inflicts a continuous ice-natured damage over time effect. Ice natured spiritual energy clings to the mind and spirit, gradually freezing them over time. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

[Glacial Revelation]: Disrupts active abilities with the Spell Trait and Technique Trait. This effect cannot be resisted.

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Jon read the effect description out loud before smiling, lifting one of his hands above his head and reciting the chant for [Frozen End Art; Envelop Seas And Mountains In Ice And Snow].

Not even half a minute later, the earth beneath his feet shook as this section of the riverbank exploded. Shards of piercing ice burst forth from the point of impact, enveloping countless pieces of deadwood and leaves in a frozen blue prison of ice. Clumps of snow exploded outwards, dousing everything within thirty metres of Jon in a layer of freezing white snow.

Jon noticed himself become afflicted with [Frozen End Curse] and [Glacial Revelation] swiftly watching as his Archetype Green transferred the affliction onto itself, its lifeforce gradually being eroded through the continuous damage the [Frozen End Curse] inflicted.

Turning towards Schwarz Eis and Ashvattha Rana, Jon could see that the former had manifested a physical ice shield in front of itself and the bodhi tree, staring at their summoner with an obviously displeased expression on her face.

Jon could only scratch the back of his head and apologize towards his two summons, swiftly noticing just how much mana a single usage of [Frozen End Art; Envelop Seas And Mountains In Ice And Snow] required. His mouth dropped, seeing the lustre of his Ice Mana Core fade, drained of most of its spiritual energy.

One single cast used half.

Half of his total ice natured spiritual energy.

That was after his Seir-Glacial Heart increased the maximum amount of mana his Ice Mana Core could contain.

Jon could merely turn around, seeing the absolute carnage that his Fragment Of Annihilation wrought upon this minute portion of the small realm.

The eighteen-year-old just smiled, clenching his hand a couple of times, remembering the feeling of his ice natured spiritual energy in his palm. The swirling chaotic structure of this Spell was different to that of [Cometh Thy Red Horse Awaits] or [Thou Art The Monarch Of Spears And Truth].

And Jon… kind of liked it.

'I cannot wait to see what the Fragment Of Eradication can do,' Jon thought to himself with a grin.

Break

Shamael Of Lemnos was having quite the morning if he was being completely honest. For the first time in what felt like forever, the young blue-skinned satanas received a complete good night's sleep. Ever since he and his sister arrived within the System Introduction, the pair had taken turns watching over the other while they slept, reducing the amount of total time either of them had to rest.

Although Shamael felt somewhat out of place amongst all of these strange bipedal aliens, the one known as Wilheim Freytal-Isenburg seemed quite forthcoming in regard to communicating with him, attempting the learn Vaayli mere hours after meeting him.

Although the short-hazelnut skinned man was unable to grasp the entire language in just a single night, he had memorized certain phrases and words, speaking in an accent that reminded Shamael of his journey across the Maleficent Sea. While the other satanas also spoke Vaayli there, their local dialect was somewhat difficult to understand, forcing him to pay closer attention to the movements of Wilhiem's mouth.

"Good morning Shamael, how art thou today?" asked Wilheim, causing the young satanas to pause for a moment before smiling and nodding, removing himself from the strange "sleeping bag" that Jon had given him.

"Much better thank you. Although, where are the others?" Shamael responded, glancing around the riverbank and noticing that Avahni, Jon and Sariel were not present.

Wilheim pointed in the direction that he watched Sariel and Avahni walk off in muttering their names, before subsequently pointing downstream and muttering Jon's. Nothing else was needed to be said, and the blue-skinned satanas let out a small sigh of relief knowing that his sister was not with both Jon and Avahni.

Although Shamael did not think Wilheim or Avahni the kind to stab him while he was sleeping, he still felt somewhat wary around the one known as "Jon", knowing that the human had integrated a significant number of fragments.

Although it was primarily due to his [Perception Maledictum], granted to him through the Fragment Of Perception, Shamael could tell that there was something about both his gait and the way John carried himself that screamed dangerous to him.

[Fragment Of Perception] [Perception Maledictum] (Curse, Perception, Ability, Passive, Sensory, Perception)

Effect (Mortal): Dramatically increases the effectiveness of your visual acuity and the five senses. Moderately increases resistances towards curse-related damages, afflictions and debuffs. Slightly increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Curse Trait.

After watching Jon interact with the various summoned companions scattered about the campsite, Shamael wondered just how quickly the human managed to learn a foreign language. If he had learnt whatever language Ru Luan Di had taught him within sixteen days, in addition to both Nain and Pluntian from both Avahni and Wilheim, then Jon was not just strong, but also incredibly intelligent.

Wilheim prepared a few pieces of leftover meat for the two of them within the fire. There was a subtle tension in the air as Shamael watched Wilheim almost blankly observe the space in front of him, almost slapping himself for not realizing that he was looking at his status page.

Shamael did the same, opening his status page.

Name: Shamael Of Lemnos Age: 17 Rank: Mortal Tier: Second Initiation Title: N/A

Mana Core(s) [1]: Rot [Fragment Of Light] [Empty Rot Arts; Seven-Coloured Corruption] (Rot, Light, Spell, Debuff]

[Fragment Of Flora] [Ahuatzi; Mountain-Devouring Rafflesia] (Summon, Rot, Flora, Spell, Ability, Buff, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Marrow] [Ours Is The Blood That Rots The Flesh And Soul] (Rot, Marrow, Mutation, Ability, Enhancement, Passive)

[2]: Curse [Fragment Of Might] [Malignant Curse Arts; Withered Blood, Weakened Flesh] (Curse, Might, Spell, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Perception] [Perception Maledictum] (Curse, Perception, Ability, Passive, Sensory, Perception)

[Fragment Of Poison] [Malignant Curse Arts; Purple Haze, Violet Murder] (Curse, Poison, Spell, Debuff)

[3]:

[4]:

[5]:

[6]:

Shamael thought that his progression was quite good for someone just a couple of months into the System Introduction. Although Mana Cores were few and far apart within the small realm, the younger Lemnos sibling did wonder just how many Jon, Avahni and Wilheim had all managed to obtain.

It was difficult to judge the number of Mana Cores that Avahni had integrated, due to the fact that she possessed numerous different summoning abilities. His own [Ahuatzi; Mountain-Devouring Rafflesia] required another Fragment Of Flora in order to be summoned, so Shamael did wonder just how the lutin managed to obtain so many duplicates of certain fragments.

[Fragment Of Flora] [Ahuatzi; Mountain-Devouring Rafflesia] (Summon, Rot, Flora, Spell, Ability, Buff, Debuff)

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual to summon Ahuatzi; Mountain-Devouring Rafflesia. Ahuatzi is an immature imperial mountain rafflesia born from the mutative chaos within the Realm Of Silent Green. Ahuatzi dwells within the liver after being summoned.

Ahuatzi can expel incredible amounts of foul, rotting seeds into the environment around itself, manifesting short-lived infant rafflesia flowers. These short-lived rafflesia flowers grant allies a refreshing instance of [Rafflesia Blessing] and inflict enemies with a refreshing instance of [Corpse Flower Hunger].

[Rafflesia Blessing]: Increases mana regeneration.

[Corpse Flower Hunger]: Decreases mana regeneration.

Jon too possessed both that spectacular bodhi tree summon and that beautiful horned humanoid, so it was not as though abilities with the Summon Trait were actually rare.

Shamael almost did not notice Wilheim stand up and extend the pieces of leftover meat from the previous night to him. The blue-skinned satanas swiftly rose up to accept the gift before noticing a small rectangular-shaped fragment on top of the leaf-wrapped fish.

Shamael could not help but blink, lifting his head as he felt Wilheim pat him on the shoulder.

Pointing to himself and then Shamael, Wilheim muttered a single word in Vaayli, causing Shamael to go wide-eyed, feeling something stir within his chest.

"Friend."

The young satanas looked down at the Fragment Of Darkness in his hands, staring up at Wilheim, seeing the young-looking floresiensis smile at him before sitting down and enjoying his meal. Shamael did not eat for several moments, suppressing the urge to smile and the feeling of water gathering in his eyes.

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