NOVEL WEB Chapter 306: Beat Up Lumi?!
[Yes, Master, today was certainly eventful. You really caught everyone off guard with your revelations. Hehe, Grandpa Eldric and Grandma Selene's faces were quite priceless!]
Orion chuckled softly, his eyes flickering open briefly. "Indeed. Though, to be honest, their reactions were far more supportive and understanding than I'd anticipated. It felt incredibly relieving to finally share everything openly."
[That's true! And your friends took your Draconian identity shockingly well, too. Though…] Lumi's voice trailed off slightly, her tone playful yet filled with genuine curiosity.
[Master, I didn't expect that Nyss would be walking two paths like Fiora—practicing both Mana and Body cultivation.]
Orion nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting upward towards the ornate ceiling, as he murmured in agreement. 'Yes, that was truly unexpected. I thought Rina and Fiora would be the only ones doing that for quite a while, especially among my friends. Her determination and ambition are far beyond what I initially imagined.'
Lumi chimed in cheerfully, clearly impressed as she said, [Even more unexpected was the weapon of her choice! Honestly, I was expecting her to pick something… more delicate?]
Orion chuckled softly, recalling the surprising moment when Nyss had revealed her choice. 'Yeah, her chosen weapon certainly suits her though, even if I wasn't expecting it. Still, knowing Nyss, perhaps we shouldn't have been so surprised.'
Lumi giggled mischievously, her tone brimming with curiosity, [True! It's as if she's intentionally trying to shock us. Perhaps she's secretly enjoying our reactions?]
'Perhaps,' Orion laughed quietly, his smile widening at the amusing thought. But his expression soon turned contemplative again, and he gently redirected the conversation.
'Anyway, Lumi, today's draws were quite exciting. But in all honesty, we still didn't manage to find a direct solution to repair my damaged Sea of Consciousness, did we?'
[No… we didn't manage to find anything like that. (⋟﹏⋞)]
Orion exhaled a long breath, 'Haa… what to do, what to do?'
Lumi's virtual eyes instantly sparkled brightly, excitement radiating from her as she eagerly asked, [More draws, Master?! Are you finally becoming a dedicated gacha enthusiast again?! (≧▽≦)]
Orion's lips immediately twitched with faint amusement and mild exasperation as he firmly shook his head, resisting her playful temptations. 'Nah, no point, Lumi. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes I made back when I used to play those gacha games. Gambling uncontrollably is the quickest path to ruin. Especially now when I have use for SP.'
[Aww…] Lumi's virtual expression shifted instantly into a disappointed pout, her glowing eyes filled with exaggerated sadness.
Orion gently shook his head at her dramatics, softly laughing under his breath. He sighed and continued thoughtfully, 'Rather than risking it all on more draws, is there anything in today's draws that could help me significantly increase my strength quickly?'
Lumi nodded emphatically, her virtual eyes gleaming mischievously as she quickly replied, [Yes! Of course there is, Master—the Solar Fox Empress's Undergarments! You should try them on immediately!]
Orion's forehead instantly creased with black lines, his eyebrow twitching in annoyance as he dryly retorted, "Lil Lumi… be serious, or I swear I'll give you a good beating once I find a way to physically interact with you."
Lumi's laughter rang cheerfully in his mind, completely unafraid.
[Hehe, good thing I don't have a physical body then! You made that same threat before, Master, remember?]
Orion sighed helplessly, recalling indeed having had the same conversation before. 'Right, I suppose empty threats won't work on you anymore. Now, seriously, Lumi. Anything useful at all?'
Recognizing his serious tone, Lumi immediately quieted down, her virtual expression shifting to thoughtful contemplation. She carefully scanned through the extensive list of new treasures, her voice becoming more analytical and serious.
[Hmm… Master, given your current condition, I see two primary paths of immediate improvement. The first is to fuse the Wood Elf Bloodline using the Physique Reconstruction Liquid. It has immense potential but also carries unknown risks we haven't thoroughly assessed. And the second path is, of course, learning another elemental affinity using the Grimoires we obtained today.]
Orion released a quiet sigh, acknowledging Lumi's careful analysis. His voice turned reflective as he murmured softly, 'Fusing with the Wood Elf Bloodline right now would indeed be too dangerous, especially given the instability in my Sea of Consciousness. I can't afford unknown variables at this stage. And as for learning additional elements…'
He paused briefly, his expression slightly conflicted as he continued quietly, 'While it would definitely enhance my versatility and tactical options, simply learning another element won't drastically increase my raw power or directly fix my current spiritual injuries. Versatility alone isn't enough—I need tangible growth.'
Lumi fell into thoughtful silence for a moment before gently replying, [That's true, Master. Your fundamental issue right now is stabilizing and strengthening your foundation—your Sea of Consciousness. Unfortunately, none of the draws directly addressed that.]
Orion nodded slowly, accepting her honest assessment without resentment. His voice was quiet, tinged with mild frustration, 'Indeed, it seems that no matter how amazing the draws are, luck alone can't solve everything. I suppose this means our next priority should be carefully investigating alternative methods to fix my Sea of Consciousness.'
Lumi immediately agreed, determination returning to her cheerful voice. [Yes, Master! We can always search for alternative methods. I'm certain we'll find a solution soon!]
A comforting silence enveloped the room, allowing Orion a moment of quiet reflection. After a short pause, he smiled warmly and said, 'Thanks, Lumi, it's reassuring to have you all the time.'
Lumi giggled softly, her voice filled with warmth and affection.
[Hehe, I'm always here for you, Master. You can always count on me!]
The gentle, calming rhythm of their conversation gradually lulled Orion toward the edge of sleep.
His breathing deepened, his muscles relaxing fully against the soft embrace of the mattress. Before long, he quietly drifted off into restful slumber, leaving the serene room filled only with the tranquil stillness of the night.
***
Days passed quickly and quietly, filled with steady, productive routines. Each morning brought renewed vigor as Orion and his clubmates diligently continued their training in the mansion's extensive training grounds.
The Limitless Ascension Field became a daily fixture, dramatically enhancing everyone's rate of improvement and allowing them to rapidly close any gaps in their skills.
The group trained rigorously beneath the watchful gaze of Lucan and Edgar, both occasionally offering valuable pointers or sparring matches.
Arya, Emilia, Elias, Felira, Kale, and Nyss grew steadily stronger with every passing day, their camaraderie strengthening as their shared dedication deepened their bonds.
Midway through the week, Sylvia unexpectedly joined the group's training, bringing a surge of excitement and fresh energy.
Her arrival revealed astonishing progress. Her body cultivation had reached the peak of the Sixth Level, leaving her just a hair's width away from entering the Seventh Level.
Her powerful aura and composed confidence impressed everyone, sparking renewed motivation among the group.
"You're amazing, Sylvia," Orion warmly praised during their first spar after her arrival, his voice genuine and appreciative as they stood breathing heavily after an intense bout. "Your progress has been astonishingly fast. You really left every one of us in the dust with that improvement speed."
Sylvia chuckled softly, a graceful smile tugging at her lips as she replied modestly, "I still have a long way to go before I can firmly surpass you. You can fight against me on equal grounds despite being a whole level lower than me."
Her gaze drifted down towards his hand to see him dual wielding the swords. "And you learned dual wielding during the time I was gone as well, huh."
Orion smiled and didn't bother to reply as they continued sparring. He also inched closer and closer to utilizing two sword auras at once on both swords.
As the days continued, Orion occasionally attempted more gacha draws, hoping to stumble upon something that could repair or strengthen his unstable Sea of Consciousness.
Yet despite his best efforts, nothing significant emerged from these attempts. Each draw yielded treasures of value, yet none held the miraculous cure or stabilizing effect Orion truly sought.
Though slightly disappointed, Orion understood the futility of relying solely on luck. Instead, he directed his focus back to practical methods of strengthening himself and his friends.