Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 95: Book 2: Chapter 12: Gains

Read chapter 95 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 2: Chapter 12: Gains Book 2: Chapter 12: Gains The camp was quiet now. Empty tents dotted the ground, cold firepits smoldered, and Alex looked around at it all, his mind already worrying about everyone despite the fact they might not have even left the Dungeon’s preparation room yet. The soft hush of wind threaded through the grass and nipped at Alex’s skin. It was far too quiet for Alex. There was no clamor of drills and no panicked yelping from Tom-Tom. No off-key singing from Garret. No philosophical mutterings from Peter. Just dead space. Alex felt like an elderly parent whose kids had run off to college. There wasn’t much he could get done just standing around doing nothing. Alex had possibly a whole week to wait for the rest of them to get through the dungeon. That was seven days to practice his skills, work on the [Demon Asura Style], spellwork, and cultivate as much as possible. Everyone will be much stronger after the dungeon. I can’t just be sitting around waiting, twiddling my thumbs. With a long sigh he sat cross-legged on the flat stone slab in the training area behind the chieftain’s longhouse, his shirt discarded. His palms were open on his knees, fingers twitching slightly as he guided the ambient aether around him, slow spirals pulled in by will alone. The [Three-Fold Condensing Spiral] spun around his body like a storm funneling inward. Aether flowed in from the trees, the soil, the faint stars above, all was siphoned, condensed, compacted, layered into muscle and bone, and spirit. His body tingled with pressure. His breath steamed in the air, though the night wasn’t cold enough for it. “ Are you going to try for the [Nine-Fold Condensing Spiral] this time? ” Obby’s tone was short and clipped. The stone had started talking to him again, but Alex could tell that the sentient rock was not happy about it. He was still being a petulant child throwing his tantrum, just far more passive than aggressive. I don’t think so. Nine braids are just too much. Even with my higher willpower, I just don’t think I can manage it. That wasn’t a lack of self-esteem talking, this time, Alex was being honest with himself. To say that learning how to create and handle three aether braids was taxing, was like saying kobold trap crafting technique were ‘unrefined’. It was technically a true statement, but it didn’t grasp the true depth of the idea. Nine wont be happening for a while yet. “ Fine, play it safe and easy. Meat sacks don’t ever wanna risk it for true power. All that peak tier energy, doesn’t even try to take it.” Obby slunk a little deeper into the recesses of his soulspace. It was almost cute, if it wasn’t so damn annoying. There’s other things to do. Just ignore him. He thought to himself. After he had gotten into a rhythm with his gathering technique, he went into his bracelet and pulled out the other two gifts he had gotten from Sylvaris. The scroll containing magic theory, and the tea the elf said would help his cultivation. Both of these items he had been saving, as he knew that he wasn’t ready for them before. Looking at the items with his aether sight showed a level of energy concentration that was just beyond him. Had the kobolds been smart enough to to break open his storage bracelet, or force him to empty it, they most certainly would have taken those items first. As an Adept Tier entity, Alex felt the aether inside them as much as he saw it with his ability. The potent concentration of aether matched what he felt in the Kobold Chieftain. It was thicker than Alex’s own, like comparing dense fog to a light mist. Given that fact, he knew it would be useful in his cultivation in the same way the Essence Fragments were. It would accelerate his aether gathering, maybe even boost his body attunement. He just wasn’t sure by how much. Those essence fragments are seriously good. I kind of regret not buying more for myself now. Obby once again butted in to correct him. “That would have been a waste. Essence fragments