Grandfather's Gifts
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As Aaron's family gathered around the dinner table, there was a slight tension in the air. Lucy seemed slightly annoyed, eyeing Joshua as he ate his food in silence, trying to avoid eye contact. Aaron observed the exchange between his parents, but he wasn't too concerned about it escalating into something serious.
Lucy attempted to justify the late dinner, "Aaron, I'm sorry we're late. Your father had to go back to the company to sign a few documents, and it took longer than we anticipated." She served some food into Aaron's bowl and looked over at Joshua, who sighed helplessly.
"It was a lot of paperwork. I'm sorry, son," Joshua said.
Lucy rolled her eyes playfully, "Don't mind him, dear. Is there anything else you want?"
Aaron watched as his parents continued to bicker mildly, but it was more of a playful teasing than a serious argument. Despite the tension in the room, he found comfort in the familiar routine of his mother serving food and chatting with him and his father.
As the meal progressed, the atmosphere gradually relaxed, and the conversation turned to more lighthearted topics. Aaron was glad to be part of this moment, as he had missed these sorts of situations. He never had a good day after what happened in his past life and this thought only fueled his resolve.
After finishing his meal, Aaron excused himself and began to stand up, but his father's urgent voice stopped him in his tracks. "Wait, Aaron," Joshua interjected. "Your grandfather had hoped to see you, but an unforeseen emergency has arisen, and he won't be able to return for a week or two," he explained. "He was eager to speak with you, even over the phone, but it's unlikely we'll be able to reach him until he returns. In the meantime, he's sent you something."
Curious, Aaron asked, "What is it?"
Joshua replied with a smile, "The servants should have brought it up to your room. Go have a look."
"Thank you," Aaron said, returning the smile before heading off towards his room. As he began to walk away, however, his mother's hushed voice caught his attention. "What happened?" she whispered.
"It's those bastards again," his father muttered.
"F***ers!" Aaron's eyes widened, not because of the profanity, but because it was the first time he had heard his mother curse. As for the news, Aaron was not taken aback. "They're moving," he thought to himself.
***
Aaron let out a spontaneous yell of excitement as he entered his room to find piles of Spirit Crystals scattered all around. "God damn!" he exclaimed, feeling an intense rush of joy surge through him. He couldn't help but express his gratitude out loud, "Grandfather... I love you!" he shouted, still in disbelief at his newfound fortune. Looking over at the bed, he saw the sleek and impressive Nano Armor and the stunning sword that rested beside it, and he couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "I really love you, gramps!" he exclaimed.
Without hesitation, Aaron walked to the Spirit Crystals and 30 minutes later, all of it was gone.
[Race: Fane (Human Form)]
[Spirit Crystals: 500 (Unranked)] *New*
[Absorbed Spirit Crystals: 0]
[Cultivation: 5th Realm (Unranked)] [48/1 600]
[Cultivation Time: 1 Spirit Crystal per 1 Hours] [Upgrade (0/2 000)]
[Training Time] [Unlock (0/10 000)]
[Hunting Dimension: 16 Hour] [Upgrade (0/8 000)]
Aaron sat down with a smile on his face, feeling the excitement of the moment. "And the other 100 is for me to absorb personally," he said to himself as he began to cultivate. The energy from the Spirit Crystals coursed through his veins, one after the other, and before he knew it, two hours had passed. Aaron stood up and stretched, feeling the energy within him surging with renewed strength. "12 Crystals.. 88 left," he murmured, reminding himself of the progress he had made.
After washing up, Aaron reflected on the gifts his grandfather Hugo had sent him - 600 Unranked Crystals, a rank 4 Unranked Sword, and the coveted Nano Armor set, all of which were worth over 2 million. To most people, it would have been a fortune, but to the Connel family's head, it was nothing out of the ordinary. In addition, his grandfather had also provided him with a membership card to a prestigious Training Center, showing his support for Aaron's development.
***
Aaron lay on his bed, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves before entering the Hunting Dimension. However, his mind couldn't help but drift back to the memory of the green wolf. "I'm no match for it at all," he muttered to himself, recalling the overwhelming power of the wolf's transparent blade that had sliced him open. The memory was still fresh in his mind, and he knew that he needed to be cautious in his approach. "I should stay as a rabbit killer for now," he thought, acknowledging that he needed more time and practice to hone his skills before challenging more formidable foes.
…
Morning arrived all too quickly, and Aaron woke up in a cold sweat, haunted by memories of the green wolf. "That damn wolf again!" he muttered to himself, his face sweaty.
He could still feel the searing pain in his chest as the wolf's blade sliced through him, taking his life in an instant… Again!
[Race: Fane (Human Form)]
[Spirit Crystals: 493 (Unranked)]
[Absorbed Spirit Crystals: 0]
[Cultivation: 5th Realm (Unranked)] [48/1 600]
[Cultivation Time: 1 Spirit Crystal per 1 Hours] [Upgrade (0/2 000)]
[Training Time] [Unlock (0/10 000)]
[Hunting Dimension: 16 Hour] [Upgrade (0/8 000)]
Despite his frustration, Aaron couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement about a certain discovery. He had left the auto-cultivation option on, allowing the system to absorb Spirit Energy from the many crystals he had, even as he hunted in the Hunting Dimension. To his surprise, the Spirit Energy never stopped flowing, creating a perfect cycle that filled up the energy he used, ensuring he would never run out of it. "With enough Spirit Crystals, I will never run out of Spirit Energy...this is incredible!" he exclaimed, laughing in disbelief at his good fortune. Although the technique slowed down his cultivation, as he used up the Spirit Energy he was supposed to cultivate with, it was still a life-saving mechanism that he was grateful to have.
"Let's check out the Training Center today!" he said, rising from his bed with a smile. After dressing up, he informed his parents of his plans and left the house.
…
The black sports car that Aaron was driving zoomed along the streets, its loud engine catching the attention of many passers-by. Most of the cars on the road today used Spirit Energy as their source of fuel, as the old-fashioned petroleum-based fuel had long been eliminated due to its negative impact on the environment. Spirit Energy was not only more environmentally friendly, but also more cost-effective for consumers.
The pioneers who had returned from Genesis had not only brought back the methods of cultivation, but also many new technologies. Runes were just one of the many technological advances that had been developed by combining the technologies of Genesis and Earth. Spirit Energy technology was born as a result of this collaboration, and it quickly became the driving force behind many modern technologies. Cars, computers, and phones all shifted to using the newly-invented Spirit chips and batteries, which worked faster and lasted longer than their old-fashioned counterparts.
Half an hour later, Aaron parked his father's car outside the large, overbearing gates of the Training Center. The facility was an impressive structure, with modern glass walls that glinted in the sunlight and a sleek design that exuded power and sophistication. As he stepped out of the car, Aaron felt a thrill of anticipation coursing through his veins. He had heard much about the Training Center, and he was eager to explore its many offerings.
The entrance was manned by two muscular guards, dressed in black uniforms and sporting stern expressions. They scrutinized Aaron as he approached, eyeing him up and down before stepping aside to allow him entry.
The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with high ceilings and state-of-the-art equipment lining the walls. There were several rooms dedicated to different aspects of training, including martial arts, weapon mastery, and energy cultivation.
Aaron made his way to the front desk, where a friendly receptionist greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, sir. How can I assist you today?" she asked, her fingers dancing over the keyboard of her computer.
"I have a membership card," Aaron said, producing the card that his grandfather had given him.
The receptionist scanned the card and nodded. "Ah, yes. You're all set. What would you like to do today?"
"I'm interested in exploring the martial arts section," Aaron replied.
"Excellent choice," the receptionist said, handing him a map of the facility. "The martial arts section is located on the second floor, room 3. Enjoy your training!"
With a nod of thanks, Aaron made his way to the elevator and pressed the button for the second floor. As the doors slid shut, he felt a sense of excitement building within him.