Chapter 13-Saint-Level Warrior

Ernst returns home after killing the people from the Radiant Church and Cult of Shadows. They try to harm him, so better kill them before they can make a move on him. He is not a defensive type to wait for his opponent to attack him before he counters. For him, killing those kinds of people will save many innocent victims in the future.

After entering their mansion, he told everything happened to his parents. They were angry and felt relieved that he ended them early.

"Son, you did the right thing. If I am in your shoes, I will do the same. But for now, our power is not enough to fight them yet." James agreed with Ernst and worried at the same time.

"Father, mother. You don't have to worry about it. Even they investigate the battle scene. They will not find any evidence linking me to the death of their people. They will only suspect me and that's it." Ernst comforts his parents.

"Son, you should know that there are forces that do not rely on evidence. Once they suspect you, they will move and kill you. Once you are dead, they will send people who have an ability to read your souls, then provide evidence and explanation for the masses to maintain their image." James explained worriedly looks and look at his son with an approving smile.

"What you did is also a good thing, when you kill the people of Radiant Church and Cult of Shadows, you had erased the evidence by casting a fire spell to the crime scene. When they investigate the site, they will think it is done by a Fire-style Saint-level Grand Magus. They will be cautious of you, as they will conclude that there is a Fire-style Saint-level Grand Magus protecting you in the dark. The Radiant Church and the Cult of Shadows is very wary of Saint-level Grand Magus. For now, they will not do anything to you and will only send people to watch you in secret. After watching you for a long time and not finding anything, they will stop." James smiled at his son and wife.

His mother Sarah also smile and agreed to his father's explanation.

"Father, mother. Let me tell you, even they send Saint-level combatants to hunt me. I can fend them myself." Ernst said jokingly.

"The Radiant Church will investigate on what happens to their people. You should stay in the mansion and wait for their people to investigate you. After a month, we will go to the Foggy Valley and see if we can push ourselves to make a breakthrough. Let's also bring Anna. Staying there will be good for her. Let her fight magical to gain battle experience." Sarah winked at James and Ernst.

While Ernst and his parents were discussing, on the Radiant Temple, Cardinal Guillermo is waiting for the arrival of Ernst and his Knights. But after, a long wait, his men still did not arrive. He became impatient and roared angrily. "Marcus, where is Xartes and his Knights of the Ace Division? They all should be here long ago, but I don't even see their shadow. Are they successful abducting Ernst? Are they attack by other forces while abducting Ernst? Go! Investigate quickly."

After an hour, Marcus returns and reported. "Cardinal Guillermo, when we arrived at the location, there is no one there. Before we arrived, there appears to be a great battle happen there. The grounds are devastated, even grass and trees were turned to ashes. As of now, ten thousand square meters are in ruins and are still burning after we arrived. I suspected that it was caused by a forbidden spell by a Fire-style Saint-level Grand Magus or a 9th rank Fire-style Arch Magus."

"Who could it be? Ernst? No, he is an Earth-style magus. There must be a Fire-style Saint-level Grand Magus, who wants to meet Ernst and ask him to be his apprentice. He saw our people abducting a talented magus, got annoyed and killed our people." Cardinal Guillermo was infuriated. They lost five-9th rank warriors. Their losses are minimal, but they lost their faces.

"Where is Ernst?" Ask Cardinal Guillermo.

Marcus replied quickly. "Cardinal Guillermo, based on the investigation of our men, he is already in their mansion. There is no indication that he was attack and is now celebrating with his family for graduating in the institute."

Cardinal Guillermo looked seriously at Marcus. "Investigate if there is a Fire-style Saint-level Grand Magus and a 9th rank Fire-style Arch Magus that stayed in Fenlai Kingdom and nearby territories of the Holy Union for the past week. Send someone to watch Ernst in secret, he still a suspect."

"Yes Cardinal."

Cardinal Guillermo went out to report what happened to Holy Emperor Heidens.

After a week of investigation, the Radiant Church still did not have any clue linking Ernst to the death of their people. They continue to watch Ernst in secret.

Every day, there are still many visitors on the Dawson mansion and inviting Ernst to join their forces, promising many benefits. King Clayde of Fenlai Kingdom even wants to give a territory and as Marquis title as long as Ernst will be loyal to Holy Union. Ernst rejects all these offers. If he wants a territory, he will conquer one. What about a noble title? Ernst disdains it.

After three weeks, the people of Radiant Church stops watching Ernst. Since, they don't find any evidence, they finally stop treating him as the culprit.

Ernst's family, Douglas and Roger with their magical beasts went to the Foggy Valley. His sister is very excited and nervous. It's her first time to train in the Mountain Range of Magical Beast. Ernst had promise her sister to tame a magical beast for her.

After entering the Foggy Valley, Ernst noticed that the number of magical beast increases. Because of Nadia's deterrence, they went smoothly and arrived at the tunnel entrance.

Anna was very astonished by the huge amount of elemental essence inside the tunnel. She immediately sat down and absorbs elemental essence.

The Armored Razorback Wyrm is still inside the cave. It did not come out, even Ernst and Nadia provokes it.

"Alright, everyone, we will stay here and train for seven months. Let's try to increase our strength quickly." Ernst persuaded them.

Everyone, sat down and meditates, including magical beast. Their bodies greedily absorb elemental essences.

Ernst moves outside from the tunnel and face the big boulder. He draws his sword and slashes the boulder.

"Swish!"

"Profound Truth of the Earth-256 layered waves."

"Boom!"

The big boulder was shattered and turns to powder. "Upon reaching the 256 layers, I am now halfway through the mastery of 'Throbbing Pulse of the World'. Now, what I need to do is to compress the Profound Truth of the Earth into a single layered wave." Ernst thought.

He knows the process of compression from the original canon. Since he has a very high understanding of 'Earth Essence' profound mystery, he easily deduces and understands the practice method.

After one day of meditating inside the tunnel, his parents, Anna, Douglas, and Roger decided to fight magical beasts. The three guys were the main attackers, while his mother Sarah and Anna as support and attacked when necessary. They are working as a team. Occasionally they fought one-on-one with the magical beast. When they are injured, Ernst will heal them with his light spell. His sister Anna also started to train as a warrior to cope with her weak body.

Every day, they would meditate inside the tunnel, fight a magical beast as a team and fights individually. Seeing their masters are training and fighting hard, the magical beast companions became training maniacs.

Ernst is playing music with his flute outside, while the others are meditating inside the tunnel. Suddenly, his battle Qi is circulating throughout his body began to tremble. The liquefied battle Qi in his dantian churned out like sea waves. Ernst guided his battle Qi in his veins into his lower dantian. Very soon, the density of battle Qi in his lower dantian reached maximum peak.

"Rumble!"

A smile blossomed on Ernst face as he sensed his battle Qi in his dantian begun to transform. Every shred of battle Qi was changing in quality and nature.

"The Saint-level!"

Ernst feels the changes in his body including his skin, muscle, internal organs, bones, blood, and veins are all strengthened. An overall upgrade to his body strength. His body defense alone is comparable to a Demigod artifact. He found another big boulder, the size of a house and throws a casual punch.

"Boom!"

The boulder exploded. His body is very strong

"Hahaha!"

He laughed as he began to float on midair. Ernst soared in midair. He still feels unbelievable. Upon reaching the Saint-level, flying becomes like an innate ability.

He landed on the ground then looked at his companions who are still busy meditating inside the tunnel. They did not notice him. He familiarized with his Saint-level power while waiting for his companions.

After five months of staying in the Foggy Valley, Everyone got a varying upgrade in their strengths. Douglas and Roger is now mid-9th rank warrior. His father now is a peak 9th rank warrior. His mother Sarah was still a 9th rank Arch Magus, but she is promoted to 7th rank as a warrior. Sister Anna has the biggest improvement. She is now a 5th rank magus from 3rd rank magus and a 3rd rank as a warrior. Staying in a place where elemental essence is one hundred times than the outside world truly benefited her. She had many battle experiences now. Even his parent's magical beast companions are now promoted to 9th rank.

While Ernst was playing music with flute. His sister Anna approached him.

"Brother, you said, you will find me a magical beast to be my companion. Where is it?"

Ernst felt ashamed, he forgot about it. He regretfully replied. "I'm sorry. I've forgotten about it. How about this? I will accompany you to find a magical beast of your liking. What magical beast do you like?"

"Let me think. I want a magical beast not is too big that I can bring to school, and also strong and looks beautiful like mother's Winged Pegasus."

"Since you like a Pegasus. How about a Thunderwing Pegasi? It was as big as mother's Winged Pegasus. It is also good-looking."

Hearing this, Anna eyes shines. "Thunderwing Pegasi it is."

"Come. Grab my hand, and we will go to the place where there are many Pegasus."

"Nadia, stay here. Send me a message if there is a problem."

"Yes master." Nadia answered and return to her training.

Ernst holds her sister's hand and mentally cast Wind-style magic spell 'Windshadow' to fly and boost their speed. They flew to the nearest lake, where he last saw a group of Pegasus drinking water.

Ernst saw a lone 8th rank Thunderwing Pegasi drinking water in the lake, he punched its body. The magical beast feels the danger but cannot dodge and was hit.

"Boom!"

It landed on the ground with heavy injuries. The Thunderwing Pegasi looks at Ernst with hatred.

"Neigh!"

Ernst observes the injured magical beast. "I know you can understand me. Becomes my sister's magic beast companion. Although, she is weaker than you now, she will surpass you later. If you become my sister's magic beast companion, I will help you increase your strength."

The Thunderwing Pegasi thinks more, later it agrees.

"Neigh!"

Ernst took out a soul binding scroll contract from his interspatial ring, and gave it to his sister.

"Anna tore the soul binding scroll contract."

Anna did as she was told, tore the scroll. The contract was successful. Anna felt delighted.

"Yay. I have my own magical beast companion."

"Let's return back." Ernst and Anna board the Thunderwing Pegasi and fly to the tunnel entrance.

Seeing Anna's magical beast companion, everyone is happy for her.

Everybody stop their training at this time and celebrates.

"Everyone. I have something to show you." Ernst floats little by little and flew higher.

"There is no magic fluctuation,but he can fly. Could it be, little darling is promoted to Saint-level?" Sarah said in astonishment.

Everybody heard what Sarah said and was astounded. But they keep waiting for Ernst to confirm it.

Ernst landed on the ground. He smile, and said. "Yes, your guest is correct. I am already a Saint-level Warrior."

James, Sarah, Anna, Douglas, and Roger widened their eyes then cheered and laughed.

"Hahaha!"

"Excellent!. Now our family presently has a Saint-level combatant. No one will say that we are only just a trading union." James happily said.

"Little darling, you make mother proud." Sarah hugs her son.

"Brother. Congratulations." Anna joins her mother hugging her brother.

"Young master. Congratulations." Douglas and Roger also greeted.

"Roaaaar!"

"Master, you are good." Greeted by the Velocidragon.

"Thank you. You will reach this level soon. Don't be discourage, just train hard." Ernst encouraged them.

"The fastest way to breakthrough is to fight continuously. Treat every battle as life and death. That way you will gain insight more. I know some of you gain insights in the past few months while fighting magical beast."

"Starting tomorrow, I will create a humanoid and magical beast construct made of 'Earth Essence' to fight you. You can choose to fight in groups or one on one. The strength of the construct is at the Saint-level. The Saint-level constructs will not show you any mercy. So, give all you got. Magical beast companions can also join the battle."

"Gulp!"

Everyone feels nervous, but also excited. If they can fight a Saint-level combatant every day, how good can it be? Their strength and understanding of their battle skills will increase rapidly.

In the morning.

James is battling the earth construct. He is injured all over, but still fighting. He had a smile on his face. This is a very rare chance to fight a Saint-level combatant.

After he was exhausted, Ernst heals his injuries and returned to full health.

Following James was Sarah, then Douglas followed by Roger then lastly Anna. All of them were injured. Even his sister Anna and her magical beast companion, Thunderwing Pegasi were bullied miserably.

Only Velocidragon Nadia, fights equally with earth construct while the other magical beast was beaten senseless.

After the beat down, both human and magical beast replayed their battle against the earth construct in their mind. Some of them had an insight after the battle.

Two more months, the humans and magical beasts are stronger, faster and have a good understanding of their own fighting skills. Everybody had a good harvest. Even the weakest Anna can fight very well in close combat. Four magical beasts are also promoted to 9th rank.

Their training in the Foggy Valley comes to an end, and they will return to Fenlai City soon.

Ernst is now sixteen years old. There is still more than a year before the apocalypse arrives.