After five minutes that felt like an hour, the Tyrano Nuclear Frog finally died.

"This was an utterly close call." Ryzen wiped the sweat off his face as he looked at his recovering Magic Suit.

"You two are crazy as usual. The difference between our runes is so vast despite being the same rank." Rivera wryly chuckled. "Good job. Thanks for carrying us."

"Don’t put down your contributions." Aelira snorted and lightly kicked Rivera’s leg.

"We came close to getting knocked out as well." Rudrean nodded as he sighed.

"Without you, it would’ve been over for us." Lyra blinked. "Only you had the speed faster than it when it came to pure attack and movement speed after it broke free from the ice."

"Yep." Aelira grinned. "Glad you have that speed boost rune."

"And we’re glad you have that damage reduction and resistance." Rudrean chuckled. "Our defenses wouldn’t have lasted against its AOE attack otherwise. We’d all be toast."

[Isalyn: Yep. You both are not refined enough yet. If I had the same parameters and paths as you two, I would have soloed the boss without breaking a sweat.]

’No way, really?!’ Aelira internally exclaimed.

[Isalyn: I am not joking, haha. Don’t worry, Rudrean is going to be like that soon. Darling, you are about to complete it, right?]

Rudrean blinked, his weary eyes becoming thrilled. ’Yes...’

’Wait, really?! You created that system in your body already?’ Aelira was shocked. ’I am also trying, but it’s hard. I can’t decide what to do...’

[Isalyn: Don’t worry. Take your time. Also, watching Rudrean complete it might inspire you as well.]

"Let’s eat and recover, and then continue." Ryzen stood up and dusted himself off as he looked at Rudrean, Aelira, and Lyra. "You three deserve to conquer this Secret Realm, and I refuse to be the reason that prevents you from doing it."

Rivera stood up and nodded. "Exactly."

"Chillax, cutie pies. We got this." Aelira grinned. "But yeah, let’s not waste time."

"I’ll socket the Super A-rank rune and do some training. I need it." Rudrean stood up, his face somber. "I’ll eat after that."

...

Atop the mountain peak, Rudrean stood while moving his arms, hands, fingers, legs, and toes with distinct agility and fluidity.

Faint lines were visible beneath his skin, glowing with crimson and cyan.

Isalyn quietly watched, not disturbing him at all.

’This is his first attempt at creating a Combat Art... Will he succeed in getting recognition? But even if he does not, what I am seeing will already boost his combat power drastically.’

Rudrean’s eyes were closed.

He was visualizing his potential in a certain form.

He directed his focus to become something distinct.

A warrior who fights with a blade and a bow. A warrior unbound by the restrictions imposed by the world.

Rudrean was lost in his craft of Combat Art.

But time was passing.

Aelira, Lyra, Rivera, and Ryzen had finished eating, and half an hour had already passed.

Rudrean was still training, lost in the trance, so they decided to go ahead to the second area and started exploring it to collect resources and kill monsters they could handle.

Another half an hour passed before something happened.

Rudrean’s eyes abruptly opened.

Distinct ribbons of ethereal colors from Heavenfall Wind and Phoenix Flame flowed around him like a sash around his chest and arms, rings around his wrists and ankles, and a halo above his head, all connected with an invisible network of magic flowing through his body, indicated by beautiful yet exotic patterns beneath his skin.

"I did it..." Rudrean muttered as he hovered above the ground.

He looked up and punched.

A swirling gust of shockwave with heat that distorted the surrounding air burst upward like a tornado. Its edges shone with a crimson neon glint, razor-sharp.

A large chunk of the flock of Elite Sunfang Eagles flying above was instantly annihilated.

Isalyn watched, dumbfounded.

’This has to get recognition!’

Just as she thought that, something happened.

Rudrean was enveloped by a golden rain.

[Your Combat Art has been recognized up to the standard.]

[You may name your Combat Art and officially let it grace with arcane. Rating: 2380]

Rudrean blinked.

"I name it... Zen Art: Unbound Warrior."

[Congratulations.]

[Zen Art: Unbound Warrior]

Rating: 2380

—> Stat Boost: 240%.

—> Additional Mana Cost: 7% Max Mana per second.

"What?!" Rudrean was shocked. "I get a stat boost? For all four basic stats?"

[Isalyn: Yep. Congratulations! But this is making me speechless. My best Combat Art is rated 2840, so you are only a little behind me...] 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"But you didn’t say we get a stat boost!" Rudrean was still shocked.

[Isalyn: That was the surprise, darling. But you also get additional mana cost if you want the parameter boost. Using Combat Art already depletes all of your mana at once to run your internal magic system of the Combat Art. Your Combat Art lasts for 47 seconds. After using it, you have to refill your mana pool if you want the parameter boost.]

"I see... Well, it’s no problem for me. My fourth rune gives me solid mana recovery." Rudrean grinned. "In fact, I am going to upgrade the fourth rune with the Super A-rank rune I just got."

[Isalyn: Do it. It’ll be interesting given this Super A-rank rune’s origin.]

Rudrean nodded and replaced it.

[Slot 4: Hungry Void (Super-A)]

—> +500% Mana recovery, and it increases by 500% per 10% reduction in your mana pool. (Currently translates to 18% max mana recovery per second at maximum.)

—> When your Mana Pool becomes empty, instantly restore it to full at the cost of 5% of your Vitality.

—> Mana Overload: Activate this to make your Mana Pool remain full for one whole minute no matter the consumption. But after one minute, you will be unable to recover mana for five minutes.

[Isalyn: Well, well. You aren’t going to run out of mana at all.]

Rudrean laughed. "This is fun. Time to wreak havoc."

Without further ado, he flew away and joined the gang.

...

"Finally, we are here." Reina and her team arrived atop the mountain range, right past the 1800-kilometer mark.

"We rushed and skipped a lot of resources. I hope it’s worth it, leader."

"We are prepared."

Behind them, another team arrived.

The team belonging to Romen, the guy who had arrogantly tried to recruit Rudrean and Aelira.

"So you are here as well." Romen scanned them. "Not bad. I was expecting one or two of you to go down before reaching here."

"Humph, I thought the same about your team." Reina snorted, her eyes moving toward the two outsiders who had just joined the academy to be on Romen’s team.

"Alright, enough talking. Now it’s time to work. The real treasures are in this 200-kilometer radius." Romen’s eyes glinted. "And most importantly, the Super A-rank runes. I need them."

Runes could not be traded or exchanged, as one could only earn them by landing killing blows on monsters within Secret Realms or by encountering some magical phenomenon that rewarded runes.

As such, these two strongest teams had decided to work together to conquer this Secret Realm and acquire the rewards.

"Let’s go." Reina nodded. "Nobody should be here aside from our two teams..."

But she paused as she thought of something. "Maybe one more team can reach here..."

"Those two, huh? Doesn’t matter." Romen grinned. "If we see them, we will make sure they are eliminated. That’s the deal."