Chapter 234: Hard Decision

"A year?? Just practicing cutting bubbles? No way, but then how can you do it? I never found you practicing any sword before?" exclaimed Jayna.

"Ohhh… That's… Let's just say I am quite talented at handling weapons. Hehehe..." said Angus while scratching his head.

"Hmm.. Suspicious… Well, it's quite true since you could easily wield any weapon before. But, that still doesn't explain how you could use a high degree of sword art. Even I need practice for months before I can perform Crimson Slash perfectly." said Jayna.

Hearing this, Angus could only give a long sigh.

"Alright, you're right. But, I can't explain it to you. What I can tell you is at the end all weapon art is the same. When you master the true weapon art, you may be able to use all of them." said Angus.

At this moment, Jayna feels Angus is sorrowful and lonely. It feels like he is facing the world alone against all odds.

"Anyway, let's go back now." said Angus.

Hearing Angus call, Jayna wakes up from her trance and follows Angus while looking at the ground Angus cut before. The cut is precise and the sides are very smooth.

'I need to practice more. I will not let Angus be alone.' thought Jayna.

Returning to the Alkin, Angus finds the others already looting the stray low-grade monster. Then, Angus decides to approach his uncle, who is sitting on the Alkin deck alone.

"Uncle." called Angus.

"Oh, you are back? Find anything?" replied Jade.

"Nope, everything is clear." said Angus.

"I see.. Good.. Good.." said Jade before back to silence.

Seeing his uncle's silent gesture, "Uncle, is something wrong? You seem to be thinking about something these past days." asked Angus.

"Hmm… Hahaha… As expected, you notice this. Well, it is actually about this…" said Jade as he began to tell Angus his worry.

During his younger days, when Jade was still trying to survive in this land, he actually arrived at the hidden land called Porros, the land of crafters. Like Ancestral Ruin, this land was managed and protected by a hidden group of seventh-grade combatants.

By some coincidence, he managed to help a high-grade crafter who is one of the best crafters in the Porros. Then, the crafter promised to create a suitable weapon for him. However, it has already been dozens of years since the promise.

Even Jade himself already forgot about the promise. Now, he is in a dilemma whether to go towards Porros or not. Porros is a land near the center of the Endless Battlefield, which is a very dangerous land.

At first, Jade plans to reroute their path and avoid the center of this dimension. From his experience, the center of this dimension is full of high-grade beasts and monsters. This is obviously a path of no return for them.

However, Jade also knows that many dangerous monsters wait for the prey to come before the portal exit. This is also the reason, in the first place, Jade got his old injury. 

To let King Leon return to Firuman in the past, he baited all the countless monsters that stayed in the portal. Still, according to Jayna, a strong monster overlord is blocking the exit.

Only by some luck did King Leon manage to enter the portal and return to firuman. Although the portal exit location constantly changes, Jade also heard a rumor that at least a strong monster overlord is always guarding the portal.

There is even a saying that ordinary combatants will never pass through the exit portal without a strong fate.

If there is a strong monster overlord in the portal exit, Jade needs all his strength to face it, and the weapon from the old man may help them pass through. According to his knowledge, Porros is the only place where sentient weapons and armor are produced.

Sentient weapons and armor are actually the early stages of the artifact. It could be said they are the baby stages of an artifact. After experiencing countless battles for a long time, they will turn into full-fledged artifacts.

Although the power is not as strong as an artifact, it is still better than an ordinary enchanted weapon. Moreover, the sentient item could grow alongside the user. Sometimes it could even give various new abilities.

Hearing Jade's explanation, Angus understands his dilemma. On the one hand, they may perish on the way to Porros. But, without getting the sentient weapon, they may not be able to pass through the monster overlord in the portal exit.

Angus himself knows the importance of good weapons like the sentience weapon. During this one year, he managed to open another seal on both of his two artifacts which gave a tremendous effect that could increase his combat capability.

If the sealed artifact could increase his combat prowess, then a sentient weapon may increase Jade's strength to another degree. He may even reach the power of a seventh-grade combatant.

After thinking for a while, "Uncle, where is this Porros place?" asked Angus.

Jade takes out his map and points at the place near the center of the Endless Battlefield. 

"Around here, It will take around a few months to arrive at this place. However, the surrounding area is a very dangerous place." explained Jade.

Seeing the hologram map, "Say uncle, isn't this place near the battlefield land you told me before?" asked Angus.

"Yes, actually, Porros is one of the last settlements before entering this treacherous land. But, as I told you, entering that place is suicide. Even if you are a seventh-grade combatant, you still may not survive."

"Yeah, I know, but I still feel that I need to enter this place. Hmm... how about you send me as an envoy to get your weapon?" said Angus.

"No, it wouldn't work. I need to get the weapon by myself. The sentient weapon is different from an ordinary weapon. From what I heard, I need to be there the moment it finishes." explained Jade.

"Then, How about we divide our group?" asked Gilford from the side, joining the conversation.

"It won't work, Gil. You also know that dividing our group will cut down our force." said Jade.

"Of course not dividing into two with the same force. But, we will be divided into small groups." said Gilford.

"Huhh?? What do you mean?" asked Jade.

"It means one of the forces will follow the long route with everyone, and the other is only a small group to go to Porros along with you, uncle." explained Angus as he got Gilford's point.

"No way!! All of you will be in danger!!" rebuked Jade.

"No, father. I think you should go. Besides, didn't you already decide to go on a journey with Angus and his group before?" said Jane, who came to join the conversation.

"That's because our village is in good condition. But, now..." said Jade.

"Leader, I think you should go." as Elder Moi cut Jade's sentence.

"I know you are worried about us. But, if we do not survive during this journey, it only means we don't have any qualification to go through Firuman with you." said Elder Zeth.

"Father, we can't just stay still while being under your protection. During all this year, we are too comfortable being under your protection and getting more careless." said Kurvan.

"Leader, we need a wake-up call and leave from our comfort zone. This is not only for you but also for us and the future generation." said Elder Fosa.

Unknowingly, all the village leaders, high-grade combatants, and Jade's family already gather in the place. Seeing this, Jade begins to close his eyes and is silent for a while. After a while, he opens his eyes and releases a mana aura towards the surroundings. *Whossh*

Feeling the pressure, everyone almost unconsciously stepped back. However, after they take a step back, they steel themself and take a step forwards, fighting the pressure. Looking at this, Jade has a complicated feeling in his heart.

He feels proud yet at the same time sad and afraid. He knows at this moment that the small village he nurtured from the start has already flourished and fully matured. Albeit, he also feels worried about letting go of the others.

"Gahh… Fine. Tomorrow, we will divide the group into two. First is me, Angus, and his friend, and we will go in Porro's direction. The other group will follow our previous long route and meet us at this place before we go through the exit portal together." command Jade.

"Are there any more objections?" asked Jade.

Everyone shakes his head as they accept Jade's command.

Before Jade diminishes everyone, "I have an objection. Can I follow you, Father?" asked Gilford out of nowhere.

"Huhh??" said Jade, glaring at Gilford.

"You know I always want to go to Porros. It is practically a sacred place for a crafter like me. Besides, you need someone to maneuver Alkin properly." explained Gilford.

"How about the other Alkin? What if they break during the journey?" asked Jade.

"The other crafters in our group could easily repair them. As long as the main core is not destroyed, it also could repair itself." explained Gilford.

"Furthermore, if the main core was somehow damaged, I also didn't have any resources left to repair it. So, my crafting knowledge is actually useless during this journey." added Gilford.

"Fine, Anyone else?" said Jade reluctantly.

"Yes, I also want to tag along."