Chapter 54 - 52

Currently, he was outside the building of the research facility as he walked out from it. He found himself a carriage which was about to set out as it was carrying supplies from the research facility so he rode with it.

["Open display screen."]

The first thing he wanted to see was the system task.

[System Tasks:

Main task

- Prevent the war between the Greatworld continent and the Phoenix continent (100%) - completed

- Burn the Sphinx formula of Izi (45%)

- Solve the mystery behind the Xiu Royal family (10%)

Note: if failed to complete within two years time, punishment awaits.]

Zero frowned as he already completed the first task but the system didn't notify him about it.

["System, why didn't you notify about the first task being completed?"]

[…]

The war would not continue and it's a good sign. Zero sighed in relief as he didn't fail the first task and was able to release himself from one of the pressing tasks.

'One out, two more to go.'

Zero then switched to his personal stats.

[Performer: 0

Title: ?????? (Locked), Beaten Junkie

Task completed: 3 side tasks, 1 main task

Intelligence: 10

Strength: 10

Stamina: 10

(+10 stat points)

Skills:

Charmer: 10

(Locked)

(No further skills) ]

Zero finally decided to distribute the stat points and without much care, he equally put stat points on each of it except for his charmer skill as he didn't want to attract more bees again.

[Performer: 0

Title: ?????? (Locked), Beaten Junkie

Task completed: 3 side tasks, 1 main task

Strength: 12

Stamina: 12

Agility: 12

(+2 stat points)

Skills:

Charmer: 10

(No further skills) ]

After distributing, he remembered about the mystery box reward as he inquired the system.

[Do you want to open the Mystery Box? Yes/No?]

Zero pressed 'yes' and immediately the youth was surprised to the sudden blast of balloons and music infront of him, fortunately he wasn't with someone as he was truly stunned by the system's act.

[Obtained Dreamscape. Congratulations, Host! You gained a rare item. Dreamscape could be use only when the Host wanted to escape from certain situations.]

The young man clicked at the dreamscape item as it was displayed on his personal stat window.

[Performer: 0

Title: ?????? (Locked), Beaten Junkie

Task completed: 3 side tasks, 1 main task

Intelligence: 12

Strength: 12

Stamina: 12

Agility: 12

Skills:

Charmer: 10

(No further skills)

Item:

Dreamscape (equipped)]

[Dreamscape- can be use during certain situations. Cooldown: 2 months.]

Zero tried to unequip it to test his theory but as he concluded, it was a 'cursed' item which means an item that couldn't be thrown or disposed by the owner. And why was its cooldown time 2 months? The young man sighed as he closed his display screen. He wanted to finish already the second task as he decided to contact Chun but she wasn't responding.

The young man almost forgot about cultivating the Phoenix Bloodline manual due to some unexpected series of events, fortunately, the black crystal reminded him about it.

On the other side.

"What are you doing there?" Titus suddenly appeared behind Chun as he asked the girl.

"What is this?" Chun asked the deity.

In deep-thought, Titus answered, "It's a door that Pandora--- I mean your deity self made. Your deity self stated that it would be put into good use someday."

"Oh."

After a last glance, the girl went back to her position infront the looking-water. The deity who was with her wasn't interested on attending to what she would be doing so Titus went back again on his strolling.

Chun didn't care about what was Titus playing outside as she looked at the glinting looking-water.

(What is it?)

She noticed that the youth was on a bedroom, it looked like familiar to the inn that the young man had stayed on. The girl sighed in relief, knowing that he avoided a dangerous deity. Even though Chun had only a piece of her memory which was the first fragment, she did not forget the unwelcoming presence of the deity of Mischief and Deceit, he was etched on her mind. She felt like there's something deeper between them as Xeris was the only deity (aside from Titus) that she automatically recognized, though he was in disguise there.

"Can you teach me the next step?"

Chun instantly agreed as she has nothing to do and she would love to see some entertainment.

(I could teach you until the fifth step so that you could already practice the first offensive spell of the manual.)

Zero easily agreed as it would be beneficial to him and for his second task. The girl started explaining explicitly each of the steps. The second step indicated that 'fire is a bait' which meant that if one look to a fire, it would be attractive, alluring and enticing due its flaming red color and the warmth that it brought. Like a moth drawn to a fire, they get close and the result was getting burned to ashes.

The girl was astonished as Zero was abnormally cultivating as she explained the step. It did not take one hour for the young man to easily comprehend the second step. They went to the next step until to the fifth step. Suddenly, a system notification caught the attention of Zero.

[Ting! Do you want to learn 'Cosmic Fire'? Yes/No]

Zero perked up after hearing the notification. Fortunately, he would now able to dispose of the black crystal which was the Sphinx formula. Chun did not notice the excitement of the young man after she explained the fifth step. The youth was able to perceive it with no difficulty that made her slightly surprised but relieved at same time.

The five steps were a test if the the cultivator was suitable for the cultivation art and luckily she was right.

(You can learn now the first offensive attack of the Phoenix Bloodline manual whic---)

"Cosmic Fire," Zero cut off the girl's statement that led Chun to be stunned. 'How did he know?'

Zero was about to explain to the girl about the system when his words were choked on his mouth. Something was preventing him on saying it.

[System Warning: The host is not allowed to divulge about the system. If failed to comply, punishment awaits.]

Zero frowned as he asked on his mind.

["You did not prevented me when I told the ice princess then you…"]

The system did not react to his complains as Chun looked at Zero with perplexity. Zero creased his forehead as he massaged his temples while steaming off some of his anger even though he had no anger issues to manage, this system would slowly 'help' him develop that problem. Zero felt like he was the most unlukiest host who got bounded on the defected system.

(Are you alright?)

Chun asked as she was curious to what was going on to Zero as the youth suddenly went quiet.

"I'm good."

Even though his tone was stating otherwise. The girl ignored that as she asked again to proceed with learning the offensive skill. With no choice, Zero pretended to slowly comprehend the explanation of the girl as he already accepted the notification of the system.

(Did you got it? Cosmic fire is another type of fire that is hard to manipulate due its fierceness but you already opened your five seals so it will be easy for you.)

Zero nodded as he concentrated to create the flame that he wanted to test on the black crystal. He gathered the fire energy present on the surrounding on his spread palm and concentrated on visualizing a small flame. Little sparks began to alight on his palm, as it started to spark and a small black flame was made. The youth rejoiced on his achievement when the black fire instantly vanished that dozed off his happy mood.

Chun chuckled from observing the young man. Unintentionally, Zero glared directly at her that stunned the girl in a moment. She quirked her brow and reminded the youth to concentrate. The black fire was then recreated and Zero did not let his emotion get over him as he generated fire energy around the black fire to strengthen it.

(Oh! I did not expect that you're good at manipulation. It's your first time and your were able to grasp it already! Bravo!)

The girl clapped from the other side. Zero took out the black crystal and it was easily incinerated on his hands. The system suddenly ranged and notified him of the completion of the second task. The youth ignored the defected system as he didn't raised another inquiry that he knew he couldn't get a reply of.

After cleaning himself from the ashes that was left behind, he looked on his display screen.

[Performer: 0

Title: ?????? (Locked), Beaten Junkie

Task completed: 3 side tasks, 2 main task

Intelligence: 12

Strength: 12

Stamina: 12

Agility: 12

(+2 stat points)

Skills:

Charmer: 10

(No further skills)

Offensive:

Cosmic Fire: Atk dmg - 25

Item:

Dreamscape (equipped)]

He then switched to another window.

[System Tasks:

Main task

- Prevent the war between the Greatworld continent and the Phoenix continent (100%) - completed

- Burn the Sphinx formula of Izi (100%) - completed

- Solve the mystery behind the Xiu Royal family (10%)

Note: if failed to complete within two years time, punishment awaits.]

Finished to everything he wanted to do, Zero called out.

"Can we talk about on what happened there earlier?"

Chun knew that there was something bugging the youth as she warned him about Xeris.