Chapter 10: Leaving Home

Rayden was quite satisfied with his current strength. This breakthrough had added an extra 20 points to all his base attributes. He had even exceeded his initial expectations. He initially thought he would have an average attribute of 60 but because of the hellish training he undertook during these four months, he had gotten an extra 10 average points.

His breakthrough in cultivation skill had also facilitated his breakthrough in the Nine Heavens Mental Cultivation Skill to the second stage which also increased his soul force.

During this period, a lot of cultivation skills and battle skills including sword skills had been activated by the system because of his breakthrough in strength but he didn't go cultivate any at the moment because he wanted to follow his father's schedule of training for him.

This breakthrough had also added another attribute; Energy points which he didn't understand. So he immediately communicated with the A.I. inside his mind and inquired about this.

[From now onwards, whenever host cultivates in his Mental Cultivation Technique or body and Qi cultivation skill, host will accumulate energy points. During cultivation, about 40 % energy is wasted due to the inability of the body to digest all the energy it absorbs. The system absorbs this energy and saves it as energy points. When the conditions are met, host can use this energy points to upgrade either his mental cultivation or Body and Qi Cultivation. Energy points can be used to upgrade all skills with the exception of skills that require perception like sword skills .

After host achieves the 3rd Layer of the Nine Heavens Skill, host will activate the Skill [Devour] which will absorb energy points from all creatures that the host personally kills. The stronger the creatures host hunts are, the more energy points host can absorb.]

Hearing the reply from the A.I., Rayden became very excited. This means that as long as he reaches the 3rd Layer of the Nine Heavens Skill, he could begin to dramatically speed up his cultivation speed by hunting creatures. The stronger the creatures he hunts are, the more energy points he could gather.

"It seems that I'll have to intensify my cultivation to accumulate enough energy points"

But looking his attribute panel, his heart bled when he noticed the amount of energy points required for advancing his mental cultivation skill. It was three times what was required to advance his body cultivation skill.

He shook his head and decided not to think much about it for the mean time.

With his current strength, he was sure he had met the requirements of his father to begin sword training. At this time Rayden walked in front of an iron block that he used to test his strength. This iron block was manufactured by some blacksmiths in the village to help the youths of the village gauge their strength level. It weighed about 600 kg. Even though previously, he could lift this, he couldn't hold out for long.

He held the metallic handles attached to it, and with a flex of his muscles directly lifted it above his head. He was standing in this posture not showing any signs of discomfort. He held it for almost a minute before dropping it down.

"Hmm, not bad…"

As Rayden was busy celebrating his advancement, a voice echoed from beside him. He hastily turned his head to see his father, Richard standing below a big tree, clothed in plain attire. Furthermore, he could see a shadow of a smile emerging on Richard's usually stern face.

"Father!"

Rayden excitedly proclaimed when he saw Richard who was standing beside the tree. Richard nodded his head as he approached Rayden. Scanning his son's body and looking at the iron block that Rayden had just lifted, a rare smile finally emerged as he said: "Lifting a 600 kg iron block at 4 years old, not bad."

"It was all thanks to your training, Dad", Rayden looked at his father and replied.

"Even though you have a lot of talent, without sufficient hard work, you wouldn't have achieved today's level." Smiling satisfactorily, he continued, "It seems you are ready to begin your real training. We'll be leaving Rubeck Island in three days' time so make all your necessary preparations. You won't be coming home for a long time."

"Really?" Rayden was both happy and sad at the same time. Happy that he would finally begin his sword training and sad that he was leaving his mother and friends behind. But he knew he had to toughen up because he had a very rough road ahead.

"Where are we going dad?" before his father could turn around, Rayden asked curiously.

Smiling mysteriously, Rayden answered, "You'll know when we get there…"

…

Three days later, the family of four had gathered outside Carlo Village to bid goodbye to Rayden and his father who would be leaving the village or a long time.

During these three days Rayden had made all the necessary preparations needed before embarking on this journey. He had also given a body building skill that was Saint Ranked and a basic boxing skill to his cousin Jack and advised him on how to cultivate the skill. He told him that this technique was from his father and made him promise never to reveal this skill to others. Due to Jack's frank nature and his intense worship of his father, he believed that he would never reveal the secret of this skill.

Martha's eyes were had tears as she held Rayden's hand: "Rayden, watch yourself!"

This time that Rayden was leaving home for his training, his mother was very worried. However, ever since his son decided to embark on the path of a swordsman, she knew that this day would come. But this still didn't stop her from getting worried.

"Don't worry mom, dad is coming with me. With him by my side, what could possibly harm me?"

Rayden reassured his mother as he got ready to leave. Richard who was standing behind Rayden also reassured Martha before turning to Rayden:

"Rayden, it's time to leave"

"Coming" responded Rayden.

Rayden walked to his father and bidding his mother and little sister goodbye, they left towards the Port of Rubeck Island.

…

After travelling for about half an hour on the footpath, they arrived at a forked path. After making sure that there was no one around, Richard suddenly stopped and looked back at Rayden.

"Father, what's wrong?"

"Oh nothing. Son, weren't you curious about the place where we were heading?" Richard looked at his son with a mysterious smile.

"Yes Father. But you said I'll know when we get there." Rayden answered with doubts on his face. Why was his father bringing this issue up now?

"Well, it seems you are ready to know now. The island we are heading for is called Crowell Island and it's located on the calm belt between the North Sea and the Grand Line!"

"Crowell Island? Calm Belt?" Rayden became more confused.

Even though he hadn't heard of Crowell Island, he knew what the calm belt was. The Calm Belts are two areas that are just north and south of the Grand Line. These areas almost never have ocean currents or winds blowing, and are also nesting grounds for Sea Kings. So it is practically impossible for ships to sail across such areas.

He knew from the previous world's animation show that the Marines cross the Calm Belts by using Sea stone lining at the bottom of their ships so Sea Kings will not notice a ship above them.

They were definitely not going to use Navy ships, so how were they going to get there?

"Father, how are we going to get to Crowell Island if it's located on the Calm Belt?" Rayden knew that his father wouldn't tell him this if he didn't have a means to get there.

"Oh, it seems you already know what the calm belt is. No matter!" he laughed and took out a square shaped pendant rom his bag. "We are going to use this."

"What is that?" Rayden asked looking at the square shaped pendant in his father's hands.

"It is called a Space Gate pendant. And it's an artifact developed by an ancient civilization for long distance travelling." He looked at his son's confused face with a grin on his fface. He actually enjoyed seeing his monster like son who seemed to know everything display confused expressions like this.

"About this pendant and its origins, I will explain it to you when we get to the Crowell Island. But for the meantime, just watch"

Richard took out another crystal from his bag which looked exactly the same as the one he used to destroy the bandits back in Carlo village. When the too pendants came in contact with each other, they shone with a bright golden as they both came out of Richard's hands joining together and lasted for a few seconds before dying out.

When the golden light faded out, all that Rayden saw was a three meter huge green door with a green space behind it. The moment he saw this, he remembered the green space door created by the CP9 assassin Blueno when he used his Doa Doa no Mi devil fruit. It looked very similar.

"It seems this door is somehow related to a space type devil fruit." He thought as he began studying this weird door.

Before he could ask his father any questions, Richard held him close instructed, "Close your eyes and hold your breath. We haven't got much time left!"

Rayden did exactly as instructed and held his father's hand. On his father's cue, they both jumped into the door instantly disappearing from this place.

After a couple of seconds, the door also gradually faded out and also disappeared from this place.