A Forgotten Hero - Volume 1 Chapter 29 The Search For A Cheat

(MC POV)

It’s been about three hours since the talk with the old man. Currently, I am sitting with my legs crossed, in front of a tree in the middle of the forest.

Three hours ago, the old man handed me his energy ball which entered my body. At first, I thought I actually absorbed it already however I shortly felt a disturbance in my body. I could feel foreign energy inside me other than my own which was understandable as each individual, has unique energy inside them that is only suitable with themselves. Hence why, if a foreign energy enters your body, before you could use it, you must purify it and convert it to your specific energy trait. If you don’t, not only will it be harmful to merge your energy with another without purifying it, you will not be able to use the foreign energy and it can limit your potential for the future.

Those techniques used to absorb the essence of dead creatures just quickly convert the energy into your own which is why you’re able to become stronger at a faster pace. Of course, I couldn’t relate since the essence comes to me without doing anything.

After he handed me his powers, he told me that I must slowly absorb it so there won’t be too much stress inside me and it allows no foreign energy to be mixed in which lowers my potential. If your energy and the foreign energy is mixed, without purifying it properly, it is far harder to purify it compared to when they are separate. After he gave me advice, I walked closer to him as he asked and he touched my forehead to give me his martial arts knowledge. The sensation was similar to when I ate the crystalised marble to learn “focus punch”. Sadly but shockingly what he sent me were techniques that I already knew! The knowledge he passed down were martial arts that I used in my hero days! What’s more, these techniques are inferior and incomplete compared to my own.

So even though this world has forgotten about me, they still use my own martial arts that I have created and perfected!? Typical! They just use my work while not giving the credit! Anyways, I parted ways to start training for the underground fight that’s in a few days.

Now I will be honest, when I was a hero, I barely practised absorbing different energies to strengthen myself. At my time, there were such things like redirecting others energy or absorbing them to quicken healing or strength for a short time but just sitting down, concentrating and purifying while absorbing energy permanently was something unheard of to me. Yes, I can control my energy which allowed me to use techniques such as yin yang flow control but I never actively went to practice the fundamentals. Since I constantly fought stronger enemies I naturally made constant breakthroughs in my strength from life and death situations, allowing me to learn through experience. I have never just sat down like this to grow stronger! I do know the other heroes sometimes had to increase their mana but they told me the god of their element gives them more power which they use to breakthrough their current capacity. Honestly, I always thought it as cheating since technically they never had to fight to get stronger while I, with no elements, had to always be in danger to keep up with them. I guess nowadays being in danger is equal to or better than sitting around absorbing power from a higher being. Guess this is kind of like absorbing the power of a higher being but eventually, it will be dried up. I have to say this is quite hard, trying to clear my mind and just concentrate on the foreign energy, to mix it with mine after purifying it.

(3rd person perspective)

Thirty minutes have passed

An hour has passed

“This is too long!” Finally, Jack could not continue. He just can’t do it as he doesn’t even know what to do. At first he thought with his vast experience, he could figure it out but he can’t seem to purify the foreign energy. Now his ice elemental energy is slightly contaminated due to his failed attempts at purifying. He knows that if this continues, he will just be ruining his potential further and further.

‘If this whole absorbing energy thing is common in this era, would they have a book or something to teach you? Even if it doesn’t automatically let you know how to do it as long as there’s information about it will be more helpful than trial and error; even if it costs a few gold pieces’ he thought and starting to head back to the kingdom.

He asked for directions towards a store that sells techniques and skills which he was directed to kindly. The shop he found was called “Jon’s elements” and headed inside. Inside the store, there were some crystal pills inside cases with strange runes inscribed. The runes we’re probably for protection to prevent any thieves from stealing.

There were various different elemental skills however when he looked over the pills, the system he had would give him a description of it and their quality.

It ranks quality out of 1 to 10 star quality. 10 is the highest quality while one is lowest quality and a lot of the pills here are around 1 to 2 quality. Essentially these are low grade skills which I shouldn’t bother with. Jack thought.

“Excuse me, are there any other shops like this? Preferably one with higher grade skills?”

“Yes however it’s in the inner parts of the kingdom.” The cashier answered respectfully.

After receiving the cashiers guidance, Jack left the store to a deeper part of the kingdom.

Now as you go closer to the centre of the kingdom, the buildings begin to look much more advanced with each of them made of stone bricks. The streets are cleaner and unlike previously, all businesses here have their own buildings instead of stands. Most citizens here have decent and stylish outfits compared to the outer end of the kingdom where the citizens look poor and wear dirty clothing. Luckily for Jack, his robes standed out when he was in the outer part of the kingdom but here it fits in with the other clothing. Plus, Jack is able to afford most things in this part of the kingdom thanks to his new found wealth.

“Lets see.ah there you are” Jack muttered to himself, trying to locate the shop he needs.

He found a building with a large sign, which said ” Silver.” Though the odd name, Jack was told this place sold higher grade magic,techniques and its connected to a library containing books of vast specialities. This place was perfect for Jack, as even if he can’t find a cheat to learn his problem, he can go and find books about it to help him at the very least.

This shop “Silver” owned a large building that covers at least a quarter of the entire street. The building was made of smooth blue painted stone giving a sense of calming to anyone that looks at it. Jack goes to the double door and pushes it open.

The inside is 540 square feet, giving the room a lot of space to hold various items. Compared to the previous shop with around five customers, this place has at least one hundred customers! There are workers around the room to help the customers but also to prevent any suspicious activity being held. To Jack’s surprise, each of them were around level 50 or higher.

There is an upstairs which is where the library is located and beside the entrance door are the stairs. Jack wandered around, looking at all the different skills with a variety of elements. However, these all cost over 500 gold! That’s over half of Jack’s current wealth and these techniques are around 4-6 star level techniques which is a mid grade level.

“Excuse me, do you need some help sir?”