Words could not do justice in describing the intensity with which Atticus trained over the following week.
Previously, he had allowed himself to have breaks in order to rest and regain his strength; however, this time, he went all out. The breaks he took were so brief they could hardly be considered breaks at all.
What made this relentless schedule feasible was that most of his training was done while seated. Atticus couldn't count the number of times he entered a state of absolute focus.
It couldn't be helped. Depending on the art, some learning processes required minimal movement. Given the supportive nature of each technique in the art, he ended up remaining in place for extended periods of time. In this case, it had actually been a blessing.
Despite this, Atticus still hadn't been able to learn all the techniques. It wasn't impossible; it was simply that each technique was incredibly difficult and took time to master.
'No wonder they chose to release it,' he thought.
For many, Atticus doubted this art would even be useful. One had to consider various aspects before attempting to learn such an art.
Each technique was based on an ability of the superior races, with profound underlying characteristics that Atticus had to learn from scratch. A process that was both time consuming and mentally taxing.
Atticus couldn't help but suspect that the superior races, or the Dimensari especially, were attempting to sabotage his progress during the one year training period.
Anyone who saw the art would be compelled to devote themselves entirely to mastering it, and for most, even a year wouldn't be enough. They'd likely spend the year trying to learn the art instead of developing their existing abilities and actually growing stronger.
Fortunately, Atticus was not like most people. While he hadn't learned all the techniques in a week, he had made significant progress.
Soon enough, Magnus suggested he take a break from training to clear his head. Atticus had been so focused that his thoughts had become tangled, slowing his progress.
Atticus didn't argue and slipped back to his room, carefully avoiding the crowd of ladies who, surprisingly, hadn't dispersed. After a bath, he slept for two hours before waking up.
Atticus meditated on his bed, clearing his mind completely. Feeling refreshed, he left his room but didn't return to the advanced training room. Instead, he headed to a specific room upstairs in the Ravenstein mansion.
Upon entering, a smile spread across his face as he saw the plethora of gifts lined up inside.
'Jackpot.'
His excitement was palpable. These were gifts from various families across the human domain and even some from other races.
Atticus's gaze drifted to a particular section, and he immediately approached, his eyes lighting up as he examined the gifts from the Dragon race and the Aeonians.
'They look powerful,' he thought.
The Dragon race had given him a… bracelet? Atticus wasn't entirely sure what to call it. It was a small band resembling tiny dragon scales linked together, with a dragon head at one end.
Atticus picked up the bracelet and slipped it on. At first, he felt nothing, but as he channeled his mana into it, the bracelet flared with a deep crimson glow.
The scales began to expand, swiftly unfurling and wrapping around his body. In an instant, Atticus found himself encased in a full suit of armor that looked like dragon scales – dark, resilient, and iridescent.
Atticus felt a surge of power wash over him. 'Incredible,' he thought. The armor didn't boost his abilities as much as his exo suit did, but the enhancement was still significant.
As he stood there, a stream of information flowed into his mind, detailing the suit's capabilities:
-Elemental Resistance: The suit naturally repels extreme temperatures, lightning, and even corrosive substances.
-Enhanced Physicality: The armor amplifies the wearer's physical abilities, augmenting strength, speed, and agility.
-Dragon's Breath Channeling: Once enough mana is channeled, the suit allows the wearer to unleash a controlled beam of fire from any part of the armor.
-Draconic Senses: Wearing the suit enhances sensory perception. Vision sharpens to see in low light, while hearing and smell become attuned to subtle details, much like a dragon's acute awareness.
-Scales of Resilience: The armor passively repairs itself by drawing in ambient mana, healing cracks or dents over time. In high-mana areas, it can completely restore itself from near destruction, though in mana-poor regions, this process slows down considerably.
-Terrifying Aura: When activated, the suit can project an aura similar to a dragon's dominance. It creates a palpable, oppressive feeling that unsettles enemies and weakens weaker-willed foes, making them hesitant or fearful.
-Dragon's Rebirth: This ability consumes a large amount of mana, creating a fiery, protective explosion to repel all attackers within range. Afterward, the suit temporarily condenses back into the bracelet form.
Atticus laughed aloud, completely thrilled. To think he had once worried about fighting in the Verietega Nexus – that experience had brought him some of the greatest rewards he could imagine.
The number of valuable items he had gained in just two weeks overshadowed what he'd accumulated in years on Eldoralth, aside from his innate abilities.
'It must be from him,' he thought, the image of Drakthanion coming into mind. Other than the Dragon Race and the Aeonians, no other race had sent him gifts, not even the lesser ones. The Dragon Race going to such lengths could only mean this was a thank you gift from Drakthanion himself.
He almost felt like hugging the proud dragon.
Turning to the Aeonian gift next, he picked up a simple black orb. As he channeled his mana into it, another surge of information entered his mind:
-Endless Mana Supply: When attuned to the user, the orb acts as a perpetual mana generator. It absorbs mana directly from the environment, refining it before channeling it into the user's body.
-Mana Absorption and Suppression: The orb can pull in mana from its surroundings, creating an area of near total mana suppression.