Second World

"You!" Jack also uttered the same greetings.

"Let me out of here!" Sinful yelled while rattling his jail's trellis.

Jack used Inspect on him and found that Sinful was level 21. Sinful had been striving to level back up after Jack last killed him. But because of his careful nature, he had not been too fierce on the attempt. World Maker had also abandoned him, so he had no one to help him level up.

One party finally found him after Jeanny posted a bounty on him to the guild members. They used a restraining rope to capture him alive before bringing him back to Heavenly Citadel. He was immediately tossed into jail.

"Let me go! How long are you people going to hold me here? You can't do this to me!" Sinful was still yelling from inside the jail.

Jack waited until Sinful was getting tired from all the yelling before he asked, "What did you say again about what you are going to do to Amy?"

"Who?" Sinful didn't understand who Jack meant.

"My native friend who you said you befriended to get my information," Jack reminded him.

"She… I'm just joking…," Sinful said.

"You know, you will truly miss our old world," Jack said with a grin. "There, you have the chance for a trial to, maybe or maybe not, lie your way out. You won't have that luxury here. You better get used to that room because that will be the only space you will spend the rest of your miserable life."

Jack turned around and leave. All the while, Sinful was shouting at him. Threatening at first before slowly changing to pleading. Jack walked at the same pace throughout.

After leaving the jail, Jack teleported back to Thereath and visited Commander Quintus' tower, he used 1000 merit points for the Training Boost. The boost only lasted three days, but anything to help grow their guild army before meeting Therribus' army on the field would be meaningful.

He then headed to the Order of Magi's hut.

He had many challenge points at the moment. He had been able to kill more higher-grade monsters in the last few months, which granted him challenge points. Every archmage level increase, spell level increase, and spell star upgrade also awarded challenge points. So, he had been collecting challenge points at a faster rate than before. He currently had 812 challenge points in his Order of Magi badge.

"Good evening, Mister Storm Wind," Janus greeted when Jack entered. "Very late evening, you do know this is almost midnight, don't you?"

"Aren't factions open all the time?" Jack asked.

"That is true. I am simply wondering why you come so late tonight, unlike your previous visits."

"Forced by the situation. I have limited time."

"Are you talking about the reinforcement army that will be departing tomorrow morning? I assume you will be with that army?"

"Words travel fast. Anyway, you assume correctly," Jack replied. "I wish to do the challenges."

"Go right ahead," Janus said. "You know the drill."

Jack nodded and went to the portal at the back of the room. Another Janus greeted him when he appeared in the challenge plaza with the obelisks. He went to the obelisk that had a number 43 floating above it. He didn't waste any time, he activated the obelisk and went inside the challenge space.

He continued clearing one stage after another. When he entered stage 50, a rare elite grade appeared, just like the challenge in the League of Champions.

Although he could only use magic staff and archmage skills, he was also much stronger compared to the time when he was taking the League of Champion's challenges. He cast Magic Weapon on his right-hand weapon, then equipped another magic staff on his left hand. He cast offensive spells on the enemies while using Formless Flowing Sword style to batter any enemy that came near. Perhaps he was the only mage in this faction who had no trouble allowing enemies to get into a melee contact during the challenge.

When he reached stage 55, the number of rare elite increased to two. By the time he reached stage 58, there were two rare elites of level 47, fourteen special elites of level 48, and fourteen elites of level 50.

These rare elites were not as tough as the boss version like the Ice Demon Fiend. Still, being unable to access his Blade Dancer and Beastmaster's skills did make the fight more challenging. However, Jack still had many arsenals of spells at his disposal. Primarily his Myriad Venomous Vipers. The spell quickly controlled and cleaned up the weak monsters in the first part of the battle. With Peniel supporting him, he could survive long enough to wear both rare elites down.

When he came out of stage 58, he had collected 808 knowledge points. With the previous saved-up points, he had 1,111 knowledge points inside his Order of Magi Badge, which was now at the Apprentice Rank after passing stage 50. His remaining challenge points were 4, he couldn't continue challenging the next stage.

Just two more and he could hit the next rank, Adept. Such a pity, Jack sighed. He thought in terms of ability, he should still be able to cope with more difficult opponents. Unfortunately, he didn't have the challenge points for it.

So, he went to exchange his knowledge points instead.

He scrolled up the list to where the exchangeable items for Apprentice rank were located. Several rare-grade weapons and equipment catering to magic users were on the list, as well as various ingredients and materials. Finally, he noticed a few technique books. Some were exclusive for certain classes while some could be used for all the mage's branch classes.

"Where is the second spell that you say I need to be able to fly?" Jack asked.

"That one," Peniel said as she pointed to the display.

"Glide," Jack read the description. The spell cost 1,000 knowledge points. "Hey, you are not asking me to first use Float to go up and then cast this spell to glide down, are you? That will be very ineffective. Not to mention, very inelegant."

"Just get that spell if you want to fly," Peniel said.

"Hey, there is also a spell that you mentioned before," Jack said. Pointing to another spell on the list, Dispel. It cost 1,200 knowledge points.

"Well, I can't get that one yet with my knowledge points. So, I guess it will be the Glide spell as planned," Jack said.

But before he could proceed with the transaction, Peniel stopped him, "Wait! Get that glide spell the next time. You need to get this first!"

Peniel was pointing to the top of the list, where the exchangeable items were marked with a time limit. These were items that were only available this month. One of them was a magic wand, another was a magic robe. The third one was an Alchemist recipe. Peniel was pointing at the fourth one.

"Rune diagram, protective framework?" Jack read the description. "Hey, is this rune diagram like the one that was protecting the duke's estate? Or the one that held Syndrillis captive?"

"Yes, those are rune diagrams, and they are really rare. I'm surprised it pops up here," Peniel said. "I was expecting that you need to rank up more to see these diagrams. Although this diagram is a low-tier one, it is still a rune diagram. You should get it while you can. Rune diagrams are very useful for guild use."

"It cost 1,000 glory points as well. I won't be able to buy the Glide spell then," Jack said.

"That's why I told you to get that Glide spell the next time," Peniel said.

Jack decided to just trust the fairy. She had helped him make lots of good decisions in the past. He used 1,000 knowledge points and exchanged them for the rune diagram.

*

Rune Diagram: Protective Framework (Rare diagram, for guild purpose)

Application on guild's structure: Increases durability and adds defensive stat

Application on Scrollmaking Workshop: Allow the creation of magic scroll: Enhance Defensive Ability

*

"Do I have to choose between using this rune diagram on guild structures or the scrollmaking workshop?" Jack asked after reading the description.

"No, you only need to register this diagram to your guild," Peniel explained. "Once it is registered, it can be used for both. You need members with at least basic expert scrollmaking skills, though. This member will be able to tap into the registered diagram and etch runes onto a guild structure or create the magic scroll. In the case of creating magic scrolls, its creation still needs materials as usual. While for etching runes onto guild structures, it only needs time and mana consumption from guild's mana cell."

"So, with enough time, we can just etch as many of this diagram to our structures?" Jack asked.

"Not really. After the diagram is etched into structures, they will require daily upkeep of mana," Peniel answered. "So, you better choose only the important structure for applying the diagram."