After all explanations were done, we were already preparing for the journey while Larzak, Kraxka, and Hector spoke with everybody. The trio was lively.
"So that's how it is. I am honored to be given such an opportunity, Lord Drake." Said Hector. "I will try my best. My Miminga and my baby are waiting back home so there's no way I am dying here either."
"Yeah, that's the spirit!" Larzak said. "I have been refining my Ki as well, I've been teaching it to the other Lizardmen as well as Hermes and anybody that asked. I might be able to use this strength in better ways than before now, Lord Drake."
"You guys can just call me Drake. And I am glad, Larzak. It kind of sucks that Ki has like no effect on me… Mostly because I am using Divine Power at this point, but you did taught it to Benladann, Miranda, and the others as well. Since they acquired the ability to detect and make Ki flow across their bodies that they had gotten physically stronger and also more resilient. And of course, they have better stamina now." I said. "I have to recognize that your discovery of such power is amazing."
Larzak not only has brought the concept of Ki to all of us thanks to his amazing discovery, but he also helped my people attain such power. Ki is the meaning of the vitality of the body, the stamina, and all of that together. A power that goes beyond just Mana and takes the very essence of energy that the living body produces. Using it, mortals than drastically enhance their physical power to insane extents, even surpassing their own Mana Core Ranks.
This is why I am fine with Hector, Larzak, and Kraxka only being Rank 5 with us. Well, some of our other members are also Rank 5, but thanks to Ki, they're strengthened to the point they're several times stronger than that, of course. Benladann and Miranda are already Rank 6 at this point, and my daughters too. But Divinity begins at Rank 7, so they still got some a big road before that. Nonetheless, I'll have to use every power and trick I got to beat these monsters, as I remember Aria saying they'll be as strong as the strongest of our party, me.
The possibility of being attacked by Rank 7 Monsters is very high… But we'll have to brave through these challenges with everything we have. We got a lot of numbers as well as my powerful divine magic and Divine Abilities, so I am going to use every single power at my disposal to make of our journey not something of life or death.
"Thank you, you make me feel honored, Lord Drake- I mean, Drake! We need to be less formal between friends, right? Gahaha!" Larzak laughed. Since the end of the war back in his home that he had grown less stressed. He had a harsh past I learned with his wife, but he had been striving forward ever since those times. He's a man with a tough skin and an even stronger heart.
I began to distribute equipment to everyone after our talk, special divine equipment made from my scales and divine ice. And enchanted with magic and even spirit creation runes, which enchant equipment even more. To boot, I added small pieces of my soul into them, making them living equipment too. What more can anybody ask for? With this, these equipment are the strongest I've made by far. Even Charlotte was surprised when she wore a full set of it. It was light and also amazing at protection, with great magical enhancement and physical enhancement added to it.
Anybody that wear my equipment grow several times stronger, their magic just becomes amazingly strong and destructive, as it was proven with the lizardmen I armed to go against the wild ones controlled by the scaled god. After wearing the full set of armor, Charlotte felt obviously more motivated to delve in the tower.
"Ki, huh? I have heard of such a power. Through my years of refining my energies, I've felt this energy flow through me, but it is often mixed with everything. Is this what happens with us Gods?" Asked Aria.
"Yeah, because our true power is a mix of Ki and Mana, we already learned and mastered Ki after becoming Gods, and we can use it just as simple as using Mana… But if you learn it as a mortal and master it in there, it can bring amazing benefits later. It's not like it made us weaker for not being able to enjoy this benefit or anything anyways." I said.
"Hm, I see. It is quite interesting how energies interact and work with one another. I am looking forward to your exploration of the Tower, Drake." Said Aria.
"Thank you, Aria." I said with a smile.
"…And of course, if you need more company at night, I am available. I might lack experience but I am a quick learner-"
"Please stop."
"Fufu, I was joking, relax!"
"Ugh. Women love to joke about sex, huh?"
Wasn't that men's doing? I guess because there are so many strong women in this world, sometimes the roles switch around quite freely. Especially Ice Giants, they're the fiercest women I've ever met in my two lives. Equally as strong as males, females just smack a male if they're disrespectful, there's no inequality within their tribe in terms of gender…
Anyways, when things were done, we stood in front of the Frost Tower, the enormous gate showed several icons showing the races of the world. And there was a large circle made of ice where we all stepped forward. The icons of each race began to light up in bright gold color when they detected each member of the tribe. We had two giants, 1 elf, 1 dwarf, 1 human, 2 beast-kin, and 2 lizardmen, and of course, a Vampire Ghost quickly entered, lighting up the Vampire icon… It works! And then, me!
I stepped forward, as suddenly, the enormous gates glowed even brighter, the enormous icon, which I thought was merely a decoration resembling an enormous and furious dragon glowed bright blue, showing I was here…
CREAAAK…!
The enormous gates of the Frost Tower opened to all of us, and without further ado, we stepped forward, ready for the challenges ahead.
"Welcome, Drake. I've been waiting for you."
And just as we stepped forward, I heard the soothing voice of a woman.
