An excruciating few hours later...
"Finally, we're done! I thought it would never end!" Jade spoke in a relieved tone. It was already dark out.
They had to work nonstop until they finished. The reason was that there were already beasts lurking in the surroundings, waiting for a chance to steal so benefits.
It was okay in the first hour or so since the battle's chaotic energy kept them away. However, the sll of at was too enticing for them to resist for too long.
While the group didn't mind the tye beasts getting so at. They did mind them possibly getting so beast cores along with that at. Which they didn't want to happen. Beast cores were a very valuable and quite uncommon resource in normal settings.
So, they did two things. Scare the beasts away while gathering cores. At first, Jade's Empress Aura worked perfectly. However, since she had no real intent behind it. It wasn't as effective as it could have been.
When asked why she wasn't displaying it to its full effect. Her reply was, "I can't bring myself to show my best to weaker opponents like these. Even if I want to, I just can't".
While it did increase their work. They understood. After all, what adult would bring out their all while facing a toddler? It's just how things work. Without a certain level of feeling threatened or pressured in so way. Most normal people can't go all out.
"Yeah, we can finally go rest. I will definitely have nothing but good dreams tonight. That's how happy I am about our profit" Emily responded while looking at the 300 beast cores that were filling up a large silver tal box that was floating behind them.
While most of the beasts didn't have cores. Which was to be expected. Having more than three hundred cores was beyond great news. Especially with the fact that the cores were mostly from PR2s and Half-step R3s. So were of a higher quality. It really seed like the higher the level of a beast, the higher the chance it had to have a core.
As for what chanisms or laws that worked behind that. They didn't care. As long as they got what they wanted. Everything else didn't matter.
"I refuse to rest before reaching Rank Three", Layla, who was probably one of the happiest ones at that mont, spoke.
She felt quite disappointed when she got the R3 beast core. Not because it was bad and she didn't want it, but because it made sothing apparent.
It alone wouldn't help her breakthrough. It would have gotten her to the threshold for her shadow elent. However, her ice would remain unmoved. So, while she would have gotten ahead of the others briefly. They would still have a chance to catch up. Making everything pointless, in her head.
After the dragon's bloodline ritual, though, everything had changed. While ice cores were rare like lightning and poison. There were still a few of each that they found. So she now had Everything she needed.
Which ant that as long as she took so ti to absorb the energy to refine hers. With the already filled KP count. She would break through within a few hours.
Of course, Hope, Chloe and Emily were in the sa situation. However, the difference between them and her was that she wanted to do it instantly and they wanted to rest. They weren't as obsessed with being at the top as she was.
Which wasn't a bad thing. Different people just had different ways of leading their lives. This was why the group didn't judge her harshly for her tendency to be overly competitive at tis.
"You can do that if you want. However, your fighting choices will be greatly reduced tomorrow," Muku spoke. His words confused Layla as well as everyone else. They didn't know what he was talking about.
"What do you an?" Layla, being soone who wasn't afraid to ask questions, sought clarification imdiately.
"Oh, seems you all have forgotten... Then again, the situation is a bit different from before. I'll explain after we're done with dinner" Muku replied in a way that didn't clear the confusion.
They had been talking while flying back to the mansion. Muku's statent happened to be right when they arrived. So he went inside with the cores without waiting for the girls to say anything.
"Tsk, always playing tricks", Jade complained, but she didn't run after him to make him talk. She had better things to do at that mont. Also, she knew that he wouldn't speak no matter what she tried to do anyway. Which made the other option even more enticing...
"...Why are you looking at like that?" Layla couldn't help but ask feeling a little weirded out.
How could she not when Jade was looking at her with a hungry look in her eyes. The sa one she has when she looks at at. Given their difference in strength at the mont. Where she probably wouldn't even be able to defend herself. She felt even more unsettled by the stare.
"Oh, sorry. I got lost in thought for a second there. Anyway, can you give so R3 beast at? I'm R3 now, so you can't expect to eat R2 at with the rest of you right?" Jade, who had gotten lost in her fantasies, replied after being pulled back by Layla's question.
"Oh... Here. You know you'll need Emily's assistance to cook it right?"Layla replied with a sigh of relief after realising that Jade really was thinking about at. She didn't delay giving it to her. Jade was now qualified to eat it, them not being able to wasn't a reason to stop her.
She then brought Jade's attention to a matter she had overlooked. Hearing the statent. Jade's expression instantly darkened as she looked at Emily. Emily gave her the brightest smile she was capable of. Which made Jade feel even worse.
She could instantly tell from that smile that Emily wasn't going to help. She was going to be petty and take the situation as a chance for revenge.
"Emily..." Jade being the seasoned soldier she was, still jumped into head first into the mission impossible.
"Yes?" Emily replied sweetly, her smile unchanging.
"You're my best friend right?" Jade continued, keeping her words as neutral as she could.
"Yes, definitely!. I'd even die for you" Emily replied with exaggerated conviction. However, the others could tell that she was being truthful. Emily and Jade were really the best of friends in the group despite everything.
"Great! I'd die for you too!" Jade replied with excitent. She felt like she was close to winning.
"Thank you. It's good to know we feel the sa", Emily replied. Still smiling innocently like before.
"Totally... So you'll help cook this at right?" Jade finally got to the point. She felt like she had built the situation up enough.
"No" Emily gave a simple one-word answer, her expression unchanged.
"Co on! I thought you said you'd even die for !" Jade imdiately broke down in complaints.
"Yeah, I would. This is a completely different situation, and you know how petty I am" Emily replied. Her expression was still unchanged.
"God! Why did you give such a petty friend! Fine! I'll get you back for this one!" Jade exclaid in frustration before running upstairs.
"Hehe" Emily's fake expression finally fell. Showing how she was enjoying the situation.
"Are you really not going to help her?" Audrey couldn't help but ask worriedly. While she didn't mind the girls bickering here and there. She didn't want them to go too far.
"I will help her. I'm just going to do it after we're done preparing everyone else's dinner. If I had agreed instantly. She would have hounded until I prepared hers first. Which wouldn't be too good since it takes longer to prepare. Honestly. If it wasn't because I'm not a 60% Half-step R3. I wouldn't have agreed to prepare it at all. My past strength was just not enough" Emily gave an explanation, making everything clear to everyone.
"Oh, if that's the case. That's good" Audrey replied with a relieved smile.
The girls imdiately went their different ways, to do their tasks. Other than Emily, for obvious reasons. The others all took turns in the kitchen. It happened to be Audrey's turn that day. So, she and Emily made their way to the kitchen.
...
Upstairs...
"Oh, so that's your plan huh? Well, you'll be in for a surprise this ti. I'll show you. Thinking you're so great because you're the only one who can cook my at for !" Jade, who had been secretly eavesdropping after running away, spoke to herself.
Her eyes then trailed onto Muku's door before heading there with nervousness and expectation written on her face. She wasn't sure if he would agree. However, as soone who likes trying sothing out first before deeming it impossible. She soldiered on.
Knock! Knock!
"Co in!" Muku's voice was heard from inside the room.
"He didn't ask who it was. Firstly he already knew from the energy signature. Plus, it didn't particularly matter who it was since no one other than their little group could go there. And he was fine with it being any of them.
"Okay," Jade replied in an unnaturally submissive voice. Which even made Muku raise his eyebrow a bit wondering what she could possibly want.
Jade first looked around to see if anyone saw her then went inside before closing the door softly...
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