Of course, Noah wanted to right away test the new skill he had obtained. But he had underestimated the floors of the Tower of Champions, the vast expanse of deserts in the past floors taking him a few hours to go through as he knew it was nearing daytime.
He couldn't not try out the new skill he gained on Beasts though, so he made up his mind as he chose to delve into at least the 16th floor!
SHAA!
Their figures were teleported onto the scorching desert once more, facing even more monstrous and larger numbers of desert type Rift Bosses.
This time while his Offensive units thundered forward, he wasn't too far behind them as when he faced a Desert Scorpion, his eyes shone while he cast [Fire Bolt]!
ZIIING!
A fiery bolt of flames appeared beside him as it shot forth like a flash of light towards the Beast.
BOOM!
It struck its head as it left behind devastating damage, an explosive and scorching mess left behind as the Iron Rift Boss wiggled and fell to the ground!
One hit KO on a Rift Boss!
Noah felt strong emotions from gaining such a wondrous skill as he searched the vast desert with even more vigor, casting the skill left and right as it definitely helped with their clear time.
He ran out of energy half way through as he pulled out the item he had been obtaining in the past Floors, Mana Potion!
[Mana Potion] :: A potion that revitalizes the energy of its consumer to full capacity.
A wondrous piece of loot that he drank to be filled with energy again, finishing the 16th floor after an hour as rewards similar to the 11th floor greeted him!
He looked towards his Loot that glimmered with shining lights in his Inventory as he reappeared in the waiting area of the Tower of Champions, choosing to leave after spending an entire night here.
He would return to rush towards the 20th floor as soon as he could, his heart set on the rewards there as he wanted to challenge himself to rise even further!
---[Change in POV]
I was staring out the window early in the morning as I looked for a single person.
More shocking than even last time, my dear older brother had not even spent the night in the house after we saved the Princess, and he was off doing lord knows what.
The events of last night played through my mind as I still couldn't believe them, though.
My older brother. My slacker of a brother. He...actually had BRONZE Rank strength and even had abilities that could summon fearsome beasts!
"How…"
There was no answer in sight as I looked towards the door that used to be his room, where currently a princess that nearly lost her life was now resting.
'Hmm?'
My eyes caught his figure as he entered the apartment complex, trying my best to put on a calm expression as he came up and entered our apartment.
He saw me sitting by the window as he smiled.
"What's my little sister doing up so early?"
He shot forth a question so calmly as if he didn't just take down a SILVER Rank assassin last night.
I looked at him closely as I let out a sigh and replied.
"So you disappear at night to dive in Rifts? Why keep it a secret? Why act weak…?"
I truly had a great deal of questions for this older brother of mine, but he frustratingly waved his hands to dismiss them all as he spoke with a smile.
"I told you guys a few days ago that I was finally gonna get serious, and I actually did start that day. The results you see now...are all I have achieved since then!"
…!
He let out unbelievable words as I rolled my eyes, but he then waved his hands after seeing me disregard his words as…
SHAA!
The brilliant luster of IRON and...BRONZE Rank Cores filled the room!
"I wanted to help my little sister and finally contribute to the family. Use these to break through the Iron Rank and reach Bronze, and then we can go diving in a Bronze Rift soon…"
I couldn't help but look towards him in a stupor while glancing at the scene of hundreds of Iron Cores and over 30 Bronze Cores!
Yet...he merely yawned as his face seemed to be filled with tiredness, crashing on the couch as even with the sunlight passing through the window, this guy fell asleep in seconds!
This…
This was truly my older brother?
The same very one I used to know?!
---
While Annalise grasped the fact that her brother had become capable enough to even wave his hands and cause the appearance of Iron and Bronze Cores, the hours passed as news of the movements of the Dark Continent became widespread.
In the hours of the afternoon where the sun's rays were the brightest, the parents of the Eckert Household returned home to first see the daughter shockingly absorbing Peak BRONZE Cores that even they rarely come across when they dived in Rifts with a team!
When she came to and stabilized her aura in the BRONZE Realm, her body reeled in the Frost that had begun to leak out from her ||Ice Queen|| also advancing with her as she let her parents know that the one to be magnanimous enough and give all this...was her Older Brother.
They looked at the slacker that was snoring on the couch as they made sure it was the same person, Jon looking towards his son with a hidden light of pride as Evelyn looked towards Noah with loving eyes that even dripped tears!
But even this scene didn't last too long as Noah was ruffled awake when the door to his room opened and the 5th Princess they were hiding came out.
Jon's face then turned grim as he looked at everyone along with the groggy Noah while he told them shocking news.
"Forces of the Dark Continent are making their way through the border...they want to expand their influence as Academy City is one of the locations a Legion of Blessed is heading to!"
…!
The sleepiness was instantly lost from Noah's eyes as the eyes of two girls flashed with a sharp light!
The peaceful years they had experienced were now being brought to an end as they would soon be caught in the middle of a war between two Hegemonies!