Kael Hound clapped, and the door opened to admit two Hounds, one with a large chest and the other with a much smaller one. They dropped it before Kael, bowed to him, and turned to go.
"I told you I have gifts for you. A new skill has been found out. It's not new per se, but it was discovered that it would be better learned when young," Kael said.
"We call it the 'Sword Glare.' Of course, any kind of weapon can do it, but that's the name. It is quite a simple skill; you infuse your energy into a weapon and release it." Kael stood up and took a small dagger from his robe. He gestured for others to do the same.
Azaroth had tried this skill before, but his only thought was to make his weapon more durable. He watched as Kael raised the dagger and infused it with red energy.
Energy covered the dagger, and the small weapon glowed red as if it were hot, but no heat came from it. Kael turned to one of the wooden practice targets and slashed the air with the dagger.
The sword glare ripped through the air in a bow shape, crackling like fire. It cut through the wooden dummy like butter, leaving charred wood behind.
The smell of burning wood filled the air, and faint smoke drifted from the dummy.
Azaroth replayed the scene. That energy was not fire, but it was fire-infused, as if the essence in Kael's core was now fire energy.
Alex whistled. "That would cause serious damage to humans."
"That was why it was created," Kael said, returning his dagger to his robe just as quickly as he had taken it out.
Even Catena looked less bored, and Stallus nodded deeply in thought.
"That wasn't fire," Azaroth said.
Kael nodded. "It wasn't. That was as raw of an energy as my core could produce."
"Isn't the essence invisible... white in color?" Stallus asked.
"It is for your level, but once you start on a technique, your core will take that technique's appearance, and the essence you harvest will be changed directly to that technique's essence... or energy," Kael said.
Kael pointed at himself. "Since I practice the fire techniques, now you can say I have a fire core. And that energy with the sword glare is fire energy."
Azaroth nodded. So that was why his chaos core was black-red and its energy the same. His normal core was also the white invisible energy, unrefined to a specific technique.
Did that mean the chaos core had already changed and fixed into a chaos core immediately after it entered his body?
"How do you change the core?" Alex asked excitedly.
"You will begin now at your level once your technique has been chosen. The more you train, the more your core and its essence change." Kael directed them to sit, and he pulled the small chest toward himself.
Kael opened the chest, and Azaroth saw a glimpse of books with brown covers. Kael took out three rolled pieces of paper, shook them in his closed fist, and dropped them.
"Normally, Hounds learn hand-to-hand fighting, weapon fighting, and fire techniques of the Inferno Legion. Most of our fire techniques are poor, as I said earlier, but we do have some promising techniques among us."
Kael paused and gestured to the three papers. "Lucky for you, as part of the Yama Project, you are entitled to quality techniques. In fact, for the first time, fighting forces within the Inferno Legion will be allowed to learn another technique that isn't a fire technique."
Azaroth frowned. Why were there only three papers here? Weren't they four? Had they found out about his chaos core? Was that why Kael prepared three techniques because he would not be using them?
Azaroth watched the door. He was too far away, and Kael would kill him before he reached it anyway. He started gathering energy from both his chaos and normal cores.
Kael continued speaking. "There are three techniques here. Stallus already had her technique chosen for her... due to her unusual situation."
Azaroth released the energy he had been gathering sharply and looked at Stallus. So that was why there were three papers. He had overreacted, but Azaroth shrugged mentally. It was better to be prepared.
But what unusual situation was Stallus in? Azaroth frowned.
"I was told to pick a technique for you, but frankly, I can't be bothered with that. So I wrote it down, and you will each pick one," Kael nodded at the rolled papers.
Azaroth stared hard at the three papers. One of them would determine his future. The Eye had said fire was the most suitable option, but that would not be available now. Then again, the Eye said his chaos core works well with any technique.
"Azaroth, you first. Pick one," Kael nodded.
Azaroth stretched his hand and picked the closest one to him on the right. He didn't bother to waste time. He had left everything to chance.
"Don't open it yet. You next, Alex."
Alex's hand hovered above the papers, his eyes flicking about. "I want fire! I want fire for the Inferno Legion!"
Kael growled. "Pick. One."
Alex's hand snapped out, and he picked the one to the left, whispering desperately to it. Stallus rolled her eyes.
Catena sighed and picked the last one.
"There's no need for all that," Kael said, facing Alex. "All are quality techniques with good skills."
"Let's start from you, Catena. Open yours," Kael ordered.
Catena nodded and started unrolling his paper. He stared at the words written on it in indifference.
"What's the technique?" Stallus asked.
"Earth Elemental Technique," Catena said.
Stallus smiled. "Fits your deep voice and bored face already."
Catena grunted and grumbled.
"Me next! Me!" Alex had begun unrolling his own, and when he saw what was written on it, he screamed and jumped up, doing a weird dance.
Kael gestured for Azaroth to unroll his own, and he felt a dull pang of disappointment. He had been hoping for a fire technique.
Azaroth unrolled it and read what was inside. "Fire Elemental Technique."
Azaroth raised his brows when he heard Alex shout, "Mine is Lightning Elemental Technique!"
Kael put his hand on the large chest. "Now to the second gift?"