I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1189: The Will To Be Stronger

The Storm Bastion shot forward like a gale of dark clouds ripping through the sky at vicious speed. Yet the velocity left Northern and the two Knights untouched on the air vessel’s deck.

The dark clouds filtered out the razor gales they carved through.

Knight Eskedar and Chryslar had entered the lounge area of the crew quarters, where black couches circled in different semi-circle sections with a black oak semi-circle table between them.

Both stood by the windows, eyes tracking the scenery below, when the entire airship bucked violently. Northern’s knuckles whitened on the railings, his brow creasing.

”That’s no ordinary shake... did something collide...”

Footsteps pounded across the deck. Oland burst through the doorway, chest heaving.

”My lord! It seems we are here already!”

Northern’s head snapped toward him.

”Really?”

Oland nodded, panting.

”Yes! And something’s pulling us downward.”

Northern’s eyes narrowed to slits.

”Yes...” He paused. ”A gravitational pull. Fascinating—nothing can fly over this region of death.”

Oland’s head dropped, his lips pressed into a thin line.

”I’m sorry. I had no idea... nothing had ever tried passing over it, from all that I’m aware of.”

A smile tugged at Northern’s lips.

”Don’t waste apologies, Oland. You didn’t know. Well, if it wants us to come down, then we come down. Oh, and by ’we,’ I mean me. I don’t want liabilities, so I’ll be going alone. I hope you understand.”

Knight Eskedar and Chryslar burst onto the deck, boots hammering metal.

”Please take us with you!” Knight Chryslar locked eyes with Northern, jaw set.

Knight Eskedar stepped forward. ”Please, your highness... we need to go down there.”

Northern’s hand dragged down his face. A heavy sigh escaped him.

”Why?”

”Because we need to get stronger.” Knight Chryslar’s voice cut sharp.

Northern studied them both. Neither flinched. Knight Chryslar’s black hair lay groomed and princely, strands falling over his forehead. His sharp jawline emphasized the steel in his eyes.

Northern’s expression hardened to match theirs.

”There are hordes of monsters down there. Getting stronger might become surviving...” He jabbed a finger toward them. ”For you guys, that is.”

Knight Chryslar’s eyes lit up. ”We’ll try not to drag you down.”

Northern shook his head and strode to the edge of the railing. When he pivoted back, a wicked grin split his face.

”You want to follow me? Then dare to find your way down yourselves.”

He leaped across the railing, vanishing into the dark storms.

They stood there, blinking. Eskedar’s head swiveled toward Oland. The pilot’s frown deepened.

”You’re not going with us? You don’t want to get stronger?”

Oland shot him a look, thumb jerking toward the navigation chamber of the airship.

”Excuse me???”

Eskedar shook his head at Oland. Then he and Knight Chryslar reached the railings. They peered into the abyss of dark storms, faces grave. Their eyes hardened. The next moment, they vaulted over the railings in a single leap.

Oland sighed as they left. The request wasn’t strange. More often than not, the sheer environment of the Limitless Void had tried to kill them.

For these knights who prided themselves as the second and third strongest in the Luinngard Empire, they lived in perpetual embarrassment. They couldn’t even properly mine red crystals because the bloodlust cut too sharp and brutal.

Over time, their hunger for strength had crystallized. Every opportunity became a lifeline. Seeing this one, they seized it. Oland wouldn’t deny they were strong—of course not—but diving headlong into the Region of Death? He didn’t know if that was wise. He’d heard horrifying tales about that place since childhood.

He exhaled.

”Anyways, let me make myself coffee.”

***

Northern landed on the blackened rock at the canyon’s edge with the grace of a drifting leaf. He glanced up. The two were plummeting straight through the sky, expressions rigid and determined.

The first person diving down was Eskedar, his curly brown hair whipping in the wind as he plummeted through the air. Northern folded his arms and watched from where he stood, refusing to intervene.

As the Knight suddenly reached the lower level, closing in on the ground, brown essence began hemorrhaging from him, spreading like thickened smoke. It rippled over him, staining the air, then the aura coalesced—shaping into what looked like a massive tower.

Before Knight Eskedar slammed into the ground, the tower’s base struck the canyon surface. The place trembled. The landing of the tower killed his falling speed, dropping him to his knees like he’d just leaped down from a long staircase.

In the same breath, as Knight Chryslar reached ground—two long swords gleamed in his hands. He spiraled through the air with both blades, becoming a whirling storm of white steel that carved through wind resistance.

Northern’s lips parted.

’He used his movements to kill momentum.’

[Do you want to copy talent, Tempest’s Cadence, B-class for 5,000 talent fragments]

’Yes... wait what?’

Northern’s gaze dropped to the panel before his eyes.

’Five thousand? Why? B-class talents used to be just five hundred!’

[Due to difference in Soul essence potency, soul rank, nature of being, it now costs more to weave talents into your soul]

Northern’s jaw tightened.

’That doesn’t sound good.’

[Is it too much of a cost for all the great boons you’ve received?]

Silence stretched between them. Then he exhaled.

”I guess not.”

His eyes became slits.

’Did you just speak disrespectfully to me... your tone carried an undercurrent of disrespect.’

[Incorrect]

[Copying Talent, Tempest’s Cadence, B-class for 5,000 talent fragments]

[Since the Talent User is only a Savant, only four talent abilities will be gained]

[Drifter ability, First Blood Rhythm, has been gained]

[Nomad ability, Whirlwind, has been gained]

[Vagrant ability, Hurricane’s Grace, has been gained]

[Maverick ability, Eternal Tempest, has been gained]

[Talent, Tempest’s Cadence, B-class has been successfully copied]

[You have lost 5,000 talent fragments]

A subtle surge registered in his soul—power rising like a tide. The two knights approached. Northern’s eyes lingered on Eskedar.

’His talents also seem useful, but let’s study them awhile before deciding. With all the future talents I might see, I can’t afford to be rash.’

Both wore chests puffed out as they reached Northern.

”Your Highness, we made it!”

Northern’s lips twitched, suppressing a laugh.

’They were Luinngard’s best. How did I forget that.’

He turned toward the canyon’s depths, shaking his head.

”You might’ve successfully landed, but thanks to that, you both just alerted every creature beneath us. Tsk, no sense of discretion or environmental awareness. Didn’t Luinngard teach you? You can’t just broadcast your arrival to your enemies.”

From the dark hollows of the canyon, multiple red eyes began to ignite.