X-Rank Hunter

"Lacking Spiritual Energy?" Jim and the other four Spirits frowned from those words as realization dawned upon them.

Indeed, Spiritual Energy was a crucial thing for a Summoner like Jasper. Every time they used a skill or summon a Spirit, Summoners needed to have a required amount of Spiritual Energy. How come did they even forget about that?

But well, they couldn't blame themselves as well. Jasper had always had an abundant amount of Spiritual Energy making the other party be accustomed and be complacent that he could perform such skill. The same went for Jim and the four Spirits, they were also expecting that Jasper would not be lacking in Spiritual Energy since the other party had plenty of it.

But never did they thought that their expectation would betray them.

On the other hand, Jasper was frowning as well. He just heard that he was lacking in Spiritual Energy. Did it mean that his Spiritual Energy was low? No, Jasper realized that it wasn't the case but instead, the Spiritual Energy needed to use the skill: Possession with four Spirits was simply too great that even his Spiritual Energy was not enough!

Why was his teacher didn't say anything like that!? Jasper was now blaming his teacher. He didn't realize that it wasn't because his teacher forgot or didn't tell it to him on purpose. It was just that, it wasn't the time for it yet.

They all knew that Jasper had just successfully used Possession with three Spirits a few days ago. No one would expect that he would immediately be able to succeed in using Possession with four Spirits. And from the looks of it now, Jasper appeared that he really was unable to do so. He couldn't even meet the required Spiritual Energy.

The world must be mad if Jasper was able to do it. They knew that the world was unfair, but it shouldn't be so unfair right?

And who do they think Jasper was? Zhang Xuan who could learn any techniques in just a moment? They must be dreaming!

That being said, Jasper's teacher didn't mention that the required Spiritual Energy to use Possession with four Spirits was double the amount than using Possession with only three Spirits.

The skill grade had just moved up a single rank!

Meanwhile, as Laude finally reached his distance to his grandsons, he glared at both of them as both Jim and Jasper felt a heavy pressure accompanied by cold sweats forming on their forehead.

"Why are you rushing things?" Laude's cold voice echoed in the surroundings making both Jim and Jasper couldn't reply any more words. Though the question was directed to Jasper, Jim still felt uneasy.

On the other hand, Jasper wanted to say that his big brother urged him but he knew as well that there was no reasoning that would work for his grandfather. That being said, he remained silent.

Jim on the other hand, wanted to run away already. Was his grandfather blaming him for telling his younger brother to try using the skill Possession? It must be the case!

But they were just going to try! What was so wrong about it?!

"Do you think that just because the technique is stronger and is on the higher rank, the output damage would be stronger as well?" Seeing that Jasper was silent, Laude continued speaking with the same cold voice.

Jasper could only bow his head down as he was really thinking about what the other party had just said. Wasn't that only natural that stronger technique had stronger damage?

"You still are naive." Laude remarked mercilessly, "Let me ask you, between me and your father, who do you think is stronger?"

Jasper was silent for a while. The whole kingdom knew that his father, Joe Jabat, was stronger than their grandfather. But why was his grandfather asking such a question now?

Jasper couldn't understand the purpose but still, he answered the other party, "Father is stronger."

"Why do you think so?"

"This..."

Jasper didn't know what to say. He really didn't know why. Everyone just said that his father was the strongest SS-Rank Hunter in the Maharlika Kingdom.

Perhaps, their grandfather was already old? That should be the reason why their father was stronger than him right? Jasper had his wild guesses that he said inwardly but he didn't dare to voice it out.

"Do you know what is your father's favorite skill?" Laude asked.

"Blessings." Jasper replied. Their father was famed for using this skill, a skill that every Summoner or Beast Tamer could do. It was a skill that could give boosts to the strength of one's Spirits or tamed beasts.

"You're right. Then tell me what grade is this skill."

"Low Rank skill. It's an E-rank!"

Just like the rank of a Hunter, the skill was ranked in the same way. There were Low Rank (E, D, and C), Middle Rank (B and A), and High Rank (S, SS, and SSS) skill grades. It was ranked according to the difficulty of using the skills and its power.

And the skill: Blessings, of which Joe Jabat was famed at, was actually an E-rank skill. It was the easiest skill to learn for the Summoners and Beast Tamers. And Summoners and Beast Tamers probably know how to use such a skill.

"Yes, it's an E-rank." Laude said as he added, "Then why is it that when your father is already the one using it, the skill is seemingly in the High Rank grade?"

"This..." Jasper was lost for words.

Indeed, the skill: Blessings was only an E-rank skill, why did it seem that this skill was in the level of High Rank skill when their father was finally the one using it?

One must know that when Joe was using the skill: Blessings, even an E-rank beast could execute a strength of an S-rank beast for a short time. One must know as well that Joe could not only do that in a single beast but to multiple beasts at the same time!

Most of the Summoners and Beast Tamers could only give a 10% to 30% increase of strength to their tamed beasts or summoned Spirits, but Joe could actually increase the rank of a certain beast by several ranks. Just how huge the disparity of strength between Joe and the other Beast Tamers or Summoners?

Seeing that his grandson couldn't reply anymore, Laude then continued speaking, "Joe can use such skill at such level because of his efficiency. He has grasped the skill at a completely different level, enabling him to display its potential to the fullest.

"It's a Low Rank skill but Joe can give output damage comparable to High Rank skills when he is using it! And with that Low Rank skill, he could defeat us who were using High Rank skills.

"In your case, you must understand that before you proceed to a higher level of skill, you must first grasp well what you have now. You can't even use properly the skill: Possession with three Spirits and here you are, stupidly trying to use Possession with four Spirits. Are you trying to kill yourself? If so, then tell me already and I will do it for you!"

Gulp!

Hearing the cold words of his grandfather, Jasper could only swallow his saliva furiously that its sound had even echoed to the surroundings.

Nonetheless, their grandfather was right. He couldn't even grasp well the skill: Possession with three Spirits, why was he dreaming of using it to four Spirits of which it was in a higher rank compared to just using it with only three Spirits?

One must know that other people could use Possession without suffering any backlash. And they could even use it in a much longer time than what Jasper could do.

Jasper was thankful. He just learned some precious insights from his grandfather. The other party might appear cold and indifferent to the point that as if he didn't care. But Jasper knew full well how their grandfather wanted to support, help, and guide them in any way possible.

It was just that, his way was really unique, making them think the opposite.

"You too brat! I'm also talking to you." As Jasper was still savoring the precious knowledge he had just learned, he heard his grandfather speaking again. But this time, the other party wasn't talking to him but instead, to his big brother Jim. "Just because you become a little stronger, don't think that you can do everything!"

"Y-yes!" Jim thought that he was already saved from the sermon but his expectation still betrayed him. But he wasn't trying to do anything though. He was just telling his younger brother to do Possession. Why was the other party reprimanding him that as if he was trying to do everything?

But finally, for the first time in his life, his grandfather had praised him. Although the other party had just said that he only became a 'little stronger', it was still a praise. Jim knew well how rare it was for his grandfather's mouth for a word of praise to come out for anyone.

"The time will come that you will be on your own. And you only have yourself to rely on. You must become strong but never let yourself be controlled by your own strength. Don't get conceited when you become stronger and don't ever be complacent that you are the strongest that can do anything!"

Jim was still enjoying the praise given by his grandfather when another word from the other party came out. That time, he really couldn't make sense of why the other party was saying those words. 

Nonetheless, he still nodded as he replied, "Yes!"

He was afraid that if he didn't do so, he would be smacked without any reason at all. That being said, he didn't ask for an explanation and didn't try to understand the meaning behind it as he immediately responded to his grandfather.