Chapter 43: So This is Bond?

There was a famous saying, "Human ability has its limits, but the pursuit of truth knows no bounds[1]."

In a world where knowledge summoned spirits and spirits gave birth to Miracles, the pursuit of knowledge was almost an instinct carved into every sorcerer's soul. Yet as sorcerers threw themselves into the quest for wisdom, an insurmountable barrier stood in their path, and that was their learning efficiency.

Regardless of race or rank, all sorcerers learned the same way. They began by memorizing, then progressed to understanding, and finally achieved mastery. Each race had its own strengths. For instance, the sharp-eyed Sky Dancers excelled at memorization, elves with powerful souls excelled at comprehension, and beastkin with keen intuition mastered skills with ease. The playing field wasn't perfectly equal, but every race held the potential to become a sorcerer.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

However, once they stepped into the Virtual World, they would realize how laughable those racial advantages became in the face of the boundless Sea of Knowledge. No matter how gifted they were, their efficiency at absorbing knowledge was no better than trying to drink an entire sea through a straw, with the only difference being the thickness of the straw.

To cope, sorcerers devised countless methods. They created miracles like Perfect Recall, Accelerated Thought, and Instant Insight. Some even extended their lifespans, hoping to trade time for the learning speed they lacked.

The surging demand for knowledge and their inadequate learning efficiency was a contradiction that sorcerers had never been able to solve. But the Virtual World had long prepared the answer for them.

Sonya gently held the bright, translucent orb in her palm. "This is a Light Class Experience Orb."

Worried that raising her voice might damage it, Sonya spoke softly, "Once it's absorbed, a sorcerer with no knowledge of the Light Class will instantly gain Silver Rank-level understanding and become a Light Sorcerer."

"When we return to the real world, a bit of sorting and study is all you'll need before you can summon a Light Class spirit on your own. This isn't illusory knowledge. It contains the Foxlight Dragon's actual experiences."

"If spirits are rare treasures, then Experience Orbs are priceless."

Sonya's eyes shone with longing. "No sorcerer, no matter how poor, would ever sell one, and no sorcerer, no matter how generous, could resist one. They're allowed to be brought out of the Virtual World, but almost no one does. The moment they get an orb, they absorb it."

Almost every legendary sorcerer had consumed countless Experience Orbs. They were the reason sorcerers could master multiple classes, innovate across disciplines, create new Miracles, summon new spirits, and even establish entirely new sorcerer classes. The development of sorcerer civilization owed an immeasurable debt to the Experience Orbs.

Ashe could understand their value, but not Sonya's excitement. "You make it sound priceless, but didn't we get one pretty easily?"

Sonia took a deep breath and repeated silently to herself three times.

The Watcher is just a loud little idiot. The Watcher is just a loud little idiot. The Watcher is just a loud little idiot.

Then she answered calmly, "In theory, Experience Orbs aren't hard to obtain. Any knowledge creature might drop one."

"But knowledge creatures often overpower sorcerers of the same level. And even if you find one you can beat, most of the time it flees right when you're about to win."

"They can flee?"

"They're living creatures. Of course they know how to avoid danger. Do you think something capable of birthing spirits would be too stupid to understand basic survival instinct?"

Ashe suspected she'd just mocked him, but he couldn't quite prove it. "So the sorcerer ends up with nothing? That's a huge loss."

"Not exactly. Knowledge creatures also escape by sacrificing something. When they run, they throw out spirits to distract the sorcerer. So even if a knowledge creature gets away, you can still at least get a spirit."

"That's not so bad. Better than winning and ending up with nothing."

"Sometimes winning hurts more. If a sorcerer kills the knowledge creature, there's a chance they destroy the orb with it."

"What?"

Sonya explained, "Experience Orbs aren't created when the creature dies. They already exist inside the body. But because knowledge creatures dissipate after death, no one knows where the orbs form. Different creatures grow them in different places."

"If a sorcerer miscalculates an attack, they might shatter the orb without ever realizing it."

"Every sorcerer has experienced killing a knowledge creature and come away without an Experience Orb. No one ever knows whether the creature lacked an orb or whether they destroyed it themselves. Now do you understand how lucky we were to get this one?"

She looked toward the spot where the Foxlight Dragon had vanished. "If it hadn't fallen asleep... if we hadn't aimed all our attacks at its head... if the orb hadn't grown in its head... if it had just a bit more strength left to fight back... if even one step had gone differently, this orb would've never been ours."

As she spoke, Sonya couldn't help looking at the Watcher in awe.

He had deliberately stopped just to wait for the Foxlight Dragon to fall asleep. Such a shameless, unprecedented tactic... it's brilliant!

Ashe nodded, his eyes fixed on the Experience Orb. "Indeed."

Sonya tightened her grip around it, trembling slightly before letting out a breath. She held it out to Ashe. "Here."

"You're willing to give it to me?"

Sonya tried to sound casual. "Aren't you in a dangerous situation and desperately need something to strengthen yourself? I'm not in a rush. You can have this one. But next time we find a swordsmanship orb, don't fight me for it."

"Deal."

Ashe reached for the orb, but it was stuck to her palm and wouldn't budge. "You need to let go!"

"I am letting go, I swear! My fingers just won't listen!"

With no other choice, Ashe pried her fingers off one by one. Under Sonya's reluctant gaze, he finally held the orb in his hand.

A warm current flowed through his palm, and a screen appeared.

[Light Orb]

Description

- The truth essence left behind by the Foxlight Dragon. It contains secret knowledge unattainable by ordinary sorcerers. Absorbing it grants a large amount of Light-related experience.

Signature Quote

- Moonlight is a leaping fox, and the fox is moonlight set walking.

The moment Ashe touched the orb, a tremor ran through his soul. An indescribable hunger surged and spread through his entire body. An overwhelming thirst for knowledge, unlike anything he had ever felt, shook his rationality.

The sensation was impossible to describe. It was more frustrating than a novel cutting off at a critical moment, more urgent than realizing half the exam answers were missing, and even more maddening than a lewd image freezing at the most crucial point. Every nerve, every pore of his body demanded that he absorb the orb immediately.

Prison, danger, and survival. None of it mattered. In that instant, knowledge became Ashe's only desire.

Just as he was about to give in, a flash of clarity pierced his mind.

Wait... I smell surplus value.

He glanced at the orb's description again. It clearly stated, "Absorbing it grants a large amount of Light-related experience," which meant...

"Swordswoman, you should take this one."

Normally nimble, Sonya fumbled as she caught the orb, her eyes wide with shock and irritation. "Don't tell me your understanding of the Light Class is already at Silver Rank or higher!"

"No. I know nothing about the Light Class."

"I get it. Light conflicts with the affinities you've already mastered, like the Dark Abyss Class—"

"No, no. I know nothing. You know that."

"Then why won't you absorb it?"

"Because you and I share a bond," Ashe said as if it were obvious. "If you grow stronger, I grow stronger."

Sonya had heard him mention their bond many times before, but she had always interpreted it as a polite way of saying he could control her. His claim that her strength was his had always sounded like empty, polite nonsense. It was only at this moment that she couldn't help but marvel.

So this is what a bond is...

Without hesitation, Sonya crushed the orb in her hand. She trembled. A faint flush rose to her cheeks, and she let out a soft, lingering sigh.

The sight was undeniably tempting, but Ashe had no time to admire it. The sensation was nearly the same for him. It felt less like absorbing knowledge and more like memories surfacing in his thoughts, as if suddenly recalling a teacher's explanation during a difficult math problem. Ashe effortlessly mastered a vast amount of knowledge related to the Light, and in an instant, he went from a complete novice to a sorcerer specialized in the Light Class.

It worked. Thirty percent of the Light-related experience Sonya absorbed flowed into Ashe.

That was why he had given her the orb and not succumbed to the orb's temptation. Absorbing it himself would grant him 100%, but letting Sonya take it meant he gained a total of 130%. If she continued advancing in the Light Class, he would enjoy endless, long-term returns. The surplus far outweighed the benefit of keeping the orb for himself.

An orb was merely a tool, like a farming instrument. No matter how exquisite, it only showed its true worth in the hands of someone who could use it. Ashe was fully aware of his own lack of talent, so he could afford to wait and reap the harvest later.

Sonya gradually recovered from the warm rush of knowledge and looked at Ashe, her face filled with gratitude. "Thank you."

"Then don't disappoint me. Study the Light Class properly, and don't slack off on your swordsmanship training either."

"Got it!"

1. This highlights the limits of human ability. No matter how talented or diligent a person may be, they can never master all the knowledge in the world. Truth and understanding are boundless, extending far beyond what anyone can fully comprehend. ☜