Only I Am A Reader

Although the speed displayed by Transcendent Martial Artists and above made it seem like they were teleporting or flying, this was just an illusion created by the observer's restricted vision. In reality, they touched the ground several times to propel the jumps necessary to reach their destination, this was something that Leo experienced firsthand while lying in Cheon Chang's arm.

Everything appeared blurry from his point of view, but he could still generally tell where they were. In no time, they were already climbing up the Azure Tree while accompanied by both the Flame Emperor, the Sword King, and one more powerhouse at their level that chickened from the earlier battle.

"What a cheap thing for the Emei Sect's old woman to do!"

The Sword King easily recognized the Sect Master of the Emei Sect, another organization that only accepted women into their ranks. Compared to what he called her, the woman was both youthful and beautiful enough to be in her thirties…

Regardless, no one had the free time to quarrel or answer insults in a race like this. Leo was surprised to not find the sight of Geochin anywhere. At the very least, the Sword King looked like someone who would take him along for Pung Chungwon's sake.

'Almost…'

All four powerhouses jumped at the Azure Tree's crown at the same time. The one whose hand moved the fastest would naturally be the one to get the prize… Or so everyone thought.

Krwa!

The cry of what seemed like a bird pierced the five's ears as something flew by ten times quicker than a bullet. Opening his eyes after his sight was momentarily distorted, Leo quickly came to an important realization, something had snatched the Sky Fruit!

Such a thing shouldn't have been possible with Cheon Chang and the others' speed. However, it happened just like that.

'This is…'

Leo rummaged through his memories of the book before finally coming to a conclusion in regards to the blurry figure that just passed by.

"What was that?"

The Flame Emperor questioned as lightly landed on the Azure Tree's crown. A fight would have broken between the four of them if the fruit wasn't directly consumed, but since they were all bamboozled, the atmosphere between them didn't grow that heated yet.

Not only was it fast enough to beat them to it, but the strange bird had additionally disappeared from their sights in the same instant that they couldn't even attempt to take it back.

'Isn't that Roc Parrot?'

The answer manifested in Leo's mind as his shock grew bigger. If he wasn't wrong, the only bird possessing such extreme speed was one of Geochin's companions, a small bird that was as fast as a Roc yet as talkative as a parrot. However, it wasn't yet time for it to make an appearance!

It was only in the next arc that the clever bird would appear and provide the protagonist with help while helping himself in the process… Somehow, it had skipped backwards to leave its print here!

"There!"

The Sword King moved, directing the attention of the rest towards the bird that had reappeared at a distance. Not only had it not consumed the fruit, but it let it drop to the ground!

'For real?'

Leo's eyes traced the drop location only to see two figures climbing out from behind one of the rocks scattered around the plain. Geochin and Pung Miyoung surprisingly looked up at the fruit that was falling at them from the sky…

'This really is a lost game…'

So many things had changed yet the result was not that far from being the same! The Poison Dragon consumed four fruits only to die, accompanying the foolish Head Abbot that was ratted out by the protagonist into the grave, and finally, the protagonist was still the one to obtain the last Sky Fruit!

Leo's position didn't remain stagnant as Cheon Chang and the others ran towards Geochin to catch their rightful prize. Unfortunately, the fruit dropped down too fast as if affected by 5 times the gravity, reaching Goechin's hand before theirs.

Chomp!

Geochin only spared a glance at Pung Miyoung's nod before he strongly bit into the Sky Fruit. Unlike others who desired everything for themselves, she believed that only a person who suffered so much injustice due to his lack of talent was the one who truly deserved this gift from the heavens!

She didn't even get to properly grieve for the death of the figure who was both her master as well as her great grandfather, but that didn't seem to affect her judgment, nor did it turn into a desire for compensation. Pung Miyoung simply tried her best to be happy for her childhood friend who found his own way to stand as their equal.

"No!"

The Emei Sect's master extended her hand to grasp the neck of Geochin who already swallowed the whole thing, but the Sword King suddenly appeared in her way, pushing her back with his sheathed sword.

"Hey! Let's not go too far. There is nothing we can do now that he has already swallowed it."

The Sword King didn't seem on Geochin's side as he wanted to snatch the fruit for himself in the beginning. However, he acted a little more rationally considering his complicated relationship with the departed Pung Chungwon.

"But-but-but… How!"

"Haaa… Forget it, since that strange thing dropped it for you, consider it your destiny."

Even then, he still seemed as reluctant as the Emei Sect's master, letting out a long sigh as he glanced at Geochin who started glowing thanks to the Sky Fruit's effect… As one would expect, he was directly breaking through to the Peak Stage!

Although Geochin was far from satisfying any of the requirements needed for this breakthrough thanks to the several qualities he was lacking in, all of that simply didn't matter with the Sky Fruit's assistance. Rather, this was just one of the perspectives of the overall increase of ability that it provided!

'Some things you just need to accept…'

Looking at the protagonist from afar as Cheon Chang had stopped further away from them, Leo's eyes wandered through the transformed terrain. His chances at gaining something from this event were really…

'Wait!'

Leo quickly paused his line of thoughts as soon as he caught sight of the small glacial hemisphere standing within the rubble!