Ethereal Ascendance: A Journey of Transformation

I was a bit incredulous, looking at him doubtfully. I felt like he was joking with me. I'm very clear about my own abilities - I've just learned one more Purification Spell, and haven't ranked up or learned any other skills or magic. How could I suddenly reach level 4?

"Really, believe me."

Adrian suddenly looked at me seriously and said.

"You killed a level 4 Face Fly and kicked a drunken level 5 demon. Even though the demon was drunk when you got the better of him, you wouldn't have been able to do that without level 4 abilities."

"That's because they were affected by the Purification Spell."

Adrian wouldn't understand. I'm very clear that I was only able to kick Buck thanks to my empty level 4 strength. My overall abilities are still very poor.

If we really fought head-on, whether it was the Face Fly or the demon, I would have no chance at all. Because in reality, I don't know any martial arts techniques at all. The Purification Spell could only catch the magical creatures off guard. If they defended against it, I could only get beaten up.

"And also, even if I could upgrade my rank, I'd have to get back to do it!"

I sighed helplessly as I said this. After getting injured and chased today, the situation is still fresh in my memory. Since I came to this dark continent, I've basically been injured all the time. Although I got healed quickly, the painful memories can't be erased.

"In a city like this, which is the enemy's base camp, there is danger everywhere. Perhaps I won't even live to see that day."

I feel like from now on, I could expire in some corner of this dark continent at any time. When that happens, I would really have eternal shame that I can't wash away.

I can imagine that someday after my death, when some dark creature picks up my identity card from the ground and sees the description of my level 3 angel race on it, it would surely make all the dark creatures laugh their heads off.

If it even spread back to the human world, then almost everyone would know of the embarrassing fact that the level 3 angel Feliciana existed.

"Don't overthink things again."

Seeing the look on my face, Adrian seemed to guess that I was hung up on these superficial matters again. But why did he say "again"?

"Don't worry, I will definitely get you back!"

He suddenly stood up and raised his voice to tell me.

"Huh?"

I was confused by his words, caught off guard.

After all, in my impression, Adrian and I hadn't had many chances to even talk to each other before today. His saying this could easily be misunderstood.

"Aren't you worried about not being able to rank up? I will get you back to rank up. That way you won't feel embarrassed anymore, right?"

Seeing my confused look, he further explained.

"These are clearly trivial matters, it's fine."

I quickly waved my hands, clarifying my words. Adrian mentioned my fear of losing face again. Hearing this, it felt like he seemed a bit unhappy that I'm always concerned about my image.

Besides, it wasn't something he could just decide to let me go back. Although Adrian was much more powerful than me, from what Vivianne said, he should be under level 5 too.

"Actually there's still 2 months until the next chance to test again. It's too early now, rushing back wouldn't be useful."

As I spoke, I put away my identity card, to prove I didn't have ideas in that aspect. I decided not to bring up anything about rankings ever again.

"You really don't need to care so much what others think."

Seeing this, Adrian shook his head and spoke such words again.

"No, that's not it! Listen to me, mentioning ranking up was really just an aside."

Seeing he had misunderstood, I quickly explained.

If I admitted I did care a bit what others thought because of my level 3 situation earlier, afraid of being laughed at. But saying I was afraid of not being able to go back just to rank up, that was pure nonsense.

"That's not what I meant..." Adrian sat back in his chair, completely helpless.

I was a little confused, didn't know exactly what he was referring to. But seeing his manner, I also felt he might be very disappointed in me, I kind of felt somewhat apprehensive.

"What are you guys doing here?"

Just then, Eleanora came downstairs and saw the strange, silent atmosphere in the room. "Doing nothing..." I saw Eleanora walk over and sit across from me, which I found a bit odd.

"Why aren't you resting?"

"Well, humans aren't nocturnal creatures, I couldn't sleep."

Eleanora cheekily stuck out her tongue, seemingly less shy than when we first met.

"Restless days, I see you couldn't sleep either."

I secretly glanced at Adrian, seeing that he didn't mind the conversation between me and Eleanora. Instead, he was staring at the floor, lost in thought. I couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.

It was almost dusk now, and the light outside was gradually dimming. I realized that some of the surrounding houses had actually lit up lamps.

"Do dark creatures need to use lamps too?" I asked curiously.

"That's right, most dark creatures also see things with their eyes. Since they use eyes, of course they need light."

Adrian suddenly answered instead. I had asked the question to Eleanora, didn't expect him to jump in to reply first.

"Unfortunately we can't use lamps to light up." Eleanora said regretfully.

"Because this house is already ownerless. If we suddenly turn on the lights, it would make the surrounding magical creatures sense something wrong."

"How do we get out of the city gates at night then?"

With the time to leave approaching, I started wondering what to do next.

"We should probably use a similar method as you did during the day. All disguise ourselves with cloaks, blend in with the magical creatures leaving the city and slip away."

Adrian thought for a moment and suggested a plan.

"If we get too close to those creatures, will Selene and I easily get exposed?"

I recalled what happened at the tavern during the day. Even with my wings hidden, I was still discovered by the succubus.

"Oh yeah..." Hearing this, Adrian immediately realized it was a big problem.

"It looks like the captain's plan overlooked your and Selene's uniqueness. After all, he's just a swordsman who isn't familiar with magic."

"Then let's take separate actions. You take Selene out of the city walls, while we follow the original plan to regroup outside the city."

Eleanora quickly figured out a solution.

"No!" Adrian objected as soon as she finished speaking. After living in the city for almost a week, he was very familiar with the deployment of various troops inside.

"They could fly in during the day because most of the monsters were resting then, lax on defense. But at night when the monsters are active, there would be many guards on the city walls. Trying to fly out then wouldn't work."

Looking at me, he continued, "As Selene said, your spread wings would be a huge light source to creatures of the night. So don't reveal your wings in the city at night, no matter what."

"Then we have a problem." I frowned, scratching my head.

"Can we only take staggered actions separately?"

Staggered actions meant Adrian's team would leave via the city gates tonight, while me and Selene stayed here until flying out over the walls tomorrow at daytime.

"At least for now, this seems to be the only way." Adrian nodded. He couldn't think of a better solution either.

A few hours later when everyone else in the room had woken up, Alfreed accepted the staggered action proposal and modified the original plan.

So me and Selene could only stay in this room for another night, agreeing to regroup on top of a hill east of the city tomorrow.

"You slept in vain." I said wryly to Selene in the darkness after seeing off Adrian's five-person team out of the house in their cloaks.

"It's alright, I actually didn't sleep much during the day either." Selene's voice sounded rather lazy. She then walked up the stairs.

"Go to bed early too. We have to get up early tomorrow."

"I'm an angel. I'm always up on time."

I figured being an early riser was probably the only thing I could boast about now.

The second floor was just an attic-like space, also without beds. Just some bedrolls spread out on the floor, probably used by the others during the day. After the stairway entrance was covered by a thick curtain again, Selene could use light magic to illuminate since there were no windows.

Seeing her take out bowls and other items from her ring again, I twisted my lips. This young noble lady sure lived a pampered life.

Just as everything had been tidied up and we were about to lie down to sleep, I suddenly heard a soft knock on the downstairs door.

"Crap!"

Me and Selene sat up with a jolt. Although I couldn't see her expression in the dark, I could tell from her trembling voice that she was very scared.

"Was it because you used light magic to illuminate that got us exposed?"

I lowered my voice to ask.

"Wait! Don't talk first."

Silenced by Selene's gesture, I also realized there was something off about the knocking. It seemed rhythmic.

"It's the secret three-one-knock code to open the door!"

After listening carefully for a while, we reacted at the same time.

We rushed downstairs swiftly and opened the door.

Sure enough, the whole group filed swiftly in from outside as soon as the door cracked open.

"Why are you guys back?"

Seeing their gloomy expressions after taking off their cloaks inside, I immediately knew something had gone wrong with the plan.

"Let's talk more upstairs."

Alfreed went up the stairs first. Then the rest of the silent people followed after him.

After all seven of us gathered on the second floor, the stairway entrance was blocked again. A candle lit up in the attic, probably carried by one of the five who just returned.

In the candlelight, I saw the very gloomy faces of Adrian's team sitting around.

"What happened?" Selene couldn't help asking again.

"The city gates are under martial law." Alfric glanced at us and replied.

"When we went just now, we saw the gate guards had doubled. Also, every magical creature leaving has to reveal their face for inspection before being let through."

"Was it because of what happened this morning?"

Selene and I immediately guessed the reason for this situation. After all, the ruckus from me and that succubus chasing all over the city this morning was so huge, it was impossible there wouldn't be heightened vigilance.

"I can't believe I overlooked this!" Adrian seemed somewhat regretful.

"I'm sorry..."

Feeling somewhat guilty that our actions brought trouble ultimately falling onto their squad, I apologized.

"Actually you don't need to apologize." Eleanora comforted me,

"If not for the huge commotion you two caused in the city that let us know you were here, there naturally wouldn't have been any plans to leave the city like this."

Of course I understood the causality she described, but still felt somewhat bad about it.