Chapter 42: Hollow Art and method of advancement
Zephyr exhaled sharply, watching the credits drain from his account like sand slipping through his fingers. But the anticipation of wielding Requiem, the modified Luminara Rifle, and the Kryon Dagger left him with a sense of satisfaction, despite his now meager balance.
’And now the last order of business— Hollow Art’.
"Alright, Elden," he said, rubbing his hands together. "One more thing before I head out. I want to know more about Hollow Art."
Elden’s voice rose smoothly, almost as if anticipating the question. "Hollow Art is a derivative of Riftsprawn birthmark, utilizing the essence of Riftspawn to create unique abilities and enhancements. All Hollow Art stems from the Aether Imprint left behind by the world on the Riftspawn, when they are killed their birthmark changes to shard which when used bestow a hollow Art, or Forged to a Artifact."
Zephyr’s eyes lit up with interest. "So, they’re like...Techniques? Materials?".
"A combination of all three aspects of battle." Elden replied. "Hollow Art ranges from physical enhancements, such as enhanced speed or strength, to elemental manipulation, and even some designed for weapons. The type and potency depend on the quality of the Riftspawn it was harvested from."
Elden continued, "Due to its nature, Hollow Art is considered ’hollow’—its essence is fundamentally empty. When an individual learns a Hollow Art, it automatically adjusts to the affinity of the user. This adjustment process typically takes weeks, but a select few takes days or even hours."
Zephyr nodded slowly, his mind spinning with possibilities. "So, do I buy them like weapons? Or do I need to... find them?"
"You may acquire them through three main methods," Elden began. "One— Purchasing them from Booths or Instructors. Two— Harvesting them directly from Riftspawn during combat. And three— Winning them as rewards during Academy Events."
Zephyr’s interest only grew. "Can I see a list of Hollow Art available for purchase?"
"Affirmative," Elden responded. The holographic screen in front of him flashed and reshaped, displaying an array of icons labeled with names and ranks. Phantom menace, Gale Rend, Veil Shift, Crimson Mark, Shourd... the list went on and on.