While the other fights continued, Azmer was brought to the infirmary and treated by Doctor Xavier.
In a matter of minutes, his wounds were healed. He was even given an Elixir that accelerated his energy recovery.
Then again, his next fight would be tomorrow instead of today, so he had ample time to recuperate.
As he was lost in thought, gazing at the empty campus, the door to the infirmary opened and a tall middle-aged man entered.
William Lorson, his father, came in and stopped near the bed on which Azmer was lying on.
“I didn’t expect this, nonetheless, I’m pleased and proud.”
He was acting as if nothing happened and was about to pat Azmer’s shoulder but the latter shoved his hand away.
“I don’t need your praise.”
“You are part of the Lorson Family, Azmer. Did you think that, by simply leaving home, you’re no longer part of it?”
“I was going to remove my name from the family tree. Is that good enough for you?”
William’s face turned ugly, his eyes narrowing as he glared at his son.
“You’re going too far, Azmer. Family is the most important thing for people like us. We will only thrive if we stick together. After all, blood is thicker than water.”
“Hey! Some people are trying to rest here!” Chirpled Francesca, who was also in the infirmary.
She was two beds away from Azmer and looked annoyed by William’s loud voice.
When she saw him looking her way and frowning in displeasure, she pulled out her tongue provocatively.
“What? I didn’t sign up to hear bullshit fatherly talk. Clearly, he doesn’t want to talk to you, so how about you piss off, okay?”
William was about to lash out at her only for another person to come in.
The man’s expression turned even worse as he stared at the approaching youth with eyes filled with malice and animosity.
“If it isn’t Mister Lorson. How’s your body?”
Zeke faced the man and sneered, fully knowing how much the latter hated him after what happened last time. Not only did his eldest son get heavily wounded, but William himself got injured by the voltage, which penetrated through his internal organs.
Of course, Zeke also had his whole left arm burned by the Ink Fire and he still hasn’t recovered from that.
“I’m surprised they didn’t lock you up for matricide.” Retorted William as he maintained a relatively composed demeanor, betrayed by his twisted face.
“It was self-defense, sir. Knowing them, they would’ve abducted or killed me before even arriving at the Prosecution Office. Then again, I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
Right after Zeke was done talking, Azmer raised his voice and coldly told his father to leave.
William snorted in anger and stormed out of the infirmary. Trying to be intimidating with Azmer didn’t look and with how his image had fallen since the last incident, the last thing he wanted was to provoke Francesca, who hailed from the Moon Family.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Zeke!”
Francesca amicably waved her hand at the expressionless Zeke. Unlike her nasty attitude with Azmer’s father or her indifference toward his son, she was particularly friendly to Zeke.
“You’ve grown really strong, eh? I’m impressed and more inclined to get you to my circle.”
“Zeke has beaten me, you know.” Remarked Azmer as he looked at Francesca with a smug look.
Since Zeke had beaten Azmer, and Azmer had beaten Francesca, then, logic would say that Zeke was stronger than her.
“What? Really?!”
“It was a while ago, but yes.” Confirmed Zeke as he walked to Azmer and inspected his body.
While Francesca was looking at Zeke’s back in deep contemplation, Azmer chuckled and looked at the solemn black-haired youth whom he used to be enemies with.
They had been through many things together. In fact, Azmer was dumbfounded to learn that Zeke had helped Veronica and co to get him out of the facility.
While he had been on relatively good terms with Zeke, they weren’t in a relationship in which they would risk their lives to save the other, or so thought Azmer.
Then again, after what happened, Azmer had to reassess his impression of Zeke’s character.
“How surprising to see you come see me.” He calmly said as he leaned on the cushion and stretched his sore limbs.
“...”
Zeke just stared at him in a long and slightly awkward silence, which made Azmer furrowed his brows and, with a quieter voice, said,
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“I thought about this a lot…” Muttered Zeke as he paused for a couple of breaths, “You and I have quite the history, but, I confess that both of us changed. I’ve come to ask for your help in a future matter.”
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“Help?”
Azmer was momentarily stunned, but he regained his demeanor and listened.
“It’s a matter that concerns you too, in a way. Rodrick Dontoryian is missing and I want to get rid of him.”
“Why?”
“He was last seen locked up in his father’s basement. Apparently, his Life Aether had run out of control and he transformed into a monster. He’s a thorn at my back and I don’t want to repeat what happened to Sam.”
“Oh…” Azmer looked a bit sad as he heard about his friend’s fate. Nevertheless, he didn’t try to oppose Zeke or offer an alternative… because there wasn’t.
Aether Imbalance was a rare but an irreversible occurrence that would turn people into abominations. The only mercy was to kill them and end their suffering.
“A friend of mine took down Stephan Dontoryian, but Rodrick was missing. Either he had run away or someone took him.”
Azmer nodded and contemplated for a bit before asking, “And why come to me out of all people?”
“Because, as much as I hate to admit it, there’s no one I can trust in Erys. And I don’t want to involve Maxine. You’re part of the Ivory Oak Order, and Rodrick was your friend.”
“Alright. We’ll talk more about this when the Exams are over.”
Zeke turned around and was about to leave but Azmer stopped him,
“We might fight each other again. Don’t expect me to forfeit.”
“The prideful Azmer Lorson forfeiting? Hah! I’d never expect that from you.” Rebuked Zeke as he scoffed mockingly.
…
When the sky darkened, the first round of fights ended; 11 students passed to the next round and the remaining lost.
After his conversation with Azmer, Zeke returned to the arena and watched the remaining fights.
Including him and Azmer, 9 more students were left; Julia Lopmore, Francois Chivaux, Harold Volcun, Raul Jackob, Sarah Girm, Zack Bornie, Harry Nost, Katlyn Jan, Fakih Knight.
The 11 participants were given a night’s rest to recuperate and prepare themselves for the last day of the so-called ‘mini-tournament’.
Zeke wasn’t feeling particularly tired, therefore, he sat on a lonely bench and gazed at the star-filled sky once he was done with the Daily Tasks. He had saved up quite a bit of PE and was deliberating on what path to upgrade.
He was already strong enough to contend with the top students, including Julia and Harold. However, he wanted to be stronger and confident in winning.
He had seen how strong Julia had gotten. She improved at an alarming rate, so much that her physical prowess was superior to his own even though his stats had increased drastically.
She was practically a moving fortress, an unstoppable force of nature that was equipped with a ridiculous speed and outstanding strength.
Harold Volcun, on the other hand, was a long-ranged fighter who relied on an ability similar to Zeke. He used lightning, yellow thunder that was versatile in its uses and quite destructive, to say the least.
[You have unlocked the Fighter Sub-path: +5 Strength | +5 Agility]
[The Fighter Sub-path has reached full mastery (10/10): +2 to all stats | +10 EXP]
[The Sreyzhanian Rune Main-path has reached full mastery (9/9): +5 Aether | +5 Agility | +15 EXP]
[The Martial Arts Main-Path has reached full mastery (12/12): +10 Strength | +10 Agility | +20 EXP]
[The necessary condition to upgrade ‘Sreyzhanian Rune Path’ has been achieved; Fuse the Sreyzhanian Rune path with the Fighter Sub-Path and Martial Arts main path?
WARNING: Upon accepting the fusion, it cannot be reversed.]
[The Groundbreaker Path has reached full mastery (32/32): +5 to all stats | +20 EXP]
[You obtained the Survival Skill ‘Breaker Body’.]
[You obtained the skill: Ground Wall]
Zeke read the notification before accepting the fusion. Frederic had already told him that the 32 known Main paths could be upgraded individually or fuse with others to become an even better path. Admittedly, his knowledge about this whole thing was limited, but Zeke didn’t miss this opportunity.
To begin with, when he used his saved up PE to upgrade the paths that increased his close-combat capabilities, he didn’t expect such an outcome.
[The Sreyzhanian Rune Main path has fused with Fighter Sub-Path and Martial Arts-Main Path.]
[Congratulations! You’ve unlocked your first Variant Path: Sreyzhanian Champion.]
[+35 EXP]
[The Sreyzhanian Champion Variant Path: The data of three separate paths have been accumulated into one, thus resulting in a newly-created path.
This path has no recorded history.
You are the first user of this path.]
[The skill ‘Sreyzhanian Arts' has been upgraded to ‘Sreyzhanian Arts Catalogue’.
If the ‘Sreyzhanian Champion Variant Path’ is active, the user can use the skills integrated into ‘Sreyzhanian Arts Catalogue’.
Available Skills: Champion of Strength Mode / Champion of Speed Mode / Fists of Fury (100%) / Sreyzhanian Arts (100%) / Block Spell (0%).]
Zeke, who was excitedly reading the new things, was suddenly assaulted by a head-splitting pain that made him fall to the ground and groan while rolling on the grass.
The agony lasted for a whole minute, and when it was over, the youth was soaking in sweat and breathing rapidly.
He was shocked as all sorts of new information was forcefully engraved into his mind. It was a mentally exhausting process, but when he collected his thoughts and composed himself, he was pleasantly surprised.
It turned out that the new path ‘Sreyzhanian Champion’ has imparted new information directly to his mind.
It was general but useful details about the new skills and how to properly and efficiently make full use of ‘Sreyzhanian Arts’.
[Sreyzhanian Arts(100%) can be used simultaneously with either ‘Champion of Speed Mode’ or ‘Champion of Strength Mode’.
WARNING; Prolonged use of the two skills will lead to a fatal physical backlash.]
[Champion of Strength Mode: The user will be granted absolute physical strength.]
[Champion of Speed Mode; The user will be granted absolute speed.]
[Block Spell: Mutter the following incantation ‘Srey Kam’ to block a spell aimed at you.]
[Break Body(SS): Envelops the user in a magical armor made of reinforced Black Stone.
This skill lasts for 15 seconds and continuously drains Life Aether.]
[Ground Wall: The effect of this skill depends on the consumed Aether. The Groundbreaker will conjure an impenetrable wall.]
[User: Zeke Orland]
[Race: Human]
[Level 10 (149/190 EXP)]
[Strength: 190]
[Agility: 185]
[Aether: 166]
[Fortitude: 40]
[Paths: Sreyzhanian Champion Variant Path (1/200) | Voltage Body(1/44) active | Groundbreaker (32/32)| Inexhaustible (10/10) | Pain-junkie (1/9) - Death-Walker(1/100)- Shooter (1/15)-]
[Skills: Fists of Fury(Proficiency 100%) - Aether Control(Proficiency 100%) - Voltage Zap(Proficiency 100%) - Spark (Proficiency 60%) - One-star Side-kick(Proficiency 100%) - Life Motus(Proficiency 100%) - Voltage Arrow (Proficiency 100%)- Rune of Death(85%) - Sreyzhanian Arts(40%) - Drain Aether(0%) - Overdrive(30%) - Surge of Pain (100%) - Body Damage(60%) - Self-Injection(20%)- At Death’s Door(5%) - Firearm Proficiency (29%) - Sharp Sight (20%) - Ground Wall (0%) - Block Spell (0%) - Champion of Speed Mode(0%) - Champion of Strength Mode(0%)]
[Survival Skills: ‘Voltage Rune’ - Voltage Conduit(Proficiency 100%) - Fatigue Abstinence (100%) - Call of Honor(10%) - Ancient Elven Tongue (10%) - Cycle of Life and Death - Call of Loyalty(0%) - The Reaper(33%) - The Talking Sin (???) - Breaker Body(0%)]
[Available PE:31 ]
[Available Skill Points: 1]
[Available Paths of Extinction:
Pyromancer Path (5 PE)
Hydromancer Path (6 PE)
Electromancer Path (10 PE)
Pugilist Sub-Path (4 PE)
Blood Heart Path (20PE)
Aeromancer Path (8 PE)
Cryomancer Path (10 PE)