Seeing him like that leaves Ropp bored, and a bit impressed. After all, Stark is still a kid so what is he supposed to expect anyway? This isn't something to be excited about. But as usual, the incentive to follow through with the boredom is still there. Ropp has his own rewards, which are plentiful reasons to keep going since it is also a task in the name of the son of Prime Hunter.

It isn't the usual practice for a Young Walker to ask directly for someone to be the Instructor. Federation isn't that kind of place to comply, but when it comes to the Emblem Academy, they sure worked on a proper business. Comforttiing the demands of the Rank 1 Walker, that have 93 Affinity is easy enough of a reason, let alone he is a son of Prime Hunter.

Standing up, Stark stretches his arms and upper body. “Hmph, at least the flow of the Touch of Arcanite worked great in the last couple of tries. Part of the Metallic Element works great too, but mine still lacks the sharpness of that element. Father had this issue too, or so I heard. I guess genes work wonders for the Walkers who manage to procreate together. Though, when it comes to my mother... That is something questionable. I have no idea what I got from her, but my father was enough, it seems.” he wonders through the shambles of his lonely training.

“Shut up!” Stark suddenly shouted, clutching his hands by his side. Ropp opens his eyes and looks at the boy with an unbothered gaze. “I hate this. I don't need worries to fill my mind. I need only myself. That's what matters.” he reassures himself in his mind, glancing at the status that is still before his eyes. “What to make of it? I am not like a father. Should I even work on something new prior to the Trial? I know that father mastered the flow of 3 Molds in a couple of years of him, being not even Rank 5. That came from the effects of Vectors, while I don't have them. Element... This makes me annoyed, as Arcanite is harder to mold when it comes to metallic forms. They carry no elemental advantages that others do. It's true that its essence and strength are great, but putting more attention to detail is needed. Fuck me! I won't progress anywhere like that before the Trials!” He ponders deeply over his issues and shouts the last sentence out loud.

Ropp keeps looking at him from afar, almost falling asleep with his eyes open. Stark shuts his Status and walks into him.

“What's my overall attacking power?” he asks without any politeness.

“Upper-tier of Rank 1, but your defense is lacking comparable to attacking power. The Offensive of the Metallic elemental has many variables, but you are a newbie to it. It's lackluster like baby's.” Ropp tells the truth, chuckling as his building muscles shake in the motions.

That makes Stark a bit angry, but such remarks from him are hourly occurrences. Ropp jsut wants to agitate them more, so the best solution is to ignore him. “What's the best option to increase the attacking power even more? You seem to know more about the Metallic Element than I assumed.”

“I think you are asking the wrong person.” Ropp answers without batting him an eye. No amount of inconvenience for this youth could make him help him.

Stark expected such answers. The contract that was formed by this man and the Assembly isn't as strong as it should be, according to his demand that was aimed toward his preferences. Now, it bites him to the ass.

He didn't want a teacher, since his father was quite decent at that, even if he doesn't want to acknowledge that. Well, he has yet to meet his after becoming a proper Walker, so that is about it. The lot that he taught him are his own findings, and Stark is using their context, words, and hints. It kind of helps, even though his father never knew what kind of effects Stark's Emblem will have.

Now, with this whole ordeal of being alone, and progressing on his own, Stark sees the need for experience. It may be true that his perception of the work of Walkers isn't any worse than any regular Rank 5 Walker, but there are still things his father hasn't said to him.

Stark is sure of it.

The biggest variable and difference that Stark now has the issue is, is his own. The general knowledge when it comes to his own power, possibilities, and what to make of them is lacking. It all stems from the MEtalic Element, which is rare. It's in no shape of Vectors, thus making them rather unique in their controllability. Vectors of such qualitative Elements are usually better when they already form the Vectros filled with Arcanite. Advantages are better control, Molding, and the effectiveness of faster learning.

As for the Element itself, Stark isn't happy with having a high affinity to that Mettalic Element alone. That means the quality of his Metalic Element is so high, they didn't form the Vectors when he Awakened. That is one of the beliefs that scientists from the Institution of the Emblem have over the forming of the high-quality Element or Element in itself. It's still in the territory of the guesses, but Stark feels it makes more than sense. Those clever fellows who aren't even Walkers can't know it. He can since he can see it. He feels it.

A variable that is his own System, shows him also a couple of complications apart from the core of his own issue. Figuring it out on the go has been a complicated process, thus, he hopes to force Ropp to talk.

So far, he managed to reach Rank 1 in the majority of the Skills that he wants. But he also knows that reaching Rank 2 in the upcoming days is impossible to happen.

“I swear to myself... I will figure this out sooner or later without you damned excuses.” Stark mutters in front of Ropp who sees a new light in his eyes.

“Ho? You are getting better at this.” Ropp smiles, giving him small praise. “Good. A pointer? Sure. How about getting some sort of heavy weapon? Although your long dagger is great, it can't work on everything. I suggest a glaive or...”

“... I thought you weren't supposed to help me, old fool,” Stark says, spitting those words as if they don't matter to him.

Ropp chuckles. “Then let's say I am talking to myself? I can't have a mold on my own, so what can I even help you with? That makes it quite unnatural for me to help, you know? I am all muscles and everything. you see?” Ropp tells, flexing his muscles even more after his last sentence.

Appearing like a small mountain in front of Stark, he knows very well that the power of this man in front of him is tremendous. Power. It is all about it.

Also, the term power means defense in his case. Stark knows that no amount of attacking will damage those muscles, while they form power on their own. It makes him mad how efficient it is, considering Ropp doesn't use a speck of his Emblem like an average Elemental or Vector type of Walker would. He is the special case.

His defenses are much better than the exaggerated percentages of his attacking power. 5% or even 1% is like a sneeze, after all. The terms of the % only serve one purpose. That is to use the necessary power to achieve qualitative results. Too much would be useless. Too little wouldn't be enough. Hence, the % of his power work wonders for his attacking purposes, but not as much for defenses.

For the most part, the passive defenses of his muscles are redundant parts of his System. Something he can't change, apart from changing the effectiveness of the offensive. He takes priority of the attacking power, but defense became involuntary his passive trump card.

Without a speck of obvious and activated Emblem, Ropp's body is more than enough to take any attacks from Rank 6 Dark beings. Few could damage him through his mass. Though, when it comes to Rank 7 and a couple of special 6s, that is a different story.

If one would be nitpicky about it, there are some scars visible on Ropp's body but they disappear the moment his muscles fold over each other under his control. He has a fair amount of confidence and pride in his body, and he doesn't want to show any weaknesses. Especially to the young, old, or upcoming stars of the Walker world.

Stark frowns, looking at Ropp with unknown thought. A change of Mold? Does he think he hasn't tried it? Is he blind? Well, Ropp did sleep while standing, so that could explain that.

“So what is it going to be, boy?” Ropp asks, unfolding his arms from his chest. “We still have a long time to go. You should figure out more about your Ascendant Dagger, and the use of the Element itself. The molding of the Element is different than anything that your father told you. His was Vectors, so think about it. You won't have many other opportunities to hear the opinion of a defensive expert like me, so come up with power. I, for once, seek the power the most. It's a course of manhood! A thing that I privy with pride. If you seek it yourself, then try it yourself. Don't stop because of some setbacks.”

Ropps' surprising words cause Stark to stop thinking too much.

He is right. The terms of Elemenet and the controllability are different from the way of his father's words.

“Your words don't make me glad at all. In fact, what's the point of defense if you can have overwhelming attacking power?”

“I don't deny your words. It's part of the Walker. You may die a quite miserable death if the defense, or inability to intercept the Dark is too much for you. Do you think your old man hasn't managed to overcome the limitations that make the Metallic Element? Mastery of offense and defense? There is no other Element that can take such a manly topic further.! He is...”

“... I don't want to hear about him!” Stark shouted, ending Ropp's voice which was rather surprising becue of his deep, and resolute tone. “His... His Emblem has differences from mine, but it isn't so overwhelming... difference.”

“You think? It's the case of being a measly little Rank 1 kiddo. You expect a moon in your hand, while you can't even see it. You expect too much from yourself if that's the case.”#

“S-shut the fuck up about all of that. I am getting more and more pissed off.” Stark shouts, his veins appearing on his forehead.

He rips his shirt off of his body, revealing the distinct-shaped silvery Emblem in the midst of his left breast. Stark's Emble appears like a slim gem with cloudy matter inside like liquid mercury. It is of a triangle shape but more slim and tall. Almost like a sword without a handle, if one sees it.

Clenching his first, he appears to decide on something. Without a world, a silvery matter flows out of his chest, traveling around his right hand to form chains. They wrapped around him in a matter of 2 seconds, and the tip of them was the Ascendant Dagger.

This is his basic form. Something that his Emblem has since the moment it was formed. Changing what is given is a basic of the Mold, and every Walker fights with this sort of issue in their own right. Some use the basic form to make small changes. Others completely change their appearance.

“There we go,” Ropp says. “I was waiting for you to do this. Your's basic structural appearance of your Emblem isn't that appealing. Modeling it for something different should be the correct choice. Your dagger is so small, and weak. And what about those chains? Are they restricting your future or yourself? It's so weak. So weak.” Ropp says in a mocking tone, angering Stark quite a bit more.

Taunting him has been his pleasure for the past 8 or so days. Ropp uses it to see and follow the direction of his Touch of Arcanite and flow the flow of his Emblem. It long seems that Stark has no issue with being angry and losing control. In fact, sometimes, it gave him an edge, making him stronger instead. Ropp finds it intriguing since calmness is the preferred way of Walker's mind. It is common sense for the past many decades.

The chains clutter as if they are real. The Ascendant Dagger in Stark's hand, surrounded by more chains, isn't something he finds bad, but he sure finds it lacking. Stark wants something better. Something stronger than this.

And he wants it fast.

The following chains, are annoying, adding unnecessary strain on half of his body. He feels it. The chains are wrapping him up, restricting him as Ropp says. It is a truth. He said it, but it makes him angry to see the truth. A harsh truth.

Stronger, longer, sharper. Those words echo in Stark's mind, while the following long minutes, went into hours.

He goes against Ropp, feeling the tension between his body and the feel of his Ascendant Dagger raising. He wants to see it. A change that can change something new and old alike. It may happen, or not, but only time will tell, or his own Emblem will do so instead.

Ropp remains standing in the middle of the bunker, observing Stark and his changes a bit more than he thinks he would.

Something happened that he didn't expect. Seeing Prime Hunter's son, who is known for becoming a bit harsh in recent years, become a man. Right. He could see a glimpse of his father in him. A youthful sight, but a sight nonetheless.

A sight of silver lining, clustering and changing, form around Stark's body. Something strange is going on within, around the chest, and flowing around Stark's hand. Rather than changing the way of his own Emblem, why can't he change his own ways or his mentality?

Hand? No. A Dagger? Neither. That is no longer the correct term.

Ropp sees a new appearance. The kind that is hard to see and feel from the Rank 1 Walker.

A sudden light and screeching sound jolt Ropp's mind up. A sudden point appears in front of his eyes. It is getting bigger, sharper, stronger, and then... Ropp dodges his upper body, feeling as if it is an unconscious feeling he should do.

Cracks, wind, dust, and a cluster of sharp and deep noises echo in the bunker. The following sight of the wall beyond him ends in chaos. 4 feet big chunks of the concrete wall were smashed into parts. A good chunk of the whole wall collapses to the ground, but thankfully, the support and the quality of the Bunker still survive.

Ropp looks quite hesitant beyond his back. The fierce look of the boy isn't that far from him.

Right. This right there was no longer a clumsy attack. In fact, it was a long-range and the kind of attack that went long way from the power of Rank 1.

“Well, fuck me. You did something interesting, for once,” he says, feeling that things are becoming quite interesting.