“Help us escape Aganth.” Fian had made her demands.
“Far too many threats loom within Aganth. If you truly cannot bear the weight then simply hand her over back to where she rightfully belongs. I can take her away right now, all you need to say the word.” Alyur retained her hollow tone yet the seriousness in her voice was immense. “I just need the Hatchling to agree. A simple verbal agreement is enough.”
Marie cowered right behind Fian. Despite learning that she was the very person everyone had been searching for, she still hasn’t fully accepted it as fact. For her to suddenly have a secret identity that she has not yet figured out, Marie was unwilling to believe so.
“I can’t agree to that but at the same time, we need your help.” Fian said.
“Then pray tell, what do you desire for me to do? I'll judge whether or not I can do it myself.”
“Attack the barrier, flood Aganth with countless terrifying monsters. That’s all we need. A distraction.”
Alyur was silent for a brief moment. Her thoughts wandered off as she began to think through of what she could do in this situation to turn the tides in her favor. “Human, the creatures I could summon will be beyond what you can handle. They are no longer within the Awakened Stage but the one above it, the Revelation Stage. This vessel that has my blessing will not be remotely close to defeating them.”
The Revelation Stage, the one directly above Sammuel’s current realm. For a creature to ascend to the Awakened Stage, they would need a certain Card Quality to reach it, a Bronze Card Quality. The same logic applied to the next stage, a Silver Card Quality was relevant in order to reach such a stage. Yet creatures weren't only stuck to such a standard. Based on Sammuel's understanding, their Card Quality defined their talent. There could even be Revelation Stage monsters that had a Card Quality of Gold or higher. These foes weren't something Sammuel could just deal with currently.
Sammuel looked through his countless [Ego] and saw that despite having a plethora of them, none of them were even close to ascending to the Revelation Stage. He might have a lot of [Ego] that had a Silver Card Quality or higher but the EXP required to reach the point of ascending was too far away from him. If he wanted to get stronger in a short amount of time then he could only go on a mass slaughter.
“That will be no problem. We’ll make do.” Fian still urged Alyur.
“You’re far too weak to be trusted with the Hatchling. If I do that then I cannot bring myself to believe that the Hatchling will come out unharmed. If you truly care for the Hatchling then give her back. You kidnappers stole her away from her home. Do the right thing.”
“I don’t want to…” Marie’s soft voice echoed out within this small space. Alyur was conflicted with Marie’s decision but still decided to accommodate her mindset for the time being. Clasping on Fian’s clothes, she grabbed ahold, afraid to let go.
“If you don’t help us then the Genesis Foundation will eventually find me and seek out to kill Marie. You don’t agree with either option but accepting my proposal will at least secure Marie’s safety. Which evil are you going to choose?” Despite talking to a Great Dragon, Fian didn’t hold back nor flinch.
“Disgusting behavior.” Alyur’s voice finally had a hint of emotion to it after so long. Yet the first thing that Sammuel noticed from her tone was of complete abhoration.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy.”
“She cannot even think for herself. You brainwashed the Hatchling to have a sentimental attachment towards you, even then you’ve already lost it. You’re delusional. And you… Sammuel, observe as much as you wish yet know this, you have the greatest say in this discussion.”
Alyur’s misty body started condensing even more as it manifested itself into a similarly sized girl. She had transformed her image to that of a human girl.
“You’re the one that has the greatest bond with the Hatchling. Say the word, I’ll bring… Marie away and take her to safety.” Alyur was only half the size of Sammuel but her imposing stance made everyone here understand her power.
Stuck between the two, there were once again two options. The objectively correct one is where Marie would come and live on by Alyur’s side and not be in any real danger. And the emotionally biased answer, where his feelings towards Fian and Marie are heavily skewed in their favor.
As such, Sammuel gave his answer as any human that desired to not bear the weight of his answer. “Can’t you take Fian away as well?” A desperate plea to get out of this situation. The only compromise that had the best of both worlds.
“A mortal human that has not yet reached the appropriate level cannot survive the journey within the Hallowed Gap. Only power that could rival the world could do such a thing and for those beings… they are far and few in between.”
“What about sending a Dragon to protect them?” Sammuel was willing to take any answer at this point.
“And let those after my race easily die off as they get cornered? That is not possible.”
Sammuel spoke of other ideas that he had yet they were all rejected. There really were only these options before him. To risk Marie’s life trying to live her own life or to have Marie be sent back home. Tensions were already high between the humans and the Dragon Clan. Any minor move could influence the situation at large. If there was any moment to act then it would be now.
“I don’t want to force Marie’s hand. Convince her yourself.” Sammuel had his own thoughts about this matter. That being… after mulling it over for so long, he believed that Marie should be sent back to her home. Fian and Marie might bear a grudge against him due to this answer.
“Her input is irrelevant in this matter. You’re the sole decision-maker in this conversation. Fian was marked as the Hatchling’s guardian but it had been wiped away. You are the closest person she has made a bond with. Now choose, I tire of such games.”
“Sammuel…” Fian was initially confident that Sammuel would reject her, keeping track of the plan. “Sammuel?”
“Fian.” Sammuel took a deep breath. It was unbearable. He wasn’t going to be a hypocrite. “I don’t think I can protect Marie in the same way as I used to. The enemies are too strong for me.”
“You can’t be serious…” Fian’s stone-cold facade started to slightly shatter. Even the void space they were in started to crack. Lawrence was completely terrified of the sudden changes in such a space.
With both of them being sharp people, Fian could see everything in the same objective way that Sammuel could. The most logical option in this scenario was to give Marie up. It might be painful but it was the safest way to ensure her safety.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“But… a promise is a promise. I’ll do my best.” Sammuel couldn’t pry Marie away after all. “We have a week before the Genesis Foundation could find where you are. That’s how much time I have left to get stronger.”
“Playing hero will only get you killed.” Alyur's voice made Sammuel shiver. She was right. Sammuel was too inconsequential right now to influence the bigger picture. But that didn't mean he was going to give up.
[Switch Ego: Base]
[Name: Sammuel Arthus
Ego: Base
Card Quality: Bronze
Star Quality: 2 | 34/50 | EXP: 29.84/100%
Affinity Level: 13.54%
Combat Power: 620.47]
Due to [Greater Blessing of Moonlight] Sammuel had gained an additional 500 Combat Power. This meant that his base Combat Power was 120.47.
Sammuel snickered. It was true, “I couldn’t agree more, Alyur.” Sammuel was insane, he was essentially choosing the worst possible option right now. “But they’re the first people I’ve met in this world that had gone out of their way to help me. I can’t let them down.”
“Do you really wish to ignore the threats and hope for the best? It’s nothing but a dream. A fool’s dream.”
“Hahaha, I guess you could call it that.” Sammuel looked at the screen before him.
[Assimilation Requirements:
Condition: Reach Silver Card Quality for [Ego: Base] | Reward: Gain an Ego Slot
Ego Slot - Able to equip an additional [Ego]. Both [Ego] will complement each other’s strengths, combining both of their strengths.]
Sammuel had finished so many [Conditions] that he had finally rotated out to see a very peculiar quest. Getting a Silver Card Quality was easy, in fact, Sammuel had around 50 of those already. It wasn’t troublesome at all for him.
[Ego Fusion] truly was a terrifying ability, able to create a Silver Card Quality from mere Bronze Card Quality [Ego]. Too bad it only applied to the same species. If that wasn’t the case, Sammuel could’ve just used everything on [Ego: Runic Bear] to get immensely powerful or just put it all in [Ego: Base] and casually finished everything in one go.
“Alyur, all I ask is for you to lessen the burden of [Greater Blessing of Moonlight]. Is that possible?”
“It is not. Even then, you cannot expect me to believe that such a minuscule gain in power would be enough to let you pass through this turbulent time.”
It was worth a shot. Sammuel could’ve easily farmed creatures with a Silver Card Quality to have heightened gains but now he would still have to struggle. “Then can you agree that if I’m strong enough to protect Marie, you’ll help her escape?”
“Even if you reach the Revelation Stage the next instant, I cannot agree to such conditions. If you can prove that you are able to handle all the dangers residing within Aganth on your own then I'll let you do as you wish.” Alyur’s words were generous, unbelievably so.
“What's the catch?”
“In a week’s time, before the Genesis Foundation finds Fian’s location if you cannot do such a thing, agree that I’ll be able to take the Hatchling away.”
Fian couldn’t voice her opinion in this scenario. Sammuel could’ve already given up on Marie but he still chose to fight on. She couldn’t blame him anymore, he had done his best already.
Sammuel nerously laughed. It had been a while since he had felt so cornered. When he was struggling with mere goblins back then, it was hard to believe that it had only been 2 or so months back. Sammuel took out his sword and confidently wielded it.
[Deactivate Greater Blessing of Moonlight | Sammuel: 120.47]
[Status: Blessing Exhaustion | Lose Combat Power: -35.63 | Sammuel: 84.84]
It had taken an extremely long while but Sammuel finally did it. He was finally formidable enough to use [Ego: Base] as powerful [Ego]. Yet it wasn’t enough, there was still something he was missing.
Taking his step to the outside world, he was met with countless sentient humanoid creatures getting suppressed by some of the guards. While some of the extremely terrifying head soldiers were dealing with those even stronger monsters. On this battlefield, Sammuel still wasn’t someone as terrifying to the point that there was no one that could oppose him.
Seeing a horde of monsters with red miasma swirling around their bodies, Sammuel could easily discern that it was [Blessing of Domination]. Such overwhelming power was truly enough to overpower any normal person.
If not for [Blessing of Domination] increasing their Combat Power up to around 500, Sammuel would only be fighting trash that only had an average Combat Power of 200. Thinking about it, 500 Combat Power was really a terrifying amount of power.
This was the same strength as the Gut Drinker that had dominated the battlefield during the first wave. Sammuel had first-hand experience of how terrifyingly strong it was. Its tongue could easily pierce through everything whilst being utterly indestructible.
“After the Mortal Stage, it truly is all about [Skills].” Sammuel sighed to himself.
“Hahaha! He lost it! Kill him!” A naga wielded his scimitar proudly and slithered rapidly towards Sammuel. He was completely satisfied with getting his first kill. “You humans have always thought you’re better than us! Now you’ll see who’s superior! Die!”
“It truly is unfair.”
[Blessing of Domination | Gain Combat Power: +300 | Sammuel: 384.84]
[Blessing of Moonlight | Gain Combat Power: +100 | Sammuel: 484.84]
At first glance, [Blessing of Moonlight] was inferior to [Blessing of Domination] but there was one key difference, instead of solely focusing on increasing his base power, it focused on increasing his other aspects, such as how his strength would be integrated into his body.
Sammuel’s skin had turned a pallid white yet there were crimson cracks appearing all over it. He could’ve gone all out and used [Greater Blessing of Moonlight] but the backlash from using it wasn’t worth it. Using the normal version was enough as it didn’t impact Sammuel’s body too much.
As the naga wielded down his sword, Sammuel didn’t even need to use a skill as this was already more than enough to deal with it. Taking a step back, the naga struck down empty air. With a casual vertical slash, Sammuel had decapitated it.
“What the- Kill him!”
[Flowing Swordsmanship: First Form | Gain Combat Power: +376.55 | Sammuel: 861.39]
Within the blink of an eye, Sammuel had just taken out his sword when every foe before him had their necks cleanly sliced off without any resistance. It was absurd how large the difference was.
Yet as expected, these small fries weren’t enough for Sammuel to truly become powerful in such a short amount of time. From all of them, Sammuel only earned 0.58% EXP, a paltry sum. Fortunately, another foe showed up. This was a great lizardman wearing complete knight armor, even equipped with a spear and shield to complete the set.
[Combat Power: 1058.53]
Sammuel saw this Combat Power and sighed. “My first 1000 Combat Power kill using my real [Ego].”
The lizard man had screeched, threatening Sammuel with its overbearingly large body. Despite it quickly rushing before him, Sammuel finally used the one technique he had trouble with this entire time.
[Art of Killing | Gain Combat Power: +563.89 | Sammuel: 1,425.28]
An even darker crimson light illuminated Sammuel’s body. It was the weight of his sins. To kill as an art, only a lunatic obsessed with insanity could do it. Yet to survive in such a world, morals weren’t worth keeping.
The lizardman rushed in expecting Sammuel to be easy prey but alas, Sammuel raised his sword, letting it freefall before him. The lizardman snickered as it dodged to the side yet Sammuel’s blade still seemed to be aiming directly at its head. Confused, the lizardman once again jumped to the side yet it was still closing it.
Fear started to settle in for the lizardman yet it was too late. Sammuel had already found the path to his victory.
[Gained 24.55% EXP | Star Quality EXP: 54.97/100%]
“It’s been a while since I’ve earned so much EXP. I guess slaying stronger foes truly is the best way to go about it.” Sammuel turned his head to find even more creatures like the lizardman. His blade faced ten more lizardmen.
It wasn’t an exaggeration that Sammuel disposed of them without even taking them into account. The Monster Faction had expected that the [Blessing of Domination] would give them the edge in taking out the humans, thinking of them as prey. Too bad, they didn’t expect that an even greater monster was hunting them down as well.
Sammuel needed to take matters into his own hands. A slaughter was about to commence.