The figure that stepped out of the suffocating mana essence wasn’t the same I had seen previously with Indrath. Still, that didn’t excuse the fact that he knew me.

There was no denying that as the figure approached with a confident stride and a thick book held just below his chest. It was hard not to notice how highly he regarded himself simply by how he held his head up like he was the smartest being in existence.

Even his attire matched his self-image as if it was to further convey his sophistication. Although much like the figure I had met some time ago, this particular figure also wore a mask entirely different than the mask I had once seen on another, he appeared human with a mask that covered the upper half of his face as his groomed dark hued hair was carefully styled to frame his face perfectly. “… Did I leave you speechless, Reaper? To be honest, I was quite startled when I noticed something like you were in this labyrinth, but I soon realized you were nothing more than a fool who played into my hands. It’s seems you aren’t what you once were,” He spoke up with a snicker that filled the air.

I wasn't exactly speechless but rather unamused by this figure. I had a feeling he was related to the figure I encountered with Indrath although the specifics of how were unknown.

Regardless of that the clans and my party stood at a stand still after the figure made his appearance, it was quite clear that they could now feel the immense suffocating mana essence he carried with him.

However, the figures remarks weren’t something I was interested in answering, after all I had enough accusations from the clans to deal with at this point but luckily, I didn't need to say anything.

"Just who the hell are you!? Don’t you know your in the presence of Clan Nar-“ Grayson began to speak but was quickly silenced as the figure commanded.

“Silence.” he spoke sharply then in an instant two of Clan Naria’s members fell to their knees as they were decapitated by the man as if it was nothing. The only thing Grayson could do as reality hit him was stare in absolute horror at the scene.

It was the first time I had seen Grayson so silent, and his shock was understandable. After all the figure had just taken two lives so easily right before his eyes.

The figure stared Grayson down and snickered, "… don’t you know the loudest ones in the room are often the stupidest. Next time you decide to interrupt me I will silence you permanently." He said before his attention returned to everyone else, “… Well you all are rather unsightly to look at, but that's to be expected of a group of lowly Graced Clans… I can tell you all are intimidated by my power, some of you may even be begging your Monarch to save you. That won’t be happening. your lives are in my hands.” He announced reading every single Clan members face with ease, even my party was visibly shaken by this display.

Lilith tightly held onto my shirt as she growled quietly from my shadow and the sweat that dripped from Astrid’s brow as she clenched her chest didn’t go unnoticed by me, in a way it looked like she was struggling to keep herself together.

Still, the brief silence that past was filled by Lyra, “…You.” She began trying her best to finish her sentence, “You mentioned, the Xiao… Let us leave and you can do whatever you want to him. We won’t report any of this. We’ll say we failed to conquer the thirtieth floor, yeah? That’s it. Please, I don't want to die. We didn't sign up for this. We were just ordered to observe this cursed monster.” She begged and stuttered in fear revealing her true colors.

The figure only snickered at her display. “Awe, you poor unintelligent elf… but so be it if you want to run away and abandon this Xiao then I will gladly oblige. Of course, anyone who is going with her I recommend you do so as fast as you can,” he said and just like that the Clans began to leave without a second thought.

Grayson practically bolted away faster than anyone even his own Clan as he shoved them aside to get out of there as fast as he could.

He wasn't alone in this as every member of Clan Aerith and Clan Kemonozu fled without a word. That left my party who remained even if they didn’t have to.

“Tch. Kazu…” Reiner growled with his fist clenched and teeth grinding at the sight of everyone leaving without any care.

My flat gaze remained on the figure as he took in the sight he was waiting for and it was the second the first person who left the floor, which happened to be Grayson. The figure then spoke, “Times up.” he said as his book opened up to a page and the Clans still remaining were torn to shreds, the ones who managed to survive the sudden attack were in no state to move.

My gaze didn't leave the figure for a moment. “Are you done yet? Who are you.” I remarked quite irritated at this point and caused the figure to smirk in amusement.

“Ah, yes, how rude of me. I've made it quite clear I'm aware of who you are, and I’ll excuse our remaining guests beside you. Allow me to introduce myself… I am, The seventh Harbinger of the Kyojin. You may call me the scholar." He announced before closing his book with an audible thud. “I, however, am much more interested in you. Of course, the Kyojin were well aware of rumors of a Xiao becoming a top ranking benefactor of the guild. Although despite what my endless knowledge is telling me you are nothing like I thought you'd be… your weak, is it because you lack any real knowledge? Perhaps you are afraid to display your strength. Well, whatever it is, it matters little to me.” The Scholar remarked as he walked toward us and left the range of his puppets that had been silently waiting to resume their attack. “I believe you were once offered a place among us Kyojin from our founder. Join us and I’ll let everyone in my grasp return to the surface unharmed. What do you say Reaper?“ he asked confirming the figure's relation to the one I encountered with Indrath and not only that, but they had an entire group formed.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Still, I wasn’t just going to believe he would uphold his end of the bargain or why he believed I would join them. “No. I have no intention of joining your pathetic little cult. You wasted your time if you thought trapping me here was going to make me change my mind about it." I remarked bluntly causing him to snicker in response.

"Trap you? No, our encounter was a surprise to even me. The Kyojin have been using this labyrinth, or rather this celestial artifact for our research. The Doctor has been working quite hard here on our pawns. They are impressive right? they drained those arrogant graced clans into exhaustion making them easy to eliminate first." he exclaimed referring to the puppets behind him, who were at one point patron Clans. “I suppose I should have expected your answer though… No matter, however, that does conclude our conversation. We were instructed to remove you from the chessboard if you refused the offer and it seems that won’t be the challenge many harbingers expected." The scholar said as the puppets slowly began to move once again with their dull eyes all pointed at my party and me. “It’s a shame to waste such a precious weapon like you Reaper, but it’s clear you’ve become much weaker in this age. This ridiculous entourage of yours is proof of that, a Xiao clinging onto the memories of his past… it seems you’ve lost your touch." The Scholar scoffed with an air of arrogance as he opened his book. "Do the new age a favor and cease to exist.” He spat.

I didn’t have a single word for him, or his snicker filled remarks of who I was supposed to be. Still, I expected his next attack to be from him or the puppets behind him. However, that wasn't the case.

The brief silence that past was broken by a sharp and deadly slash from a blade aimed for me, one that came from Astrid, who had no control over herself like she had just been possessed by the action she took.

Although, the time needed to react was second nature, even though I had no reason too because Astrid’s slash froze in place, not by my doing but rather Lilith’s.

“Lilith knew you were one of them.” she growled as her spell held Astrid in place, frozen by an invisible force. I merely watched the events unfold before my eyes, things were definitely heading in a direction I wasn't pleased with, and perhaps I should have known something like this would have happened.

“… Interesting… I take it you have this covered Lilith. Xander will help you and anyone still breathing.” I remarked stepping forward to deal with the problems before us. “Reiner, we’re going. Deal with his puppets… don’t overdo it,” I ordered causing my party to immediately comply.

The scholar snickered at our predicament, “What makes you think I won’t eliminate any of your friends the moment you step away from them? You’ve even brought one that has a progenitor’s Core within them, you are outnumbered, Xiao.” He stated with an amused grin before I simply spoke.

"... Because you will need your full attention on me." I remarked as I stepped forward and unsheathed the blade from my hip.

I had a few thoughts and assumptions regarding this man, but it wasn't anything I could be certain of. However, one thing was clear this was the only way to end this. I was well aware he may have every advantage against me, but it didn’t matter. This being interfered with my objective here and that was troublesome for me.

I didn’t waste a second as I stepped forward at top speed. The Scholar reacted accordingly as I closed the distance and unleashed my first attack on him. Although I had the intent to analyze his abilities and find his weak points. The moment my sword drew near him the book he held flipped to a specific page and what seemed to be a protective layer of his mana formed around his hand as he caught my blade in an instant.

I expected he would be able to counter me, but what I didn't expect was just how his presence or rather the insufferable Mana Essence he carried with him, somehow consumed the Magical Energy that should have existed everywhere. That left me to improvise with the limited Magical energy I could currently use due to the seal I was under.

I quickly infused Magical energy into Zenki Ryu and brought a palm of flames into his mid-section, which was wide open after catching my blade, but again the book he held flipped to a set page before my attack landed and reflected the blast around the protection ability he possessed. Although I did cause him to slide back a few feet.

The scholar snickered at my display. "Are you testing me? Surely you are aware that you are at every disadvantage. You can barely manifest any of your dormant Magical energy in my presence let alone injure me,” he remarked obviously seeing through my actions and reading me faster than I wanted him to.

My flat gaze remained unchanged as I noted that this Mana essence was his Aura that existed of something entirely different than Magical Energy despite the similarities. That was Astrid’s case as well, it was possible this man was in possession of what he called a progenitor's core.

I didn’t truly understand what I was up against but the fact that he had a way to completely disrupt my abilities with ease made things a bit more complicated. Although it didn't change the fact that I needed to end this sooner than later.

My gaze glanced over to my party as the chaos that continued on would eventually play out in his favor. Reiner would soon be overwhelmed by his puppets even Lilith was being overpowered by a possessed Astrid, and by the time Xander finished helping the surviving Graced clan members it would no longer matter.

Still, my brief look over wasn't something he missed as he spoke up, “Even if you managed to take my full attention, it doesn’t change the fact that those people are weak compared to the power the Kyojin possess. I would have liked to work with you, Reaper but I’m now invested in erasing your existence for good.” He spoke coldly as the book in his hands opened again.

Then, I felt it. The shift in his presence that stung my core, the Scholar’s intent to end my existence. It seemed things were just beginning, and I didn’t exactly enjoy what I felt but with my Esoteric Restriction’s I could adapt to whatever he threw at me, in truth if not for my Esoteric Restriction’s the scholar would have had me dead within seconds of our encounter.

While my flat gazed waited for the Scholar’s next move.