“Why are you always talking to yourself?” While bandaging her chest to hide the hideous black crystal, Amelia asked Jonathan, who never pacing around the dimly lit basement and mumbling to himself. Her question, which came out of the blue, made him momentarily stop and look at her with half-surprised half-confused face. “It helps me concentrate… and it doesn’t concern you. Continue your training or else I will find someone else to use the Crown.” As crazy as he always seemed, Jonathan could sometimes be reasonable and calm. Now was such a time, which was why she mustered her courage and asked him. Then again, as they were allies, more or less, he wasn’t particularly harsh on her. “What even is the Crown? Is it just this crystal to my chest?” He stared at the thick bandages wrapped around her chest, barely hiding the crystal. After a slight hesitation, he sighed and fiddled with his yellow headband, “The Crown is an otherworldly artifact. It’s what will help me get what I want.”
“I knew you’d come.”The Dean beckoned Zeke, who stood at the edge of the open area and, flabbergasted, stared at Azmer.“Hm? I never said you’re the only one.”“...”Zeke had deliberated the offer’s for a whole day and finally decided to accept it as it was the safest way to train. However, never did he expect to find Azmer here too, but, unlike him, the latter still refused to acknowledge his presence and was minding his business.‘Why should I leave just because he’s here? It’s not like I’m afraid.’As he stood next to the shabby hut, the old man pointed at a poorly-made leather dummy.“This is better than mindlessly hitting trees. Suit yourself.”After saying that, he proceeded to ignore Zeke and busied himself with Azmer. He stopped behind the blond youth and, after a moment, raised his cane and hit the back of his knee, making him fall to the ground.“How many times do I have to tell you? Concentrate and don’t activate your ability immediately!”With gritted teeth, Azmer solemnl
“What’s the matter with that kid?”Celestia wasn’t happy at the end of her pointless conversation with Zeke. He left abruptly and was vehemently against lending any kind of assistance. “I found that strange.” Remarked James while pushing back his glasses and standing up.“He was relatively polite when we talked to him. Did you expect him to be like Edward?”Upon the mention of Edward Orland, the girl snorted and averted her gaze.“Apparently, before awakening, so to speak, he was getting bullied by two of his classmates. Maybe his unwillingness to help stems from that.”“And what, pray tell, does that have anything to do with me?”“You shouldn’t have threatened him.” Chirped Vanessa, also surprised by Zeke’s attitude. Although he was fairly outspoken, he was still a bit ‘docile’ when she talked to him.“I’ll try talking to him.”“What?”Celestia slapped her hand against the table, her anger rising, which was extremely rare as tended to things in a calm and responsible manner.“Out of
“This is not the right way, lad.” Instead of training with Julia, Zeke used another route while avoiding the patrols. It wasn’t that difficult, at least not until the Dean appeared nowhere. “Erys has been closed off and, barring a few exceptions, new students are allowed to leave the premises. I thought the notice made it crystal clear.” “I have to leave.” Resolutely said back the youth, his eyes defiant and fists clenched. He had to retrieve the Crown no matter the cost, because, at this rate, his condition would get worse, and, excluding the attention it might attract, he might not even be able to walk properly, much less train or attend class. “Have to? That’s the excuse everyone says in this situation. Don’t make things hard for yourself and ruin your perfect records by getting Black Stars.” “...” Seeing Zeke’s adamance, the old man stopped tapping his stick on the ground, he raised it ever-so-slightly as if about to attack. However, at the last second, he furrowed his brows
“Stay here? This isn’t our work office.”Seeing the young man sitting quietly, his uniform shredded and his face pale, Sulong was about to curse but held himself back and contented with an exasperated sigh.Zeke had appeared without prior notice and demanded to stay there for a while. At first, Sulong thought it was a thief who broke in, so this situation made him doubly surprised.“Shit! Look at this…”The other man, Jack, was staring at the TV while whistling in surprise. The news about the fight that broke out in Kethra’s Arms.“I don’t have to ask if you played a part in that. Hm? A whole building? You people are monsters.”Zeke was having trouble clenching his left hand as the Rune of Death was still acting, processing the absorbed black mist from earlier. It was only active for a moment or two, however, the quantity absorbed was unexpectedly big, so much so that the reservoir within Rune of Life was reaching its limit.“How goes the search?” Asked Zeke while trying to move his
“Hey…psst!” Zeke was absent-mindedly watching the tv only for Jack, Sulong’s friend and colleague, to sit next to him and lightly nudge him. When he finally got a reaction out from the youth, Jack looked down and asked, “Are these the source of your power? Is this how you students do it? If I can get power then I don’t mind an ugly tattoo or two.” Zeke rolled his eyes and pulled his sleeves, “It doesn’t work like that. You’re either born with it or you’re not.” “Oh… I never actually bothered to learn such stuff. All that complicated gibberish about Aether and whatnot. You know what I think? They use big words and make it elaborate just to sound smart.” “Technically, you’re not wrong.” “Jack! Stop with the pointless questions and clean the office for a change! Open the windows too!” The lanky clicked his tongue and begrudgingly stood up, dragging his feet around the messy room. “What is our favorite free-loader going to do now? Maybe you can help us work?” “I’m going to leave
The planet of Wonders Author: Archeologist, Geologist, and Historian Sebastien Whitefort Chapter 1: The Aether planet Following its serendipitous discovery, the Aether Planet quickly became a new home for a new breed of genetically-altered humans. Although the planet was, at least, half the size of Earth, it was situated in the perfect spot, thus making it habitable and ripe for colonization, or so thought the ‘Earthlings’. However, there are many unexplained terrains and occurrences happening all over the Aether Planet. First, there are the contrasting biomes adjacent to each other and equipped with violent environmental conditions. Notably, the Vermillion Sea of Flames, the Whitefrost Planes, the Kingsmen’s Ruins, and the Living Forest. Similar to Earth, the Aether Planet was mostly covered in stretches of waters, which was mostly inaccessible and relatively devoid of any exciting discoveries. However, the available and crossable lands were either to
“Are all of the students like him?”-JackJack and Sulong were sitting on their favorite couch and staring at the cross-legged youth whose eyes were closed and his body literally emitting a faint green light.“Nah! We were just unfortunate enough to cross paths with one of the crazy ones. He hasn’t moved an inch since last night.”Even though Sulong would constantly bicker with Zeke, he had to admit that the latter was excessively hard-working, so much that he gave up on any rest for the sake of non-stop training.It has been five days since Zeke came to live in their office, and despite their rocky beginning, he mostly kept to himself and rarely, if not ever, interfered with their work.The pure Aether revolving around Zeke then getting absorbed suddenly came to a full stop as his body twitched twice and then fell to the ground. By now, this odd occurrence had become more and more frequent, so Sulong no longer voiced his worries or surprise.Zeke groaned in pain, supported himself by
“I and Hephradet personally studied it, but found nothing. Here you go.”Kleya handed back the strange item back to Zeke.“There’s no Aether or any other foreign energy inside. We couldn’t determine its purpose.”“I see. Thank you anyway.”“Don’t worry about it. You should rest more or else I’ll never hear the end of it from Jenny.”Zeke wryly smiled and nodded. His mother kept nagging him day and night, telling him to rest and not continuously wander around the castle checking on everyone and making sure there were no issues.His body was already healthy and he felt no odd disturbances or unexpected awakenings. Everything is as normal as it could be.Just as Kleya left the room, Jennifer came in. Behind her was a red-faced Celestia, which made Zeke frown.“Mom?”Surprisingly, Jennifer grabbed his ear and pulled him to the couch.“Did I not tell you to overdo it?”“W-what? I haven’t done anything!”“That’s not what she told me!”Celestia stood a distance away, her head lowered in emba
“It’s still too early to assess everything, but… over 80% of the entire planet’s population died.” Kleya, whose eyes were a bit red and her face was filled with fatigue, sat across Zeke and Celestia. “And Her Majesty?” When she heard his question, Kleya lowered her head and held herself back from crying. “We… we think she died fighting the System. It’s no longer possible to return to the Unending Star, so we decided to acknowledge that Her Majesty was amongst those who had fallen there.” “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be. She… she died protecting what she believed in. Us. Not just the Witch Association but all of the Aether Planet.” Zeke sighed, feeling sorry when he saw Kleya like that. The Witch Queen was the pillar of the Witch Association, their respected leader. It was especially so for Kleya and the other 6-star Witches, excluding Jennifer. “A-anyway, the situation at the capital of the Nezulian Republic remains the same. We’re still looking for a way to cancel that Frost Spell cast
“Huff… huff…” With a hand pressed against his hurting chest, Zeke dragged his tired feet toward the fallen copy. The copy’s head turned to look at him, its eyeballs, which looked as if they were to pop-out, were letting out the familiar yet incredibly dim crimson light. “We had completed our objective. There was nothing left for Us to do.” “That didn’t give you the right to wipe entire civilizations.” “You… wouldn’t understand, Zeke Orland.” Unlike earlier, the System spoke through the copy’s mouth. Its charred and cut lips moved in an unnatural way, but the voice was identical to Zeke’s. “We had succeeded. We had saved the world. Then, We understood that our creation, our existence was only for that purpose. That We were a tool destined to cease existing.” “...” “We could not tolerate that.” “So you manifested a will of your own?” In response to that, a self-deprecating laugh came from the copy. “After choosing our first User, we saw how the Races we were supposed to prote
While the Phoenix battled the System in the Cursed Plains of the Unending Star, Zeke’s fight against his copy continued.Things took a turn for the worst when the Crown was crushed and the System’s powers dramatically increased. Nevertheless, Zeke didn’t lose yet. His body was flung and then crashed into the ground, blood gushing out from his shoulder and back.Even then, he slowly stood up and grinned toward the System.“Still fighting the good fight.”The previously calm ‘copy’, or at least the System’s disembodied voice, grew agitated as Zeke refused to remain on the ground.“My will is not so easily broken.”[Voltage King]Zeke’s eyes shone with an azure light as his voltage grew silent and became white.[Divine Champion][Divine Sreyzhanian Arts]Just as he charged at the System again, its body suddenly turned stiff as if being immobilized by something.The item handed by Kayro Ol Zerg flashed from Zeke’s pocket.[Fist of Fury]Zeke’s fists, glowing orange and wrapped in condens
“What’s wrong? I thought you were invincible in your domain.”Zeke’s taunt had no effect, at least not at first. The System stood straight and looked down on its wounded body.“You know nothing of Us.”The copy raised its hand, and very soon, something familiar appeared.It was a tangible object of an odd-shape, but Zeke knew what it was. The Crown.“You will know what it is to be helpless and defeated, 5th user.”“You’re still talking?”Zeke let out a smile and charged forth, his fists wrapped by thick voltage.The System crushed the crown as the red voltage manifested and exploded in an uncontrollable manner.…“Is it done?”Julia Lopmore furrowed her brows as she looked at the enemy, whose body was crushed, burned, and almost unrecognisable. It wasn’t a body anymore, but a mass of flesh and poison.The silence lasted for a very short time as the Crown also appeared in reality.“Stop it!” Shouted Frederic as took out a blue bead, one with the same size and shape that Nicneven had pr
Xiao, with his spear in hand, actually deflected the Divine Thunder before safely landing on the ground.Several people appeared close to the Witch Queen. As she swept her eyes across the six people that unexpectedly showed up here.“Your Majesty, we’re here to lend a hand.” Frederic Whitefort smirked and looked at her as he muttered those words. He had brought along Azmer, Xiao, Celestia, Ava, and Julia Lopmore.“You… how ar-”“We can save that talk for later, eh?”Frederic motioned toward Zeke, who was standing there and staring back at them with a hollow expression.“As I’m the weakest of the bunch, I’ll just stay behind and offer assistance… as well as try to heal Her Majesty.”The Vagabond knelt next to Nicnteven and extended his hand towards her. He let out a warm and serene white light, which made her feel rejuvenated. It was Holy Magic, something which she didn’t know he could use.“Wouldn’t Zeke die if we tried to kill the System?” Asked Julia while furrowing her brows.“Not
Right after the destruction of the Heart of the Dead Ends, Zeke stood there, seemingly in a daze.The Witch Queen stared at him intensely, and when his eyes glowed with a crimson light, she immediately attacked.Jonathan roared and rushed as well, a creeping Darkness exploding from his hands.Nicneven struck out from afar, unleashing a blazing wave of flames, fused with a spinning thick beam of Ice-aspected energy.The Paths of Extinction System, which had taken control of Zeke’s body, retaliated with full-force as well.Dozens of thunderbolts erupted from Zeke’s raised hand, blasting Jonathan back and clashing with the Queen’s magic.“The Seat of Magic.” Muttered a voice that didn’t resemble Zeke albeit speaking from his mouth.It was emotionless and cold, one which no living being would be able to imitate.[Voltage Zap]Using such an elementary skill, the System shot innumerable bolts that arched in the air and concentrated on Nicneven.She jumped out of the way and performed a stra
“I know this is a lot to take in, Zeke Orland. But, I want you to trust me. Know that I have your best interest in heart and I wouldn’t have come unless necessary. I could’ve let you venture alone and complete your objective, after which you’ll be killed by your own System.”Zeke pointed his open hand toward the incoming shades.[Voltage King]A barrage of lightning bolts was unleashed, piercing through the shades and extinguishing them. They vaporised in an instant, leaving only a bit of red fog.The Dead Ends and the Paths of Extinction System, they both had that unique and ominous crimson light. However, Zeke thought it was just a coincidence.Now that the truth was revealed to him, he felt a bit lost. It wasn’t that much of a surprise that his System was dangerous or a threat as he had already suspected as much after learning about Edward Heart.Nevertheless, the fact that it was a tool from the very beginning did make him feel weak and clueless.An eerie silence flowed between Ze
Thanks to the thunderstorm Zeke had previously summoned, the three of them managed to reach and enter the Black Spike. Strangely enough, the entrance of the spire was fully-opened as if beckoning them inside. “This looks man-made.” “Because it is.” Answered Nicneven as she held the black katana with one hand and controlled five differently-colored elemental orb with the other. The interior of the black spike was empty but particularly eerie. Everything was black and except a spiralling staircase that led to the top, there was nothing else, not even the crimson fog. “Who made it?” “...” “Why do you refuse to tell me anything, Your Majesty? What is the Dead Ends? Who created it?” “You do not need to concern yourself with that. Just destroy the Hearts and everything will end.” Her immediate dismissal did irritate him, but he didn’t press her for answers he knew she wouldn’t give. “This is the final stretch. Jonathan, take the vanguard.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” Jonathan pushed bac