Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM MANNA
Adrian was sleeping when Malessa and Xaden walked in. Malessa smiled at her grandfather even though the sleeping man couldn’t see her, and nudged Xaden to move closer to Adrian. She was happy that her grandfather won’t be worried about Xaden’s whereabouts anymore. And now there was hope that Xaden would cure her father with his new found powers. She closed the door after her. Xaden was now alone with the old man. He walked around the room and noticed that the old man had a lot of antiques but there was something that caught his attention. It was a Japanese painting that hung directly above the bed. It was the same as the one his Grandfather had and also one that Adam Miller had which still hung in the Miller’s mansion. The woman might be right after all. The president must have been friends with his grandfather. "Lovely painting, right?" a voice asked behind him. Xaden was startled. He didn't hear anybody walk in. He turned round to see and it was the old man that was lying down on
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM BONUS TASK
"First of all, how on earth am I supposed to find those items listed? Elixir, Talpin and the rest? All those names? I don't even know where to find them. That was the first task I was given by the system. I can’t even use any special ability or ask help from the system because I don’t have points to use. I was granted 100 xp for unlocking the system and then had to use 80 xp to hide myself when the assassins came to find me." Xaden said, as he was munching on a piece of cookie. “Assassins?” The president asked with a shocked expression. He knew they would come after Xaden eventually to try and take his powers and the system away, but he hadn’t expected them to make their move so soon. How did they even find out that he was at the hospital? “My daughter never mentioned any assassins to me.” “They left before she came for me and brought me here. The system saved me.” Xaden replied. "Malessa told me that you said something about hearing a familiar name. Flexir, was it?" Xaden nodde
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM DO YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF?
Adrian called for his daughter, Malessa and she came back into the room to join them.“Have all your questions been answered, Xaden?” She asked him and he sighed.“I doubt you both would be able to answer every question I have but for now I have enough information to work with so that should suffice. You have to understand that all this is a shock for me. All this might be normal for you but it isn’t for me. I went from thinking the world was normal to finding out that magic exists, or should I say, Manna. I went from being dirt poor to finding out I’m the heir to a grand fortune. Now I have a system that can grant me unbelievable power and I’m talking to the president of the whole country and his life is in my hands when I don’t really know how to wield the power available to me. It’s all overwhelming and it will all take a while to get used to.”“I understand, trust me. My father may have known about all this for a long time, but I recently found out as well when one of the council
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM A NEW LEVEL
Underneath the shade of an ancient tree that was in the large backyard, Malessa and Xaden began their training sessions some time later. It was the same place where her father had trained her when she first started to learn about Manna and being back here filled her with fond memories. The air resonated with the rhythmic sounds of each movement of the leaves as the wind made the branches sway, a dance of discipline and strength. Malessa, with her wisdom etched on her face, guided Xaden through the fundamental stances, emphasising on balance and precision.“Many people like to see Manna as something to bend to their will to achieve their selfish interests. In doing so they make it a slave and claim to be masters. This might seem like the way because after all, the aim of using Manna is to master it and use it to its full potential. But there is a difference between gaining mastery of an art and proclaiming yourself master over it. Manna is the very fabric of the universe, the heartbeat
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM A TRICKY CHOICE
Adrian was so proud of him and gave him a pat on the back when he returned to the house. He was now ready to go hunting for the ingredients needed for the cure. It was still very early in the morning but Xaden didn’t want to rest. Now that he could access Manna, he could fortify his body to go for a long time without sleep or food. Using the map, he was able to trace the location of Doctor Flexir, Xaden moved through the shadows towards the imposing residence of the Doctor. He accessed the Manna present around the compound and used it to shield himself with the darkness. He wasn’t invisible, but unless someone pointed a direct stream of light in his direction, it would be almost impossible to see him. He was only left with one day to complete his task and this evening, the president's health had deteriorated. He had to succeed at this task by all means.With each step, his heart pounded in sync with the urgency of his task but he forced himself not to let doubt make him lose focus on
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM BREAKING THE ALCHEMIST'S CURSE
[I choose to break the curse on the Alchemist.] He replied to the system.For a few seconds, there was no response from the System, then a list of instructions appeared.[To break the Alchemist’s curse…Access MannaLocate the dark curse binding the core of his powersChannel Manna to the core of his powersDirect the dark curse from his CoreAbsorb the curse.]He was fine with all the instructions except the last one. Absorb the curse? Won’t that be harmful to himself? He didn’t argue though, he knew that he just needed to focus on accomplishing his task.“Before you try to break the curse, let me give you a tip. You’re new to Manna and all it entails so you need to have an anchor.” The Doctor began to speak and Xaden looked at him in confusion.“An anchor? I don’t understand.”“When you access the Manna around you, using it for something small will be of no consequence. But for something of this magnitude, a curse that even I couldn’t break despite my expertise, you need to be groun
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM TIME FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT
It took almost eight hours to successfully grow all the ingredients and when Xaden was done, he felt so tired like he had been drained of energy. “You did well for your first time, and you’re feeling fatigued because you don’t have experience in wielding Manna for this long. Over time, your body will get used to it and you can go several days doing this without feeling anything.” The Doctor said and Xaden nodded. “I’ll be fine. What’s important is getting these back to the president, time is running out, we only have a few hours left to save him.” Xaden said as he wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead. The president was already on death's door by the time he came back with Doctor Flexir and the herbs. His body had gone cold and his eyes were shut and he was barely breathing. Malessa beside her father in tears. When she saw Xaden, she immediately rushed to him, then paused when she saw the stranger beside him. She immediately became alert when she recognised the stranger as one o
THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM AN IMPOSTOR
President Adrian stood behind a podium, his expression a mix of joy and relief. He was finally fulfilling the promise he made to his late friend, John, Xaden’s grandfather. He had been given a second chance at life just so he could help Xaden reclaim the Knight Consortium which was his inheritance. The media got his word well. The world watched with bated breath as he prepared to share a deeply personal announcement. The room, filled with dignitaries, press, andsome citizens eager for news, hushed in anticipation. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed citizens of our great nation," Adrian's voice resonated with a gravity that held the attention of the entire audience. "Today, I stand before you not only as your president but as a grandfather who has experienced the profound joy of a family reunited. The man I am about to introduce to you may not be related to me by blood, but I see him as mine. I made an oath to a dear friend of mine to take care of him and today is one of the many ways I w
Latest Chapter
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
PERMANENCE
The deceptively edited video of Xaden's hospital encounter with Ashley spread like wildfire through media outlets, igniting a conflagration of public condemnation against him. This carefully fabricated footage painted Xaden in a villainous light, casting doubt over his character and fueling rampant speculation and outrage. They made it seem like he was harassing Ashley, who was already in the hospital for health reasons.Xaden found himself battered by a relentless storm of negative publicity as the video spawned ubiquitous accusations across news platforms, social media, and gossip channels. This orchestrated smear campaign portrayed Xaden's actions in a distorted manner to turn public opinion against him.Sensing opportunity in the chaos, Xaden's rival Sylas seized the moment to escalate the attacks on Xaden's credibility, calling a dramatic press conference to denounce him publicly. With calculated precision, Sylas exploited the public's appetite for scandal, levying sensational al
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
A LITTLE FORGIVENESS
A nurse rushed in, overhearing the raised voices. "Miss, you need to get back in bed. You're in no condition to be moving around." Ashley allowed herself to be led back to the bed, defeat washing over her. Xaden gave her one last disgusted look before storming out. Xaden strode from the hospital seething with anger. The nerve of Ashley, trying to manipulate him again with her fake tears and lies. After everything she had put him through, he would not fall for it this time. Regret gnawed at his conscience, a relentless reminder of his outburst in Ashley's hospital room. Despite the turmoil raging within him, a flicker of guilt tempered his resolve, prompting him to contemplate the consequences of his actions. Even if Ashley was at fault, the baby was innocent in all this. He didn’t want her to lose the child because of him. He needed to be more careful around her. As he made his way back to the presidential villa, President Adrian was waiting for him anxiously.
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
SETTING HER STRAIGHT
The news of Ashley's fainting spell spread like wildfire, igniting a storm of speculation and sensationalism in the media. Reporters clamoured for details, eager to uncover the truth behind the dramatic episode that unfolded in the newsroom. Among the throng of journalists, one figure stood out—the elusive and enigmatic Ashley, whose fabricated tale of betrayal and heartbreaking captivation captivated the public's imagination.As the frenzy of media coverage swirled around her, Ashley lay in a hospital bed, her facade of frailty concealing a calculated strategy. She had orchestrated the elaborate charade to garner attention, leveraging the public's fascination with scandal and intrigue to further her own ambitions.Meanwhile, Xaden, driven by a sense of obligation and a gnawing curiosity, tracked down the hospital where Ashley had been taken. Arriving just as the doctor delivered a sobering diagnosis, he observed the scene with a mixture of concern and scepticism.The doctor stood ove
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
ASHLEY'S INTERVIEW
“So Miss Miller, what made you come here today to have an interview with us?” The reporter asked.Ashley was with a handkerchief and was prepared to do all she could to gain public sympathy. It was easy to do since she was pregnant and was already showing. She also came with proof of her marriage to Xaden and the divorce papers as well. This was the plan she had come up with after never hearing back from the president. She had thought that Adrian would make her get back together with Xaden after she had complained to him that day over the phone.She had no idea that the person she had spoken to that day hadn’t been the real Adrian. And even if it had been, the real Adrian knew the real truth behind how Xaden’s marriage crashed. Xaden had come clean to him after the episode with Sylas skin walking in the Villa, and Adrian was in no way interested in bringing Ashley into Xaden’s life after she threw him away like garbage. She figured out that since the president never messaged her back,
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
A NEW PROBLEM
“I don’t understand. We should have been able to find her. We checked every property that was connected to Sylas and that one was the best option. The System said we should follow the forbidden, how else are we supposed to do that?” Malessa asked with a bemused expression.“We thought the forbidden meant his business, but at this point, I don’t think the System meant his illegal businesses. I think it meant forbidden Manna practices, dark spells and things like that. Whatever posed as Dominique didn’t look like it was skinwalking. And there was a weird blade. The blade was very black and seemed to be sucking the light from everything within a metre of it. It also had a red ruby in the hilt with strange lines, I think they were runes that seemed to be filled with blood. It felt wrong, like a black hole draining everything around.” Xaden said and Adrian looked up in shock.“The blade itself was black?” Adrian asked and Xaden nodded.“Damn. This is worse than I thought. Sylas is really g
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
ILLUSION
Xaden's heart pounded in his chest as he burst into the dimly lit warehouse, the stale air thick with tension. This was where Adrian's men said they suspected Dominique was and Adrian trusted their information. When the system gave the riddle to look into the forbidden, they agreed to do a thorough search into Sylas’ illegal business. Definitely, someone like Sylas could never keep his hands clean despite how much the Knight Consortium was worth. Greedy people never considered their wealth enough and Sylas was greedy to a fault and also covetous. This warehouse had been part of the chain of illegal trade Sylas was in charge of. It was in a secluded position and was the most ideal place to hide someone. The flickering light from a solitary bulb cast eerie shadows on the cold, concrete walls."Sylas!" Xaden's voice echoed through the desolate space, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He didn’t bother trying to be silent because he could feel that he wasn’t alone.“Don’t bother trying t
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
NEW TASK TO FIND HER
The reporter he pointed to immediately stepped forward.“Mr Knight, you didn’t spend a lot of time inside, does that mean everything has been resolved? We all expected you to take at least a few hours to negotiate your takeover with the board members.”“Well it seems the board wants to start a fight they can’t finish by denying me my rightful inheritance. This company was established by Knights, built by Knights, and should be ruled by a Knight. I appreciate them holding the fort while I was unavailable, but now that I have returned, they should do the right thing and let me take my place as the last living legitimate member of the Knight family. I hope that answered your question.” Xaden said and pointed to the next person.“Sir, what’s your next move? Will you take this to court? Or let it play out? We want to know how you intend to fight back.” The next reporter asked and he smiled.“They say a magician never reveals his secrets. If I tell you my plans, then they can try to thwart
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
FIRST APPEARANCE TO THE BOARD
When she woke up, she thought she had gone blind because she couldn’t even see her fingers even though she was sure she was holding them in front of her face. She tried to move but there was a clanging sound as the chains she was held down with moved.“Hello!” She screamed into the darkness.She tried to figure out who could have summoned forbidden shadowkin and also ordered them to take her. The last thing she remembered was seeing shadowkin in the alleyway leading to her house. The leader said they knew what she had done, and the only thing she could have possibly done to warrant being seen as betrayal was going to visit Xaden and Adrian. She knew her husband wasn’t a good person after finding out what he had done to Xaden but could he really be responsible for this too? She was confused. She didn’t want to believe that she had been married to a monster all these years but there was no other explanation even if it was a bit confusing because she was sure that Syalas had been asleep
- THE CONSORTIUM SYSTEM
SHADOWKIN
In the confines of the presidential office, Dominique stood before President Adrian, her eyes reflecting a mix of remorse and regret. "I want to apologise," she began, her voice tinged with sincerity. "I cannot excuse or justify what Sylas has done. I'm here to acknowledge the wrongs and take responsibility for my part in this. I should have been more observant of him. I know most of these things happened before I got married to him, but I still feel guilty. I know he will never swallow his pride and apologise so I want to do it on his behalf. I will try and talk some sense into him to avoid further disputes."Adrian, though still carrying the weight of the recent turmoil, acknowledged her sincerity. He knew it would be wrong to blame her unjustly because of her husband’s misdeeds, but he was still mistrustful of her intentions.What if Sylas just sent her here to deceive them and get close to them as a spy? Or what if she was actually here of her own accord, but still with nefarious
