Luca had become sensitive to Ego at some point and that was thanks to his Synchrony.

While it represented 5% on paper, the amount that Luca actually used was much greater than that.

It wasn’t up to what he had used in the Trance, but much more than what the ordinary eye sees.

Perhaps, because of that and his second title, he was able to sense Ego energy and those around him.

No, Luca was certain that his second title was the major reason.

Not just his energy.

If he wanted to, he could feel the strength of an Egoist when they released their Ego, and thanks to this, he had spotted them the moment they got within his radar.

Luca stood to his feet and placed the core in his pocket.

’I will have to move it into my inventory once this is settled.’ 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Are you coming to me or am I coming to you?"

A rustling sound reached his ears, causing him to arch his brow. He picked up his long sword and pointed it forward.

Slowly, a figure walked out of their hiding spot with his hands raised to the air.

He had a smug expression on his face and a slight irritation that Luca quickly picked up.

’Red hair, eyes and that pride that washes off their body.’ He nodded once. ’Yup, an Ardenthal alright.’

His gaze shifted to a mushroom in the distance.

Quite far, when he thought about it.

The presence was merely at the edge of his senses– at least, a kilometre away.

’Had that arrow come from there or did he choose to retreat?’

A frown spread on his face.

’More important, do they think I’m stupid?’

"Oi, Oi, Oi, drop down the sword, no? Can’t you see I’m unarmed?"

Orveth asked with a calm tone, but Luca would be a fool to let that tone escape him.

"I see you’re annoyed that I was able to know you were around," Luca smirked. ’Well, I might as well play with them a bit... I’m certain they have one or two Null Cores with them. I’ll be taking that.’

"Eh, perhaps we may have underestimated you com– I mean, Lucamir."

"Oh, you know my name." Luca remained in his position with his sword still raised at him.

"Of course. I’ve had my eyes on you since the first task, you’re really skilled."

Orveth nervously chuckled. His eyes shifted between the sword and the boy.

"I said won’t you drop your sword?"

Luca played an oblivious expression.

"Bu– but won’t you betray me?"

With that question, he used his Identification Talent.

[EGOIST– 3RD STAGE, EXPLORER]

Luca tilted his head. ’I have been wondering for a while how my title works... perhaps I can use this as a test?’

His title, seven sins allowed him to be seven times stronger than his peers, but Luca’s peers were 2nd Stage, Explorers.

How about those from the 3rd and 4th?

One thing people noticed was that a team of ten 1st Stage Explorers wouldn’t be able to touch the hair of a skilled 2nd Explorer.

As a result, most assumed a lesser rank was ten times weaker, but the maths wasn’t always accurate.

There had been times when a 1st Stage defeated a 2nd Stage, and very rarely, a 3rd Stage.

There were also times when a hundred 1st Stages couldn’t harm a 2nd Stage.

Because of this, Luca couldn’t put the disparity in strength on a scale.

What he did know for certain was that there was no one as strong as him on the 2nd Stage, as of the 3rd and 4th... he would have to try it out in person.

"I won’t betray you, I promise," Orveth said with a slight tone of impatience.

Luca sighed. He spun his sword through the air to the alarmed face of Orveth.

"Wha– What are you doing?!"

"I was low on Null Cores. No pressure but you’re going to hand over yours to me."

"Wha– What are you talking ab–"

Orveth froze mid-sentence as the air warped, and in his presence was Luca.

His eyes widened as Luca’s sword came down like a guillotine.

’Whe–’

A light sparkled in the air and Luca immediately retreated with a surge of Ego.

A blazing red arrow slammed into his former location a moment later and an eruption of fire blasted with an earth-cracking sound.

Luca whipped his head in the direction of the source.

’That bastard.’

At the same time, Orveth jumped out of the smoke and debris, a furious glare on his face as clawed gauntlets materialised in his fists.

"HOW DARE YOU?!"

Luca skidded back as the enraged young red-haired slammed into the forest floor with unrestrained power.

Spider-web fractures raced outward from his heels, turning the solid stone into a mosaic of dust.

Orveth growled and lunged forward, just as another arrow came swerving in the mix.

Luca struck the arrow to the side and sidestepped in the opposite direction.

’That damn Archer! Do I forge a bow from Ego and send an arrow of mine?’

The idea left just as he came.

He had found out that creating objects with your ego was actually a common thing, but it was restricted to Invokers and above.

The reason was simple, becoming an Invoker pushed both manifestation and synchrony, no matter the amount to fifty per cent.

At that stage, Ego is more than just internal energy, but external as well.

Then there was Luca whose synchrony skyrocketed to 100% during the trance.

A blessing or curse, he didn’t care. He simply appreciated the flexibility of the energy.

’Fine, I’ll take care of this one then find the other one.’

Iron gauntlets met a metal sword and a loud bang ensued.

Sound and air blasted in a concentric circle, scattering their hairs back.

Orveth growled as his eyes flared with a crimson light. He punched again in a rapid barrage and Luca followed with his sword.

Each strike sent ripples through the air as the ground reverberated with the force of their attacks.

Jagged lines stretched throughout while a crater formed beneath their feet.

Orveth slid his feet and suddenly changed his angle of attack. The swift change was smooth– a practised footwork that was followed by a sudden burst of crimson wild energy.

Luca narrowed his eyes at the sight. ’Berserker Talent.’

Archetypes had a basic talent. One that had come after the Trance. The rest of the Archetype-based talents were learned through a Talent core, epiphanies or breakthroughs.

For someone like Orveth with a long-standing family history, Luca we’re certain it was through a core.

The wild crimson light began to suffuse into Orveth’s body, causing a slow but evident change in his muscular form. The boy was expanding in real time.

Luca’s thoughts churned when a light sparked at the edge of his peripheral vision.

’Nope.’

He turned and kicked the air with a sonic boom.

The air dispersed in a wave as he ran into the forest.

The arrow shot into his former spot, before igniting in a blast of fire.

"He’s getting away!" Orveth screamed as he rushed after him. "How is he so fast, dammit!"

Orveth’s jaw clamped. ’Forget speed! How is he able to keep up with two 3rd Stage Explorers! We should have been knocking the air out of him by now!’

When his thoughts replayed everything he had seen about the commoner boy, his heart had begun to race.

Orveth realised that it wasn’t just his speed or strength that was abnormal for his rank, but the way he moved as if he were a veteran.

He adapted in real time to certain changes and made absurd manoeuvres. It was like his body had a mind of its own.

"Forget it! We have to catch him!"

He screamed as he boosted his speed further.

Luca lingered ahead by a far margin, but that margin had begun to close.

Behind him, he felt a subtle weight in the air– an ego-reinforced projectile was flying at him fast.

The boy clicked his tongue and threw his sword into the air.

The blade spun like a wheel before dashing out and blocking the projectile’s line of trajectory.

An explosion of flames occurred and sent the sword reeling back.

But Luca unsummoned and summoned it right back, afterwards.

Then he threw it back into the air.

The sword whirled like a turbid motorcycle, spinning across a long arc past a giant tree and some mushrooms before it appeared in front of Orveth.

The red-haired skidded to a halt with widened eyes as he lifted his arms. ’Does he have eyes at the back of his head?’

The sword struck his gauntlets with a metallic click, sending a powerful force that sent Orveth’s arms reeling back.

"Fuck." He cursed, when he noticed movement at his side.

His head whipped in the direction, but it was too late, Luca was already upon him.

’He’s too fast.’

Luca’s fists came curling through the air with the afterimage of golden ego rolling out like a torrent.

A thin flash of murderous intent glinted in his eyes as Orveth braced for impact.

’Don’t worry, he’s a knight. Everyone knows Knights don’t pack as much punch as a Brawler.’

Oh, how terribly wrong he was.

Luca’s fists collided with his face like a meteor.

A wet, sickening crunch bounced in the air as his head spun a sharp ninety degrees before the force sent his body rolling like a cart wheel through the air before smashing back– first into a massive tree.

His eyes flared wide as blood and teeth spat out of his mouth while an irresistible pain shot through his spine.

’How the fuck?!’