Orveth had recovered a bit from the punch, but he could swear the world was still split in two.

’Hah, must be a nasty headache.’

He fell from the tree. Broken wood and debris were falling with him to the ground.

"Was Daryon able to take care of him?"

He asked out loud as he managed to sit up.

"Hah, unfortunately, no."

Luca’s voice boomed in Orveth’s ears as the world in front of him warped and solidified into Luca’s form.

Orveth staggered to his feet only to fall back on his bum. His chest rose and fell as panic exploded in his blood vessels.

"Wha– What are you doing here?"

Luca chuckled.

"That’s a dumb question."

He walked over to his front and squatted down to his height.

"I already took my pay from the Archer."

He stretched his hand out.

"Spit out your cores."

"Wh– why would I do that?!" He stammered with a forced confidence.

Even he knew that if Luca was here, then Daryon was definitely out of commission.

But how?

"Huh, well, I cut off your friend’s arms since he was persistent."

He drew out his long sword.

"And I can do the same to you as well."

’He did what?!’ Orveth stared at him with caution. ’Did he really do that or is he bluffing?’

Orveth tried to read him.

His expression, the way he spoke and the manner in which he spoke.

If one paid attention enough, one could easily tell when one lied... but no matter how much he observed, he saw no fluctuations– only certainty.

And it bothered him.

"Are you stupid? You hurt a member of the Ardenthals?"

Luca lifted a brow. "You can go report me if you want... but didn’t you come here to kill me with the certainty that nothing gets out of here?"

Orveth froze at his own words.

’Shit. I didn’t expect him to figure us out.’

"Why are you guys even after me? I haven’t done anything wrong."

The question came out before he could control it.

He had pondered on it a bit, but settled with the answer that perhaps they just didn’t like commoners in the Institution.

But was that truly it?

’I would have loved to find out why... but perhaps I’m overthinking things.’

He shook his head.

"Never mind that question. Hand over your Cores and don’t let this stretch out any longer than it already has.

If word gets out, you will lose much more than you’ll gain and if you resist, you will end up in the same state as your friend."

Perhaps because of the confidence in his words, Orveth had suddenly developed a seed of fear in his heart.

’You’re kidding! This guy is absolutely insane!’

He summoned an interface and emptied five cores in front of him.

"Here, these are all my cores."

Luca examined them before storing them as well.

’Weird, didn’t his friend summon his cores from thin air? I thought they used Phantom storage rings.’

He stretched his arm to Orveth who stared at it in confusion.

"We’re shaking on it. No hard feelings, right?"

Orveth wanted to pounce on Luca at that moment.

His expression immediately revealed his hostility as he gripped the forest grass tightly.

"Okay, okay." Luca raised his arms in surrender and rose to his feet.

He had considered knocking him unconscious or killing him, but those two options would bring trouble for him.

Not that letting them go wouldn’t at the same time.

Luca knew that no matter which path he took, these Vassals wouldn’t be satisfied until they saw him dead or on his knees.

Unfortunately for them, Luca had plans for neither.

’It should take a while for them to recover, then go in search of more cores. With how much time wasted chasing me, they would be too occupied with succeeding at the task.’

’As for me, I’ll be taking it easy until the task ends.’

He turned around to walk away without another word and Orveth watched as he ran forward with a blast, through the forest trees and farther than he could see.

"Monster."

He muttered before falling to his back with a sigh. "I’ll be damned to let those two know of our failure. We’ll say we met an especially powerful Severe-ranked Null Bud! Yes, that should work!"

He sighed heavily as his gaze lingered in the skies.

His head was flooded with the past events and the fight that followed.

The way Luca reacted in a way that it feel like they were being attacked.

And then his absurd form, telekinesis.

’He at least has an average affinity for it... the others need to hear of this.

Perhaps we should end this farce and focus on our growth?’

The thought left as it came.

"Nonsense. How can the Main House be fixated on a commoner?! I will make sure to repay this debt, sevenfold, you bastard!"

He screamed at the top of his lungs, but he knew Luca had gone too far to have heard him.

"LUCAMIR ELARIC!"

That didn’t discourage him, though.

*

*

*

After running for what felt like a long time, Luca finally came to a stop behind a tree trunk.

He tested his back on it and slid down to the floor, cushioning his landing as a sigh escaped his lips.

"Too close."

The fight had been woven specifically for the Ardenthals. They chose the playing field and used it.

With the Archer and Brawler fighting with such synchrony, Luca should have lost.

’That’s why I had to change the terrain first.

When their focus was torn as I attempted to escape, they immediately changed tactics, but they were not quick enough.’

And he quickly took them down with his other Archetypes.

His fist talent, though, Dormant rank, was still a force to be reckoned with, especially when infused with Ego.

And then Stealth. It had assisted him when the Archer fired exploding arrows.

His form too had enabled him to use his sword as a diversion.

"It’s good I was able to turn the tables, but things won’t always be that easy. What if they were five and not two? Three archers and a Spell Caster to boot?"

He clenched his jaw at the thought.

’I am still weak.’

Immediately, he summoned his interface.

Name; Lucamir Elaric.

​

Archetype; Undefined.

​

Ego Rank; Explorer, 2nd Stage.

​

Ego Core; Particle White (4.6% => 39.3%)

​

Ego Synchronization; 5%

​

Ego Manifestation; 20%

​

Null Resistance; 100%

​

Titles; First True Egoist(Divine). Seven Sins(Celestial)

​

Bloodline; None.

​

Traits; Mercuryborne(Transcendent), Doggedness(Dormant-Mastery(7%) )

​

Talents; Identification Talent(Dormant-Mastery (30%) ), Sword Talent(Dormant-Mastery (9%) ), Core Talent(Dormant-Mastery (0%) ), Bond Talent(Dormant-Mastery (0%) ), Fist Talent(Dormant-Mastery (3%) ), Focus Talent(Dormant-Mastery (0%) ), Harmonize Talent(Dormant-Mastery (0%) ), Stealth Talent(Dormant-Mastery (7%) ).

Ego weapons; Trial Longsword <Yet to be named> (Dormant-Mastery (0%) ).

​

Ego Accessories; None.

​

Bonds; None.

’They’ve risen by a lot... but my core is still a problem. At 39.3, after I killed that many?’

Most Explorers who killed as much as he did would have reached 3rd Stage by now, or halfway to the 4th Stage.

His core growth was slow– seven times slow, and it was a problem.

’But that doesn’t mean I’ll rely on it alone.

Of course, ranks come with their boost in strength, but my skills are just as important.’

At the moment, Luca found Sword, Fist and Stealth Talent to be the most useful.

There was also Harmonize which he had yet to use, and Core which was the basics for Spell Casters.

Using them openly would raise suspicions, quickly, and so, he had refrained from using them.

’Those two acted like no one knows when a Cadet dies, but I have a feeling I’ll be a fool to believe them.’

His stealth can be mistaken for speed according to how he used it.

The explosions were his camouflage at the time and they made things easier.

Then his fist, though weird, would only raise questions– nothing more.

It wasn’t like other Archetypes couldn’t learn other base talents. They could, but their effect was reduced.

So a Brawler with a sword Talent wouldn’t be able to use it as well as a Knight.

’Of course, they can use Non-based talents like Spear talents or Bow Talent.’

The Bow Talent was in fact a Non-based talent and not a Based talent.

There were many Snipers who chose to use an actual, modern sniper rifle and not bows and arrows like some medieval people.

’The Focus Talent... this will also be useful.

I’m not certain how the classes are in the Institution, but I should practice in all... maybe give them the assumption that I’m trying to make up for my low synchrony with effort.’

People liked to ignore hard workers after all.

’There’s also my form, but that increases the longer I use it. I can feel it.’

He raised his fingers and lifted his sword.

From the start, he could only control small objects, fruits, and wallets and when he used them internally, he could only manage crude control.

Never the minute things, but the obvious ones.

Luca didn’t have extensive knowledge of human anatomy since he dropped out of school, but the basics he had were enough.

The functions of the brain, heart and blood vessels and how they respond in times of flight and fight. Everyone knew that in the suburbs.

But now, he felt he could pick up larger ones.

His sword for example was now ridiculously easier to lift. He controlled it however he wished and his body responded more quickly.

His grip on his muscles was getting firmer.

’Soon, I’ll be able to perfectly replicate my thoughts into actions.’

Wasn’t this the dream of most aspiring athletes? Well, Luca wouldn’t know or care.

As he played with his long sword a bit, another matter came to mind.

’I’m yet to name my weapon?’

It was then that he recalled that his normal-looking long sword was in fact an Ego weapon.

Luca facepalmed himself.

’Shit, I must have lost my mind with the events happening so far... but what do I name it? I only know of Old Man Donald who named his animals by the sounds they make.’

He shook his head at the thought.

’I hope his son doesn’t sell his barn.’

As he began deciphering names, the world hummed with a loud ding.

Luca froze and turned to the sky when a voice boomed.

"Thirty minutes is now over. All existing Cadets, walk into the Gate provided for you."