"No."

"I respectfully decline."

"Truth is, I don’t think am suited," Rean said.

"The responsibility is nice and all."

"I wanted this."

"No."

"I thought I wanted this back then."

"Now I see that’s just not what I want."

"I say this respectfully but...."

"It’s too small a goal."

Michael couldn’t hide his agitation.

You could tell he was visibly frustrated.

He was disgusted, and it showed.

"I would like to nominate someone else."

Michael dropped it.

He cooled off.

’Was this Rean acknowledging him?’

Well, no.

’What’s this guy doing?’ Michael thought.

’Could he be pitying Michael?’ Shom thought.

’No, no way.’

’That’s too unlikely.’

’It’s definitely something else.’

’What is it? I can’t tell. He’s different these days.’

’Less predictable.’

’Not as unstable, just volatile.’

"I’d nominate Zeta instead," Rean said calmly.

"What’s with you fucking Icarans and my sister?" Michael yelled out.

"Calm yourself," Shom immediately followed.

"Outside now. You and Ridlus," Shom ordered.

’Why am I being sent out?’ Ridlus thought.

’I can’t believe am about to miss this premium content.’

"Ok, you heard him. Let’s go."

Michael declined.

"I need an explanation or am off the team." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Shom was disgusted.

Not because a hunter demanded his right.

The explanation was the least they could grant him.

But his ultimatum was based on misinformation.

Michael was misinformed.

’To think he’s as much of an asset to the guild....’

"Michael, you are not that hunter."

"If you’re keen on leaving, I’ll open the door."

"I’ll even give you a ride."

"Which guild? Have your pick."

"I’ll even write you a letter of recommendation."

Shom was being brutal.

Michael was in shock.

He thought Shom, more than anyone, would understand him.

Shom had always been in his corner.

Supporting him, taking and exchanging notes.

Shom was even how he knew Tylan’s top pick was specifically Zeta.

"I don’t get it," he said.

"Mr Shom, why?"

"You’re....."

"You’re no different."

"You’re like these normies who get swept up by what peasants pull."

"It’s just what happened to my brother."

"Now me."

"Why...."

Michael was losing it.

Rean was not having this.

There was something important he had to say, and Michael wasn’t letting him.

"Ok, you go sleep."

Rean charged, hoping to replicate the same stunt he pulled at the last dungeon raid conclusion.

Michael countered.

"Not this time."

"Earth Talent. No --"

"Sleep."

Michael immediately went unconscious.

It wasn’t Rean.

"Please continue, my dear. Forgive the boy," the figure in the hat said.

"I don’t think this hat is necessary anymore."

He pulled it off.

It was the president.

"Most of you know me."

"Maybe you’ve had glances at the office or peeks, or maybe you’ve caught me in public or online these days."

"It’s a pleasure to officially meet you."

"My name, as you probably know, is Chandee Wake."

"Pleasure to officially meet you."

"I’ll let Rean continue, but I think it would be nice if I told you why I’m here."

"Upon launching this initiative, I want you all to know that I didn’t plan to reveal myself until I believed the division made progress or proved itself."

"My introduction now proves such has been made."

"Progress."

"Shom. Do forgive me."

"Continue."

"Thank you, sir."

"Rean?"

"Well, something came up."

"It’s selfish, but I have another obligation."

"I can’t be as involved in regular guild practices."

"Oh," Shom said.

"Is it another guild or a personal project?" the president questioned.

"Yessir. More in line with the latter."

"It’s something pretty personal."

"It comes up rather frequently now."

"So I’m not just requesting a one-time leave of absence, but a permanent clause in my employment."

"I want free reign."

"Of course, I have a condition that I’d like to cite that will make it worth your time as well."

"Nonsense," Shom said.

"You’re either in or out."

"Damn, what’s with you guys today? First Michael and now you too, Rean."

"I thought you were smarter than that," Shom lashed out.

"Calm yourself, Shom."

"Rean, I’m sure you are in fact smarter than that."

"So what’s your condition?" the president asked.

"If you’re impressed— no, if you’re even remotely impressed by my recent achievements, then consider this an investment in my strength."

"This time."

"All the time I’ll be absent, it’s core to my growth."

"I want it."

"No."

"That’s not it."

"I need it."

"Give me it and I’ll give you a hunter unlike anything you’ve seen."

"Hmmm."

"Hmmm."

"Tempting."

The president laughed.

He stood up.

He removed his hat.

Shom was just pretty much in shock.

The president walked up to Rean.

"I’ve heard you’re quite the fiery fellow, but I didn’t imagine the magnitude would near the heights am faced with."

"Ok."

Now facing Rean, looking down.

"Answer me this."

"Now, do you think you can surpass our guild’s greatest talents?"

"No, sorry."

"I’ll take a page off you young ones’ book."

"Do you think you can surpass our guild’s greatest talent?"

"Singular."

"And who might that be?" Rean inquired.

"Tylan Icaran, of course."

The room was filled with an even more deafening silence.

’I don’t think Rean’s going to respond.’

’He’ll probably need time to think.’

’He always takes his time to think.’

’Rean will--’

Cut off in thought, Shom was left shocked.

"I can."

"If it’s just my brother, then sure."

The stare was real.

The president wasn’t just looking him in the eye.

His very soul was being pierced.

"Ok."

"Ok."

"You do it and we have a deal."

"I’ll give you six months to operate on this timetable."

"You’ll need to go on occasional raids when you can."

"My secretary will put together a special contract for you."

"In the event you don’t make good on your word—"

"I’ll make sure you don’t get any placement as a hunter ever."

"I’ll make life....."

"No need for these threats. Excuse me."

"I have faith in you."

"I’m right to have faith in you, right?"

"Show me."

"Make this my truth."

"Make it reality."

"Shom, am out of here."

"You’ve given me something to think on."

The president walked out the room.

’I knew he’d get bored,’ Shom thought.

’Now Rean’s caught his attention too.’

’That boy, he has a way with people.’

’He’s not interested in the rest of us,’ Zeta thought.

"Ok, so Zeta, this is now your team."

"I guess we’re honoring Rean’s wishes."

*********

These are the documents, here you go.

Rean read them actively, not passively as he couldn’t risk signing something sketchy or manipulative, not that the president would.

S rank status in 6 months.

Place in the top 20 by the next award ceremony.

Clear a power gate with a team.

These seem fair, at least that’s what rean thought.

Surpass Tylan Icaran.

Tylan wasn’t the strongest in the guild . He was only the greatest talent, this pretty much only referred to his potential.

His growth was pretty much unprecedentedly.

Tylan joined as a C rank, over a year ago. He became A in under a year and now he’s S rank.

The fastest climb in history and now it seems Rean is about to pass that record.

The only greater talents are those who somehow awakened as S rank, probably not source awakening though, so those select few probably can’t level up.

Rean signed the document. He walked out and immediately disappeared.

He was no longer within sight.

"I can’t believe they gave us only 3 days to prepare for the first assessment. "

At least they told us deaths would occur.

Rean was referring to an assessment set up by the Temple council to clear a bunch of vessels.

There’s a maximum amount of vessel techniques the council has in circulation.

The first assessment was for all those who recently awakened as vessels.

Those who do not reach the required threshold would be culled.

Their techniques would return to the source and bestowed on a new potential vessel.

It was a brutal process but it was their only way of ensuring weak willed people didn’t hoard vessel power.

The vessel system was created for the very simple purpose of creating the strongest man to-

To Lead.

To not lead.

To teach.

To be taught.

To shelter...

The reasoning was not monotonous. It seemed simple but was not exactly such.

************

"Ok so the first assessment takes place in this Buddhist temple.

I don’t get why we don’t just use the source temple like last time. Rean thought.

I guess they have their reasons.

Man they have reasons for doing everything. It’s so stressful.

Man am one to talk.

I’m just like that for real. Always thinking. Second guessing but I mean look how far that’s gotten me.

All power to over thinking I guess."

**************

12:00 - Rean Icaran made it to the assessment site.

12:01- Victor made it to the assessment site.

12:02- Xander made it to the assessment site.

12:03- Zeus made it to the assessment site

12:10 *******

12:11*********

1:00*****

3:00*****

5:00*****

6:00- Zane did not make it to the assessment site.

***********