Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate Chapter 12 CHAPTER 12: THE GOLDEN LION

"Boss, Jessica went to Kyle's ho, but we couldn't go in and eavesdrop. The difficulty is actually greater than we were made to believe. First, we sensed the aura of two beasts within the house," the hidden spy Kyle had commanded to spy on Jessica reported.

"Tsk, useless fool," Kyle retorted and left, unaware of his numbered days.

"Jessica, we were told about your actions—visiting Greg. I hope for his sake you didn't reveal the truth, or it might hasten his death, sothing I don't want to see," Jas, Jessica's father, said to her. Jessica stared at her father, shook her head, and continued her journey to her room. The day had been overwhelming, and she needed rest—a lot of it.

Her father, seeing this, decided to give up. Knowing his daughter well, he understood that pressuring her at this mont would only cause her to blow up, sothing that would be a real pain to handle. Shrugging his shoulders, he decided to let her be. "The boy must die soon. It seems Jessica's feelings for that trash are resurfacing," Jas muttered, his determination to protect his daughter—or so he wished to believe—driving him toward pushing for the hastening of the agreed deal.

Jessica, unaware of this, collapsed onto her bed the mont she entered her room and sighed. The events of the day replayed vividly in her head over and over again. She was tired. What was she going to do? Who was she going to defend—Greg or her parents?

"Perhaps Greg deserves justice. Having us pay for our actions might not be too..." Jessica was forced to stop her thought process. "Did I really just consider helping Greg gain revenge? Is my condition that bad already?" She couldn't help but curse her predicant. Battling over what to do, she picked up her phone and called Kyle.

Kyle was chilling out with his friends and circle. Their plans for taking down Nesis were slowly bearing fruit. While enjoying himself, his phone rang, and he was surprised by the caller—Jessica.

"Hmmm, how rare. To think she'd call. Perhaps her visit to Greg bore so fruit?" Kyle thought, amused by the possibility. Picking up the call with a playful smile on his face, he said, "Yes, Jessica? Finally decided to be mine?"

"In your dreams, Kyle. I'd rather die single than consider that."

"Then what's the reason for the unexpected call? Lonely?" Kyle teased.

Jessica, of course, wasn't in the mood for any of it. "Kyle, I have a proposition for you. If you're willing to listen, then listen. If you're not, then just shut up for the love of God. I don't have the luxury for your endless gas," she said, burning out from Kyle's perpetual teasing.

The call was silent for so ti, tension rising from the silence, until a playful voice broke it again. "Out with it then. What's your proposition? It better be worth it, or you'll definitely not like my actions," Kyle said, the threat in his words utterly serious.

"I'll help. I'll do my best, in any way possible. I'll listen to you and put my heart into it. I'll help you destroy Nesis. But in return, you do not touch Greg until we're done with Nesis," Jessica said, her resolve unwavering. She was going to do everything within her power to protect Greg. Even if he didn't want it or hated her for it, she couldn't help herself. She was willing to do almost anything for his safety.

"Hmmm, that's an interesting proposition. A tempting offer indeed, but one I dislike choosing between. To accept or reject—each gives satisfaction and dissatisfaction at the sa ti. But very well, I accept your proposition. That joke can keep his life for a few more days. Then I expect we'll et tomorrow within Apocalypse itself—or soon—to finalize the deal," Kyle said before hanging up, a playful smile etched on his face. Let Greg live a bit longer? That was fine by him. But how well Greg enjoyed it, one couldn't tell...

**********

Greg woke up feeling exhausted. Consoling his sister had been another form of torture. He had stayed with her for hours until he couldn't anymore and had to send her away. Today, he had a purpose—to formulate plans on how to gain authority. He had thought of the best way to achieve that, but he needed a lot of support. A king must have people backing him before he is qualified to be called a king.

As usual, he did so light exercises, cleaned up after himself, and prepared breakfast. His sister was still sleeping, like so serpent in hibernation. After what felt like an eternity, she woke up, prepared herself, and they both logged into Apocalypse, but this ti, with a determined look on their faces.

Logging into the ga, they discovered that the two primordial dragons had covered a long distance and were close to reaching the southern continent. The duo, not in the mood for conversations, kept quiet and enjoyed the ride.

"We've arrived, and he's probably rushing here already. This is going to be a tough battle," Drakonix said, gaining the duo's attention. Even with the cheat ability Greg had bestowed upon them, it was going to be difficult? Both siblings were intrigued, the mories of the previous day quickly receding to the back of their minds.

Waiting patiently on a large and spacious plain—good enough for a battle between beings capable of causing massive destruction—they didn't have to wait long. A lion with a golden mane and fur all over its body appeared, an illusory crown resting on its head. Standing on its hind legs like a man, its forelimbs resembled those of humans, with claws that were deadly sharp. The creature stood like a lycanthrope capable of upright posture.

"What brings you to my territory, pests?" The golden lion, Xerd, said with a condescending look.

"Nothing much, just..." Drakonix was unable to finish his words before a blur crossed his vision, and the golden lion was suddenly in front of him, slicing through with its claws. Reflex actions and dominating fear caused Drakonix to move backward, montarily forgetting his recent cheat ability.

Greg was shocked. He was low-level, true, and couldn't see the movents of these powerhouses, but sothing about the golden lion was different. It felt almost as if it was running at a speed an adult would use to match a toddler, and the look on Drakonix's face said it all—he had barely reacted, like a toddler unable to keep up.

Greg quickly dismounted from Drakonix's back, his sister doing the sa, understanding that this was going to be a tough battle. They both moved so distance away. While they couldn't be hurt, it wouldn't be nice being in the middle of a clash like this.

"Hey, stinking old man, wasn't that inappropriate? I was saying sothing," Drakonix criticized.

"Enough of it. I'm very sure you were going to say sothing stupid, so I decided to shut you up," Xerd said calmly.

"Oi, Leviathan, let's work together and teach this old man a lesson. What do you say?"

"Sure, I've been looking forward to this day for so long," Leviathan responded.

"Hmm, I think it's ti for a training session with you both. Very well, co at with all you've got. I'll be using five percent of my abilities," Xerd said calmly.

"Five??? What happened to using one?" Leviathan and Drakonix roared at the sa ti, fear finally creeping into their faces.

"Oh, please, kids. If you dare co to my territory, it ans you're prepared to beat in battle," Xerd said, before moving again, his speed unparalleled. He swiped his claws at Drakonix, but Drakonix, having finally cald down, didn't dodge but launched an attack of his own, finding fear for his defense unnecessary.

"Tsk," Greg couldn't help but click his tongue, frustrated that he could see only empty air being struck.

"Hmm, it seems the reason for your confidence has been discovered. But no worries, I'll find the gap to it soon enough," Xerd said while studying the duo.

Greg paid extra attention to this fight more than ever. The fact that his ability could have a gap—a potential weak point—was an intriguing concept to him.

Leviathan and Drakonix stared at Xerd as if he were soone who had destroyed their entire clan.

"You noticed, right, Leviathan? He's grown stronger," Drakonix muttered, respect and wariness etched in his heart.

"Are you attacking, or should I continue attacking?" Xerd asked, tired of waiting for the duo to make up their minds.

Breathing softly, the dragon duo attacked. The fight escalated quickly, neither side landing a hit on the other. While Xerd's attacks had been misses due to Greg's ability, Leviathan and Drakonix's attacks were well... just misses.

"Oi, old man, are you sure this is really just five percent? Because I'm seriously beginning to have my doubts," Drakonix shouted, finding it vexing that he couldn't land a hit on soone who claid to be using only five percent of his strength—sothing that was most likely true, knowing Xerd's character.

"Hmm, do you want to make it 100%? Yes, let's do that and test your abilities to the limit," Xerd said, the air around him suddenly becoming heavy with seriousness.

Greg and Annabelle watched this mont intently. It would determine the strength of their ability. Did it have a weak point, a loophole, or a gap? Or was it truly absolute, as they had believed?

(A/N: Jessica is a wildcard with lots of possibilities that even I am unaware of yet, her character developnt will definitely not disappoint, but it's open to several possibilities that it's definitely going to add beauty to the novel. I'll be adding characters just like that from ti to ti and in smooth ways to give the book life and retain your interest)