Chapter 320
Roar of a King (III)
They finally found him. Quinn exclaid softly when she saw a silhouette seated on top of a rock beyond yet another dust storm, rushing forward through it, thinking he may still be injured. The twins were right behind her, all three ca to an abrupt halt when they saw that he was completely fine, nibbling away at so at and drinking sothing like wine, though aroma was distinctly different.
It looked as though hed just taken a nap rather than fought in a battle that had shattered a good chunk of the world and obliterated its landscape into an unrecognizable ss. He appeared relaxed and unbothered, as though what was happening around him had, in fact, nothing to do with him, as though he belonged to an entirely different reality.
The three approached with him only looking up at them and smiling lightly before going back to his al.
Haah, Quinn sighed, sitting down. I was really worried, you know?
Really? Im touched, he smiled.
You dont look the part.
Youre just bad at reading expressions. Anyway, Im glad youre fine. Ah. Those two were alive?
Leave that weird bubble of yours, Quinn rapped him gently on his shoulder. I still cant believe you knocked out and went to fight out on your own.
Are you angry?
Thankful, if anything, she shrugged. Id have been obliterated eighteen tis over if I tried helping you. Just the thought of tanking that dude is causing shivers in my soul.
He wasnt as strong as it looked, Cain said. Its just the spectacle of it all.
Maybe for you, she said. Anyway, theres sothing different about you.
Ive Awakened.
Oh!
But supposedly I need to leave to sowhere to get the process started?
Yup, Quinn nodded, glancing at the still-standing twins and indicating they sit down. Ill show you once we return to the Primal World. There are a few known pockets that connect to the Tower-controlled worlds. You can advance there quickly and return without using the beads.
... Convenient.
Necessary, she said. Otherwise, wed all be stuck, no? Anyway, did you get anything?
This scroll, he said, pulling out a head-sized and old-looking parchnt from his inventory, handing it over. I cant make out what it says. You?
No, Quinn shook her head. This is Tower-inscribed language.
aning?
aning that outside the Towers, its beyond encrypted. You can read it once you go to advance.
Good enough. Ah, how rude of , he said, pulling out more at and stirring it around while pouring so cranberry juice for the other three. Howd you find ?
Harmony--this one, this other one is Nature--
Its the other way around!
Yeah, whatever, nobody cares, Quinn said dismissively. As I was saying, Harmony has a pretty decent long-range scouting capabilities.
Pretty decent? Choke on your food, bitch.
Lovely to see you guys have overco your differences, Cain joked, stretching lazily. I never expected to Awaken again this quickly, though, he added with a sigh. It... changes my plans.
Changes them how? Quinn asked. Even if you lucked into the Second Awakening, the third is still decades away.
The third? Ive no intention of staying here till the third Awakening, he shook his head.
E-eh? Why?
cause Id lose my shit, he shrugged. Besides, Id like to reach it organically, without jumping hoops. Ive a feeling that if I stay here, all Id be doing is jumping hoops.
So... youre going to go back imdiately? one of the twins, either Harmony or Nature--Cain had already forgotten--asked.
No, not imdiately, Cain said. I planned on staying for five years, possibly extending the stay in case I never Awakened.
... hmm, Quinn mused. Then, I guess, youll be pushing toward the Heart of the Abyss?
Heart of the Abyss?
The center of the Primal World, she elaborated. Before returning to our ho worlds, thats virtually what all of us do--see how close we can get to the heart.
Is it like a trial? Cain quizzed.
Kind of, she nodded. Nobody knows what heart truly is--it stands tall in the sky, obscured by several layer of clouds through which magic cannot pierce. There are, in total, one thousand iron chains that latch onto it from the ground. The trial is to climb them.
So, whats the catch?
There isnt one.
Huh?
Not that we know of, anyway, Quinn shrugged. The most is that your will is drained relatively quickly while climbing. Usually, those whove been thrice-Awakened the longest climb the furthest. Its extrely beneficial for our Mana pools since soway, sohow the climb purifies the Mana, making it far more dangerous and yet controlled.
Any record of who climbed the furthest?
No, she shook her head. Nobody truly asures it anyway. Im not too sure how it goes myself as most of what weve heard can be considered hearsay.
... Sounds like an illusionary trial? Maybe kinda like the Cyclic one? Shit, I dont wanna go through that crap again...
Whats wrong?
Nothing, he said. Just driftin. Since Im aweso, Im gonna go and climb the whole thing before I decide to return.
Of course you will, Quinn chuckled. Speaking of your return.
Hm?
Id like to follow you back ho.
Us too!
...
...
...
Say what now? Cain mumbled, reeling back.
No hidden aning behind it, Quinn chuckled at his reaction. Wed like to beco your Guards.
All slots are filled--
Then well wait in line for when you advance.
What about your Tower--
Theres enough people to take care of it.
Your famil--
They can take care of themselves.
You just have answers for everything, huh?
Ill explain to your wife clearly that this is purely out of awe and respect, and that my preference in n drifts toward those who look like sturdy mountains.
... why you gotta make it weird? Seriously. Then again, I appreciate it--no, wait, why do you want to follow , anyway? he asked. Just cause of that battle? That was just dumb luck!
Oh, shut up, either Harmony or Nature grumbled. Stop with the fake humbleness. Heres our selling pitch: all three are thrice-Awakened, generational talents that you still dont have in your world. Even if the rules will bar us from directly fighting until your own world has a thrice-Awakened in its ranks, that only applies to the Tower-directed challenges. Furthermore, all three of us posses a wealth of items, be it in terms of equipnt or consumables, that even the entire Empires would envy. Not to ntion that we are among the most talented when it cos to our classes, with at least Unique-level diversion of sub-classes.
Not to sound abhorrent, but at the mont, short of you going absolutely all-out, your entire world would be a tiny peck in the raging storm against us. The reason were asking to join isnt because weve peaked or would be hopeless otherwise, but because we are ambitious. We dont want to stay rooted as rely among the best in our world. We want to Conquer the Tower. Go beyond it. Discover and pull the veil of it all back. And the best way to do that is to assemble the strongest and push together.
... I dont mind you joining, Cain sighed, shaking away the pretense. But you said yourself that you wont be able to fight in the Tower until soone in my world advances to the Third Awakening. Are you really fine with that?
Why not? Quinn shrugged. Looking at your trajectory, it should be within ten years, possibly even faster. Until then, we can continue to co to Primal World and train if need be.
... fine, then, he shrugged. I am kind of looking forward to their expressions when I return. Heh.
All right. Lets swear fealty bonds, either Harmony or Nature said, prompting Cain to look at Quinn quizzically, as though to say the hell are they on?. You dont know what a Fealty Bond is?
Nope.
Haaah...
Its a contract, Quinn said with a faint smile. Stipulating we wont betray each other, pretty much. Its a standard, especially in situations like these. Theres nothing complex about it, and the length is usually set to a few years. By then, you tend to know whether the cooperation will last or not. Ah, but well have to go to the pocket of the Tower. You can undergo your Awakening at the sa ti.
Forgive , for I am dumb and inexperienced, Cain joked. And I shall ask for your guidance as the days co to pass us and the winds and the clouds begin to swath--
Youre annoying.
You better get used to it, he cracked a smile. Thats precisely who I am. A child!
Dont exclaim it so proudly, either Nature or Harmony said. Besides, weve figured out that much already. Its not much of a shock or surprise. Most geniuses are weird.
... genius? Cain chuckled lightly. I suppose I am, now. I just never figured Id adopt people decades and centuries older than . Its usually the young and the lost that soway find their way to .
Just how many kids do you have? Quinn quizzed.
Officially? Two, I guess, he replied. But theres an entire orphanage of young and hapless chasing the stars to prove themselves to . Anyway, eat up. Well depart soon since this place will likely get overrun with the curious quickly.
Thinking of the future, Cain sighed inwardly. He had stepped onto a path of no return, he knew. More and more he was drifting away from simply being a Conqueror; there was a story larger than him at play, one in which he was but a single piece.
Oh, right! We gotta go pick up Lear! I almost forgot...
Im so telling him that.
Please dont.
Its going to be beautiful.
Cody of negligence.
All three of you are awful, he said. I guess youll fit together just fine, huh?
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