The X Guide Chapter 222: Goal (4)

Chapter 222: Goal (4)

They could not do anything to him. Devion was shameless enough to fight back when he was the one who started it. Considering he was better in all aspects, the noise soon died down.

Khal’s life had taken a dramatic turn, and his name was often heard alongside Devion’s. The two who were considered outstanding students in the years of the academy.

Their last year arrived, and the graduation neared, and so was the time of awakening. Although it was not often the same and without accurate timing, the majority occurred once the body reached 17 years old.

This was a time when the body and mentality were mature enough to handle the mana, or so the studies said.

"What? A dungeon break?"

It was an unprecedented dungeon break in one of the yellow zones where students were dispatched for a combat exam. Once they were in the last year, they were often dispatched for yellow zones.

That was the time most of them, especially Khal and Devion, officially awakened as espers. They fought side by side and killed two S-class monsters on their own.

It was such massive news that the whole world went into an uproar. That meant two newly awakened espers had done something even those veteran espers could not.

Which only means they were surely S-class espers.

"Huh? E-class?"

Everyone in the room was dumbfounded at that result.

Khal and Devion remained silent, but they could not accept that in their hearts. What it meant to be labeled as E-class, everyone was aware of it.

Even with repeated tests, the results were the same. Yet, everyone saw them slay the S-class monsters. There was no way they were E-class espers.

So, the decision was made to announce them as S-class espers, but further tests were needed. Their mana was unique, without any definite measurement to fully confirm.

And then, it was found that they could not be guided. None of the guides could sense their wavelengths. Another setback.

It could not be announced, and the institute kept it under the rug, yet the search began.

Khal and Devion went their separate ways as soon as they graduated. Devion loved showing off and accepting missions that could alleviate his reputation. But also that he loved slaying monsters was only a bonus.

Khal was different. He went on missions on his own, mostly raiding dungeons. That was a time he once more encountered a red zone dungeon break.

It reminded him of his situation before. Once he was already in a meeting, and everyone agreed to evacuate, and none of them talked about the civilians, Khal was not surprised.

Each of them... They did not care. Maybe a few, but without strength, they could not do anything.

"How foolish," the one in charge rebuked him. "I see that you’re seeing yourself to them, but isn’t your life more important? Risking your promising future to them... how foolish of you."

The insults had died down because of his rank, but Khal never truly thought he was one of them. The silent treatment was always more deafening sometimes.

He did not answer that man. Khal did not see the need to.

Adapt. Move forward. Survive.

He had been chanting that for years. It was time to truly adapt to circumstances. He would move forward and survive, and this time, he would not ignore the civilians like others would.

It was not to say he had noble aspirations. But that, he did not want any children to feel the same way as he did.

He was not powerless anymore.

Khal did not care if the espers or everyone criticized him as foolish. He saved almost everyone he could. He killed monsters as he did so.

In the end, everyone was saved, and the red zone did not fall. By himself, Khal had protected everyone.

His heart was not stirred by the event, but there was a kind of guilt that had been undone. Khald did not react even if the espers took his achievement as theirs at the end.

Khal was only doing what he wanted without waiting for any returns.

It continued on as time passed until that event.

Khal had spent all his energy saving millions. He was exhausted, and for the first time, he just wanted to lie down, but he continued on.

Although he might not be able to save everyone, at least saving a few million was enough.

Until it was not. Khal did what he could, but it was never enough.

Khal looked at the faces criticizing him, the same civilians that he fought for and saved at the cost of his life.

In his eyes, why... they were not different from the clan members and incompetent government officials?

His heart turned colder with the years and became frozen by the event.

"Hah. Look at you." Devion criticized him, but he continued bandaging Khal’s wounds. "That ungrateful bunch deserved the beating. Seriously."

Khal did not say anything. He only looked at his hand, filled with bruises and wounds.

"What are you thinking?’ Devion whispered to him.

Khal looked at the person who competed with him in everything, the same person who was taking care of him at this moment.

"This world’s a mess."

Devion chuckled at that. "You only realized that now?"

Devion did not understand how heavy those words were. How it became a catalyst for something.

This world is a mess to begin with. Everyone was crazy one way or the other. Khal was the same, but his was more subdued. Or at least, he pretended to.

Khal lowered his head, his forehead pressing Devion’s shoulder as he closed his eyes.

The other did not push him away and instead stroked his hair. Khal relaxed at the touch.

They were not close, not even friends, but Khal was more comfortable with Devion than anyone in this world.

Everyone was fucked up. The government. The clan. The civilians. This chaotic world...

Khal’s mindset changed into something twisted. What if... a change happened? Green zones were so complacent with the peace. The yellow zones were no different. The red zones were not faring any better.

The government and the clan secretly clashed with each other, not caring about the populace but only power.

Khal’s mind became more and more twisted as he thought of one thing.

Change. They need a change.

Khal started to create that possibility.