July 16th.
[Name: Marcus Sirdi.]
[Age: 24.]
[Level: 2 (Mage), (Sage).]
[Race: Human.]
[Mana: 3100.]
[Titles: Lord With A Will (Lv2)]
[Pathfinder: Will 50/50. Strength 100/100. Dexterity 120/120.]
[Achievement Points: 28435.]
[Arcane Knowledge Learned (Lv2). Advanced Technological Knowledge Learned (Lv2). Body Modification Knowledge Learned (Lv1). Futuristic technological Knowledge Locked.]
[Redo: 2.]
[Days Left: 17 months (506 days)]
…
Marcus opened his eyes and his status screen was the first thing he saw.
He ignored the new details, unconcerned about them.
Just like the last time he died, he awakened in his mansion, in the parlour where he entertained the students from Ulha Academy.
Eddy was still the same, arrogant and rude.
Zach displayed his concerns on his face as he tried to get Eddy to act better.
Veronica was by the side, nonchalant but secretly observing Marcus.
Marcus's knights were also stationed in the room, giving Eddy a stern look.
But none of this concerned Marcus at the moment.
The only thing on his mind was the words he had last heard from Maney, echoing repeatedly in his head, making him furious with each syllable he uttered.
It was almost as if it had become a demon whispering in his ears.
The answer had been before me for so long, and yet I chased after the wind!
How foolish of me!
Veins on the sides of his head swelled as he clenched his jaws tight.
Memories of the withered corpses he saw lying still on the unblemished snow filled his head.
Those meatless bones wearing skin.
It all felt like a dream, but he knew that it was more than that.
Then the memories of people dying in the auction house overlapped, further amplifying Marcus's anger.
Marcus was furious.
Not only at Maney and all the efforts he had made in his recent life, but also in himself.
He had ignored the entire room, completely enthralled in his mind and emotions.
Thinking deeply about Maney's words and making connections.
The rest of the room could see the anger boiling in him.
Eddy began considering whether he should apologize for the insult when he felt the aura radiating from Marcus.
How foolish!
Just when Marcus was about to lash out, time came to a still;
[Edge Of Death: Threat identified! Agard has been chosen as a breeding ground for summoning beings from another dimension. It consists of a series of complex Laws born from Devilish Formation Arrays, with negative emotions as its fuel, such as anger, hatred, wickedness, hunger, and death. It follows a form to build a connection.
Under these Devilish Formation Arrays, every life afflicted greatly by the suffering would suffice to be sacrificial tokens used to summon several Devilish Mantic Mutants.
The advent of this would mean the destruction of Agard, subsequently, your demise.
Here are your options:
*. Cooperate with Ulha Academy students and work together to eliminate this threat. Recognition and rewards from the Royal Council will be allocated in proportion to contributions.
*. Cooperate with Ulha Academy students, but only with the condition that their families get involved. Bringing forces from the Imperial Army and Duchies. Rewards and recognitions will be allocated in proportion to contributions.
*. Provide minimal assistance while you secretly attempt to resolve this yourself.
*. Refuse their help and ask them not to cause a scene in your territory.
*. Men are dogs, and dogs are keen. Tail the dog while it chases after this scent for its master. The scent is of trouble, but do so at your own risk. For the master and his dogs are hunters.
*. Your will is the will of your subjects. Train them and prepare them ahead of time to fight against the Faceless cult. Those who train under your Will, grow quickly, and even the untalented will taste growth.
*. Create a vicious virus that is difficult to cure and unleash it in Agard to kill your enemies. (Unable to affect Tier 1 Beings.)
*. Pledge your allegiance to Maney and support his endeavors.
*. Pledge your allegiance to Cassir and support his endeavors.
*. Pack your things and abandon Agard.
You have 99 seconds to decide.]
…
Marcus read his options.
He noticed the new additions but didn't give them more than a glance.
His gaze fell onto one option. The one that matched eerily with what Maney had said to him last before he died.
"Ever heard that men are dogs? I had a dog in Ulha's Academy fetch Aethera's Casket from the school's vault. And it remained in its hands for a while. If you had found Aethera's Casket before it reached me, then perhaps you had a chance. But even with that, victory isn't certain for you."
Those were the words that Marcus heard Maney say before he died.
The option that felt like a riddle to him before now felt like a glaring answer he failed to see in the past.
Although the second part still wasn't clear, he could already infer possible meanings from it.
One thing was certain though, one of the Academy students present in his mansion now was Maney's dog.
I swear, this time, I will find you. And I will end you.
Both man and dog… I will become your predator.
Marcus chose his path once again and time promptly resumed.
Du-dun!
Like an invisible canopy, Marcus's aura lashed out, enveloping the entire room.
His eyes glowed slightly with a yellow, fiery color that forced those looking at him to tightly grip the arms of their chairs.
The temperature in the room rose sharply.
Marcus's gaze moved across the four students present in the room.
"Leave!" His voice boomed like thunder, even faintly turning into a mental attack they forced all four students to jump off their chairs to defend themselves.
"Young Lord, please forgive him, he didn't–" Zach, with a face heavy with worry, just began, but Marcus cut him short.
"Leave my mansion, now!"
Marcus stumped the ground and the room shook, forcing cracks that stretched from the bottom to the top.
The pressure that came from his aura intensified two times over.
Zach's pupils constricted as he processed what he was sensing. "As powerful as a peak Radiant knight!"
The rest in the room concluded the same thing.
The knights, Joshua and Chase, in the room also felt the pressure coming from Marcus, but they endured and moved forward, pointing their weapons at the students.
"Leave, by the will of the Governor!" They shouted in unison.
With faces of caution and hearts filled with bridle uncertainties, one by one, the students started to leave.
Veronica being the last, her gaze lingered on Marcus for a little while longer before she stepped out.
As they left, only one thing rang in their minds; "This young lord had himself deeply hidden all these years!"