Chapter 10 - Zero the cat

For about ten seconds, the cat stared directly into Ed's eyes without flinching. The cat then turned and scoffed

*You failed*

A black matter enveloped Ed,injuring him as it tries to swallow him up. He struggled, but it was futile as his strength couldn't overcome it. Desperate to survive,he activates determination on his body

*Huh?! *

Slowly, Ed overpowered the black matter and broke out of the chains but not without injuries of his own. Having a broken arm,he stood in front of the cat like a wounded tiger

*Oh... where did your power suddenly come From?*

Ed glared at the cat with killing intent, waiting for a moment to strike

*Oh well...I guess I was wrong about you, sorry*

Huh?

Ed paused, staring down at the cat in front of him. A minute earlier he was on death's bed and now it's apologizing to him

"What are you..."

*I'm a cat*

"I know I meant—"

*My name's zero,zero the cat*

Zero?!, the one from the system notification

"What do you want with me?"

*I'm your seed...*

"Huh?!"

The cat paused before replying back

*Not that seed... I meant I'm your familiar. Well basically I'm the familiar of anyone who has enough proficiency to weild a resolve collection. I tried to evaluate your abilities at the start and you seemed to be weak*

The cat continued

*Nevertheless,you need to link up with me if you wish to use the resolve collection... Stretch your hand out, I'll begin the link*

"Wait...can I ask a question?"

The cat nodded

"Do you Know about the other collections that are like the resolve collection?"

*...*

I figured it might know since it's a familiar of the resolve collection. Maybe I was wrong

"Forget it—"

*I do... the familiars of those collection are my siblings*

"Oh..."

Ed's eyes glittered as he showed signs of interest in them

*Fine... there's the tempest collection consisting of 7 weapons and the void collection consisting of 4 weapons. The others are extinct.*

"Extinct, you mean—"

"They were destroyed in the revolutionary era"

I thought they were indestructible?

Zero waited for a reaction before continuing

*So... let's begin the link.*

Ed stretched out his hands and knelt down in front of the cat while it placed it's paws on his hands. The next second, Ed began to feel nauseous.

"W-what's happening..."

*Oh,did I forget to mention that you'll become my slave for as long as you wield the resolve collection...good luck, slave*

The process of the link continued,with Ed staying speechless. When the cat finished, Ed fell to the void, unconscious

*Was I rough?*

"Tch..."

Ed rose to feet while holding his head that was in pain. Seconds later,he smiled

"Good thing I have determination as a skill. Oh and by the way, I'm your owner now"

*Huh*

While the linking process went on, a system notification popped up to Ed.

Would you like to proceed?>

Slave?!...is there no other way?

Reward: permanent position as owner of zero. Doing this will give you the potential to use 200% of the resolve collection abilities

All stats permanently increased by 2>

Determination of the...mind.

Zero stared at him, with shock written on her face. There hasn't been anyone who has attempted that since the era of collections began.

*Damn you bastard, release me*

"Oh didn't you hear?, it's permanent.. we're together till death"

Ed laughed as zero pressured him, while eating away at the time. For the next ten minutes, Ed forgot about everything and laughed freely while playing with zero

"By the way, zero... what are you?"

*I told you, I'm—*

"No, not that...you know what I mean"

*I'm...*

Just then, the void began to crumble while zero glowed. He couldn't hear the words zero said before enveloping the area in light. When it cleared, Ed was back in his room.

"What... what happened?"

---------stats---------------

Name: Ed

Class:negator

Title: the one who will stop the end

The one who became rich

Avenger

Strength:39[c]

Mana point:50[c]

Stamina:30[c]

Agility:20[d]

Speed:80[s]

Endurance:30[d]

Luck:15[e]

Recovery points:0

---------Skills---------

Under: unique skill

Determination [s rank]

Dance of time [s rank]

Understanding [b rank]

Quest:

Rewards:

Shop:[locked]

---------stats---------------

Another screen popped up when he glanced over to his right hand after feeling uneasy. A jade green ring glowed in his finger

"Huh?"

[Artifact: zero's ring.

This ring contains the life force of zero the resolve collection familiar. Equipping the ring will permanently increase the Mana point and proficiency of the resolve collection by 0.2 every 12 hours]

Whoa... Every twelve hours.

Ed glanced at the ring a final time before sitting up on his bed. Melissa walked in a minute later carrying his weapons he left behind in the armory. Normally, without proficiency, one shouldn't be able to lift a resolve collection but Melissa was different

"You can carry the resolve collection?!"

"I once wielded the..."

Melissa dropped the weapons on his table before bowing to him.

"Wait!... what did you wield"

"The young master should prepare... the entrance ceremony is today"

"Wait..."

"Hmph"

Melissa left the room and walked towards Sally's room after receiving a summons from her.

Ed took his bath and stood in front of his mirror observing a scar on his chest. Seconds later,a sharp pain pierced his chest and he falls to the ground, written in pain. A maid runs to the room to check the commotion and entered, seeing Ed sitting on his bed.

He tries to check him but Melissa enters, sending her out. She stood at the side of the room waiting for Ed to calm down

"Young master..."

Ed panted heavily while struggling to catch his breath from lack of air. Melissa walked up to him and asked

"Young master,are you human?"