The Niflheim relic contains a drop of the frost god, Ymir. This was what gave Esme her unmatched talent.
If he remembered correctly, Esme had spent more than a decade in the primordial origin, which meant the relic wasn't in this world; it was in the primordial origin.
Only one man had spoken about this relic, and according to him, it was hard to find, especially when you were looking for it.
The primordial origin is a vast world of monsters, lost souls, and trials.
Once every decade, between the ages of twenty-one to twenty-five, a person undergoes an overwhelming wave of sleep. This wasn't ordinary; it was the primordial origin summoning the incomplete ones.
This was why Hera's bloodline displayed the primordial god of time, Chronus.
After completing a few trials in the origin, the awakened would find the Hall of the Gods. A compatible primordial would bond with them, granting them godlike attributes.
Although a few humans awakened abilities even before their first summoning, these individuals were called advanced awakeners.
But only through participating in the primordial summoning could one truly obtain a bloodline.
The Nether Academy was founded to guide new awakeners in both worlds, while also nurturing them for the worst possible scenarios.
Neo sighed. With all the information in one head, he was beginning to forget a few details.
After being discharged from the hospital, Neo should have been heading home.
But when he got inside the black limo, he had other plans.
"Good to see you in good health, Master Neo," said the driver.
Neo smiled. Esme was sitting right next to him. "Take me to LOP headquarters," he said.
"Pardon? I was assigned to take you home," Esme interrupted before the driver could step on the gas.
Neo stayed silent for five seconds before finally giving her a glance. "No," he said calmly. "You were assigned to protect me," he added.
As he turned back to the driver, the man didn't need to be told twice before stepping on the gas, heading toward the Land of Primordial Headquarters.
Esme, on the other hand, couldn't say or do anything. Her orders were very clear: not a single scratch.
'Tsk, is it even worth it? The Esme I know is a dead-cold villainess. Would her affection toward me even change?' Neo thought.
'Regardless, I have to find a way to give her that relic. The stronger she becomes, the higher my chances.'
Neo stared at her. After a moment, he smiled and looked away.
Esme didn't bother looking at him. The author's biggest mistake with this character was giving her a tragic background.
She carried the burden of her ex who betrayed her. Ever since then, she had found no interest in something as simple as love.
She believed all men were alike; no one would truly show her genuine care.
A background Neo intended to exploit. "I just need to meet with Mr. White. There's something I need from him," Neo informed her, even though she hadn't asked.
Esme only glanced at him and said nothing. 'Why is he telling me? Arrogant weakling.'
'If I start a conversation, she won't comply. I should avoid looking like a fool begging for attention,' Neo thought.
Soon after, the driver announced their arrival in front of the L.O.P headquarters. It was a tall and majestic building among the others in the area.
Neo stepped out, with Esme following closely behind him.
When they got inside, the receptionist advised them to wait for an hour or two, since Mr. White would soon be attending a meeting.
But Neo couldn't wait that long. During that time, the world would officially announce the start of another trial.
"Tell Mr. White it's Neo, and make sure you emphasize the name, Hera's son."
When the receptionist heard that, she blinked. Of course, she didn't recognize Neo, but the name alone made her place the call.
After all, no one wanted to be on Hera's blacklist, not even the first man to ever complete all trials and the founder of the Nether Academy.
---
Inside his office, Mr. White was busy compiling a list of articles about the primordial origin.
He was working against time, as the first summoning of the decade would soon begin, with only a few hours left until 8:00 PM.
Mr. White had to deliver this article to the channels. Then a call interrupted him. "What is it, Lisa?"
"Well, sir, a boy wants to see you, and—"
"I don't care who it is. Tell them I won't be accepting anyone right now," he responded calmly.
"Sorry, sir, he said to mention Hera's son, and—"
"Don't let him leave," he said quickly.
Just after saying that, he heard a knock on his door. Without being told, he already knew it was Neo.
It wasn't a guess. Neo's essence was weak; the boy couldn't even contain it. But at the same time, he could sense someone godly strong with him.
"Come in," he said. As Neo and Esme walked in, he set the article aside.
Mr. White was a middle-aged man with a refined build, white hair, and a claw scar running along the left side of his eye.
Neo sat down, while Esme was offered a seat. She chose to stand beside him instead.
"What brings you here, young warlock?"
"Warlock?" Neo chuckled. "Are you mocking me?" he asked with a cold stare.
Of course, Neo wasn't strong at all. Mr. White could easily wring the boy's neck with one hand.
However, he felt as if the air had been trapped in his lungs. "Of course not."
"I need directions," Neo said. Although he had read the novel, it wasn't as if he knew the route to the relic. "The Niflheim blood drop, where is it?"
Hearing that, Mr. White was shocked. He stood up, his shadow looming over Neo as he stared cautiously.
At first, he couldn't understand how Neo knew he had the whereabouts of the relic, or how the boy had even discovered such a forbidden artifact without entering the primordial origin.
"Did your mother tell you this?" Mr. White asked, devoid of emotion. Those who sought forbidden knowledge within the origin were among the reasons he founded the Nether Hero Academy.
Such people were threats. But he couldn't act against this boy.
Neo glanced to his left. There was nothing there but a wall.
"It's in that safe behind the wall, isn't it?"
"Ho... how?"
Once again, he shocked Mr. White. The man couldn't make sense of what was happening anymore. Could there be a hidden installation in his office?
It was simple. Although Mr. White had disregarded the relic, when Hera destroyed the academy, he whispered its location to his daughter with his dying breath.
His daughter's attributes were linked to the frost primordial, Ymir.
Grow stronger and avenge them. Sadly, Esme ran into that girl, and that's how she died. That's how Esme obtained the relic.
"You'll die if you take it, unless you have a compatible bloodline. And you won't find it if you're actively searching for it," the man said.
"So there shouldn't be a problem giving it to me. Are you willing to sell it?"
Neo had understood this from the start. Once you search for it, you won't find it.
Which was why he planned to have someone else find it without realizing what they were finding.
All he had to do was follow that person and end their life.