Within the vast lush realm of the Forest, far into the distance, over the hills and atop a zone of constant floating clouds, two unassuming figures sat for a warm afternoon cup of tea.
One was the familiar silhouette of Instructor Sariel. Her silky green hair waved with the wind as her brown eyes softened.
She stared into the eyes of the second figure who sat across from her on the white picnic table and chair.
The second figure was a man with silver hair that draped down his back like a waterfall and crystal-like silver eyes.
A regal charm clung to his features. His eyes especially, seemed to hold years of experience and mischief– the kind that attracted others, easily.
He was adorned in a brown and silver army vest and trousers. He had brown handgloves and clean, brown shoes with silver embroidery sewn into his thick vests.
This man was easily an embodiment of male beauty.
At the moment, he had been enjoying a cup of his everleaf tea– a rare commodity from the Elven race in the Abyss when his focus was etched on a particular wide screen amongst the other forty-two that surrounded them in a circle.
The man mused as he dropped his teacup.
He tapped his hand in the air and the screen came closer, revealing a yellow-haired child in the middle of his harvest.
"Who is this young lad?" The man asked with a tone that betrayed his physical features.
It was a voice of unfathomable depth. The one that could only be forged with time and it hinted at something more– something unexpected.
Sariel arched a brow and glanced at the screen.
"Are you going to ignore my question for a mere worm?"
The man scoffed. "You don't have to use that tone here, Sariel…" He looked up at her, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "Or do you intend on instructing me?"
Sariel's expression froze. Her mouth parted open slightly as a cherry colour blossomed on her cheeks. The woman– for all her coldness and authority, looked away in embarrassment.
"Hea– head master, please refrain from saying such things!"
The man– the Headmaster laughed out boisterously. "I will get back to your question when you're done with mine, my dear."
Sariel pouted. Clearly not pleased by the man's instance at sidelining their conversation.
"He's Lucamir Elaric, I believe he's the one with the 100% Null Resistance who even the Ardents now have their eyes on."
The Headmaster's eyes glinted at the word Ardent.
"Oh? Because he's a 100%? Why not just recruit him? Null Resistance barely serves anything, but he can be a good addition to their growing mass of murderers."
Sariel sighed and shook her head.
"I am one of such murderers." She stated dryly.
The Headmaster clicked his tongue.
"You think I don't know that?"
Sariel almost lost it.
She couldn't count the number of times she had wished to hit this man who was one of the strongest– if not the strongest- beings in Ardent.
It had been a frustrating experience as she had easily got the opportunity to do so with her Cadets.
'Perhaps I should take his offer to instruct him?'
The thought almost caused her brain to overheat.
"Never mind that. There must be a reason why they're simply watching and not taking action. If they let him go, wouldn't the Federation or a Guild take him?"
Sariel shook her head. "His Ego Synchrony is 5%."
At that statement, the man's intrigue with the boy who had fought and killed a Severe and Moderate Null Bud at an Explorer rank died down.
"Oh… how unfortunate."
Both were aware of the true purpose of the Synchrony rating.
It wasn't just the amount of power and skills you draw from your Archetype– it represented how far you can go in the Rank.
An Egoist with a start of 5% can only dream of reaching the 4th Stage of the Explorer Rank.
10% meant they could surpass it, but their cap was at the 2nd Stage of the Observer Rank.
As for 15%, their limit was the 1st Stage of the Reckoner rank, and from 20%, it got better.
Those with 20% could reach the 1st Stage of an Invoker, and for many, this was more than enough to be confident in living large for a long time.
Invokers were rare and reaching one was a great honour for an Egoist– and thus, those who are granted 20% Synchrony from the start are promised a grand future.
It became harder to tell from then on within the ranks.
Some times those with 25% stop at the 2nd Stage, some are fortunate enough to reach the 3rd, but never the fourth.
This was so for every 5% increase, though the highest recorded base Synchrony was 30% and that was by none other than the Emperor himself.
Of course, it was possible to increase one's Synchrony through resources and rare treasures in the Abyss.
These items were usually located and hoarded by large corporations and families. Used specifically for those who would increase their accumulated strength in some way.
Someone like Luca had no access to such conventional treasures, but what no one knew was that he didn't need them.
With a 100%, Luca was certain to reach the top– the Eclipse stage with ease.
Though, he was facing the crisis of a limited percentage.
The Headmaster brushed the boy's screen away. "Watch him as well. The way he fought was unique, I can tell he had the Telekinesis Form."
Sariel tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes. "Why are you interested in him all of a sudden? Is it because you heard the Ardents are?"
The Headmaster didn't bother to respond.
He picked up his tea and sipped it leisurely.
A pleasant sigh escaped his lips at the warmth.
"So your question?"
Sariel wanted to flip that table.
'Why does he keep doing this?!'
Though she rebuked him mentally, she wouldn't actually dare say it.
This man was old enough to be her great-great-great-grandfather.
Maybe it was because of that…
'Older men just have something that other men don't… a flair?' Her thoughts wandered off and she slammed her skull on the table immediately.
The Headmaster chuckled. "Bad thoughts?"
"Why are you using your false world? You know the Emperor Regent has become a Converger as well. If he finds out, then House Meridia will pay woefully."
The Headmaster tilted his head from side to side as if in the middle of a complicated thought process, but it only enraged Sariel more.
'When will he ever take things seriously?!'
"Hmm, you're right. It will be a bit of a problem for my descendants, especially Ilith."
He flicked his fingers together.
"But you don't need to worry. I covered my tracks."
A smile formed on his face.
"And don't forget that I have been a Converger far longer than many of you were born."
Sariel's expression knitted together.
She was clearly not convinced, but she couldn't refute the words of a powerful figure like him.
Instead, she picked up the teacup and lifted it to her face. Gulped it down in one full swing and dropped it loudly on the tea plate.
"Hit me again."
The Headmaster's smile widened softly.
"You care too much, Sariel. I hope when the time comes, you will know where to stand."
The tea cup floated into the air and tilted to her cup, filling it up once more.
She began to drink it profusely, once more.
'Who else you dummy! Of course it will be you.'
She dropped her cup and watched as it was filled once again.
'I will gladly take the world for you.'
The two people continued their tea and chatted away while the task continued for the Cadets.
For these two adults, it was another beautiful day in the park, but for those kids though– they were beginning to engage the horrors laid for them.
Little by little, some of those large screens began to scramble. An image of static filled the screens with an ominous hum.
The two ignored the mishap as if it were normal and perhaps it was.
At another screen, two red haired were seen running through the forages.
One jumped from a mushroom to another, an iron metallic bow in hand and the other had a pair of clawed gauntlets.
The two kids seemed to head towards a specific location– their intent obvious from the mischievous grin on their faces.
The screen zoomed in and returned to the forest.
As the young Egoists blasted through the air, a whirlwind blasted out and the earth carved in small craters under their feet.
"How much further?"
The Sniper glanced at his palm.
A glowing golden symbol revealed itself as he recalled when he shook hands with the same boy they now hunted.
A smirk spread across his face.
"Not too far. I think he's engaged."
This Mark was a talent amongst many others in the Sniper Talent Tree– it was the Mark Talent.
A talent that lets him mark his enemies and targets.
Once they were marked, they were easily found within a pre-requisite range.
'Let's see why the Table of Heads has been into you, you peasant!'
Soon, the sounds of battle echoed in their ears, and the boys stared at each other. A knowing glint sparked in their eyes before they kicked off with a drastic surge in speed.
They had finally found it– their prey.
________
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Drop your comments, reviews, and don't forget to vote. Support this Author and The World Greatest Egoist.
Creation after all, is hard.