Arena Twenty: Alter Ego III

Even though [Eternal Bliss] was active, it took me the whole night to return to normal.

Whether it was just the side effect of the blessings or it included the side effects of [Alter Ego], I didn't know. But if I had [Eternal Bliss], I could negate most of its effects... Hopefully.

I got up from the bed and washed myself up. The students were supposed to go to the Shard Centre today, but I was supposed to meet with the principal first...

And probably explain what happened yesterday. I was sure that Grey had told her what happened in the Stigma.

"But still..."

[Status]

The command still worked here, just like my first active skill [Aether: Summoning]. I didn't dare to try [Alter Ego], fearing for the consequences.

[Name: Arnold Tilgen

Class: ????

Level: 40

HP: 16000/16000

SP: 32000/32000

DEF: 16000/16000

Damage Reduction: 20%

Synchronization Rate: 30%]

My level had risen scarily in just one day. I felt like I was progressing a bit too fast.

And my Sanity Point had almost doubled compared to the other stats. And the fact that my class wasn't showing was a bit disturbing.

Then suddenly...

[Do you wish to see your skill page?]

I sighed. I already had the answer.

'Yes.'

[Current Skills:

{Active Skills:}

1. {Aether: Summoning} - A

2. {Alter Ego} - ???

3. Empty

{Passive Skills:}

1. {Eternal Bliss} - A

2. Empty

3. Empty

{Imperial Skills:}

1. Empty

{Blessings:}

1. {Blessing Of The Chaotic Mortal} - SS

2. {Blessing Of The Heroic Soul} - SS

3. {Blessing Of The Eternal Bliss} - A

{Patron Gods:}

1. Tiamat, Goddess Of Chaos and Life

2. Nephthys, Goddess Of Death and Protection

3. Morrighan, Goddess Of War and Fate {tentative}

4. Anubis, God Of Death and Afterlife {tentative}

5. Isis, Goddess Of Healing and Soul

]

It was quite a strong lineup. I didn't know these deities, but the system had claimed them to be gods and goddesses.

And they had given me two powerful skills, so if possible, I wanted to show my respect to them in some way. But that would come later.

I still had to meet with the principal.

I closed the menu with a glance then wore my casual dress.

After that, I left the room and headed towards the dining room.

The others had already left. I felt a little bad not socializing with them, but I didn't have much of a choice in this case.

"You're awake? I'll go bring the breakfast then."

Raymond, who was sitting on the furthest chair reading a newspaper on his tablet, stood up.

"Thanks."

I sat down and leaned against the chair, listening to the news via the gear. Nothing sounded particularly interesting, except the news about a serial killer in the outer city, and a bigshot actor rising in the middle city.

"Here you go. Today we have sandwiches!"

"Why sandwiches?"

I asked, just making small talk. It looked tasty, as expected of Raymond's cooking.

"Because I was a bit busy last night, so couldn't wake up in time."

Raymond scratched his head, acting embarrassed. I couldn't see his face due to the mask, so I had assumed he was.

But being busy last night?

I suddenly remembered Phillips, but didn't mention him aloud. I had a bad feeling about this.

"Ah, I see. Well, I was just asking. These sandwiches are also delicious."

I laughed, taking a bite from the one in my hand.

"Ah, thank you."

Raymond chuckled before sitting down on the chair opposite of me.

We passed the rest of the breakfast in silence.

...

I left the dorm with my backpack. It had the gun from before, the spare gear, and some other accessories in it.

I made a mental note to keep the gun with me all the time from now on. Jeffery, judging by his attitude, would thirst for revenge. And I couldn't use my active skills in front of others, so the gun would be a perfect way to decapitate any assailants.

But it had been only four days so far. Four days since I had come to this academy. In just four days, I had made an enemy out of the son of a major noble, had gotten 'blessings' of several unknown gods and goddesses, and almost got killed twice.

Couldn't say I appreciated the thrill, honestly.

I walked towards the main building through the empty campus. All the students were at the Shard Centre, and the Elliots were in Stigma, training.

As I reached the building entrance, I was met by an unexpected guest.

There stood Anastasia in her academy uniform, leaning against the wall while staring at the trees nearby.

Her expressionless face, her flaxen hair, her stiff posture, all gave off a mature and strong vibe.

Only I knew how fragile she was inside.

Just as I thought that, she looked towards me. Her expressionless face instantly bloomed into a smile.

But the next moment, she frowned and bit her lips.

"Hey."

I called out to her while smiling wryly. I could more or less guess what she was thinking.

She had failed, again.

Not only she couldn't improve, but she also had to be protected by me again.

It must have hurt her pride a lot.

"H-hey."

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be in Stigma?"

I casually asked as I gestured towards the entrance. She started walking beside me, a step behind actually, and we both entered the building together.

"Helios is being repaired... And uh... I have been suspended for a week for holding an unauthorized training program..."

She looked down and sighed. Still smiling wryly, I decided to console her.

"That's... Sad. But hey, you can spend more time here, with me. Isn't that a plus point?"

Hearing that, she looked up. Her face was still a bit stiff, but her eyes were sparkling.

'It felt a bit bad to use her feelings like this, but it is for her own good.'

I reasoned inside my mind as we entered the elevator.

"So, anyhow, what happened to Phillips?"

"... I don't know. He was taken away by Grey, and I had taken Helios to a repair facility before logging out..."

"Ah... Alright, it's no big deal."

"But I had heard that his father and brother were called."

"Lord Winchester and Raymond Winchester?"

I asked, trying to be sure. I wasn't sure whether Raymond and Phillips were related or not. Could have been a common name.

"Yeah... And I don't know anything else besides that."

"What about Jeffery?"

"He has been confined in the family villa."

Anastasia curtly answered as the elevator door opened. We walked through the brightly lit corridor before stopping in front of the principal's office.

"So... Are you going to the principal too?"

I asked Anastasia, who seemed nervous. She took a deep breath and nodded.

"Alright, let's go in."

I knocked on the door thrice, before a voice told me to come inside.

Principal Flora stared at us, before moving her gaze towards the chairs in front of her desk. Her cold eyes watched us sit down, and once we were seated, she spoke.

"Now then, explain what happened there. In full details."

...

At the same time, in Stigma...

"Took your sweet time."

Grey grumbled as he turned around and looked at the young man in magnificent robes.

The man chuckled at the old spy's words, before suddenly summoning two chairs and a table.

As he placed them down on the hill overlooking the destroyed city of Alpha, Grey spoke up.

"You sure we have time to do this?"

"Yes, of course. Come on now, sit down. We shall reminisce about our old times."

The young man smiled as he summoned a bottle of wine, along with two cups. He placed them down on the table and poured the wine into the cups.

"Hah... You never change, do you?"

Grey sighed and sat down.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

The man chuckled again before sitting down himself.

Two of them quietly sipped their wines, until Grey broke the silence.

"So... What are you going to do about it?"

"About what?"

The young man asked nonchalantly while looking at the setting sun over the horizon.

"About the 'glitch'. Just as you had predicted, the glitch appeared."

"True."

"Then..."

"But I am not going to do anything at all."

Grey raised his brows hearing that answer.

"Hoh? But won't that make the boy an unknown variable to your plan?"

"Maybe, but so far, he has exceeded my expectations of him. I plan to let him roam free as long as he keeps doing so."

"But the 'Lady Of Denial' has taken a fancy to that boy. That's different from the original story."

Grey pointed out before gulping down the remaining wine in his cup.

"Refill?"

"Yes, please."

The man poured Grey another cup before answering.

"Yeah, that's fine. If they follow the original setting word to word, nothing will change. We will still be suffering under the Neura, and humanity will never become the dominator in the universe."

"I know about the consequences..."

Grey muttered as he drank his wine.

The young man took a sip and looked at the night sky.

"Yes, you of all people would know it... Wouldn't you..."

The vague words fluttered through the breeze, before disappearing forever.

"Well, I suppose it is time for me to go back."

"Yeah... But before that."

"Hm?"

"Why don't you rein in that bratty royal family of yours?"

"Ahahaha, I believe in neutrality."

The young man chuckled, indirectly denying the demand. Then his body broke apart into particles and faded away completely.

"Hah... You never change."

Grey grumbled before standing up and logging out himself.