Factions 2

After everyone was done saying their reasons, Leus asked

"So what exactly does the Faction do?"

Halsten replied

"As you know, if someone's Points reach -5000 then he's most likely renounced from the Mansion.

The main goal of any Faction is to prevent that from happening to any of its members. They use some ways to ensure that:

For example, if someone challenges a Faction member to a Forced Duel then the rest of the members challenge him back to teach him a lesson.

So just being in a Faction stops most of the non-affiliated Residents, who are mostly Elite Knights, from daring to challenge you."

'Interesting'

Leus asked

"By non-affiliated you mean those who don't belong to any Faction?"

Halsten nodded

"Correct. We also help each other by giving each other Points if one of us wants to challenge a non-affiliated to a Forced Duel or unlock an important Abstract.

After all, the stronger our members become the better it is for all of us"

Leus asked with interest

"You don't challenge members of other Factions?"

"We do, but we need to be careful about that. Challenging a member of another Faction is akin to declaring war on that Faction.

If a Faction lets anyone challenge its members then they'd be ruining their reputation. They'd be considered weak, many more would start challenging them in the hope of acquiring their Points, and they wouldn't be able to convince any of the non-affiliated to join them."

"I see ..."

Leus was thinking about something, so Halsten kept quiet and waited for his answer

Leus activated Advanced Mana Vision and began to evaluate them.

Because his Abstract of Concealment is always active, no one noticed that he activated the spell.

'Wait a minute ... What?'

'Halsten either has a really good poker face ... or ... he can't see it ...'

"Halsten, can you see my Aura?"

" ... No"

When Halsten said that, Everyone looked at him in confusion, even Leus.

'How come? Halsten is a C Tier Elite, which means that he's on Felix's Level.'

'After my transformation, Felix was able to see my Aura ... I remember he said that it was faint and he needed to focus to sense it, but he was able to'

He looked at Haslten and asked

"Were you able to see it before my Duel with Hudson?"

"Yes, I was"

Leus scratched his chin in thought

'The only difference is ... The Abstract, but the Abstract isn't that strong'

When Leus unlocked the Abstract, he felt his mind become stronger, but not by much

'I mean, It was a good Abstract, maybe even stronger than the Elemental ones ... But I don't think it was strong enough to make such a difference'

There was a possibility, but Leus didn't want to think about it.

Although he didn't want to, he still did it

'Was it you, Diablo?'

The reply was instant

Leus sensed a sinister smirk coming from deep down his soul.

Leus felt a chill run down his spine, his expression turned to a frown.

He immediately stopped thinking about it and went back to what he was doing

'Halsten is a C Tier Elite Mage' 

'Kasimir is, oh, A Tier Mage'

'Hudson, Rory, and Rad are B Tier Mages'

'Azul is a C Tier Mage'

Overall, except for Kasimir, they aren't very impressive

'But they aren't bad either'

"How do you run your Faction?" Leus asked

Halsten explained

"60% out of the Points you earn go to the Faction, which means that you basically give it to me. You can do whatever you want with the 40% you keep"

Halsten tried to see Leus' expression to that, but his expression remained neutral, so he continued

"We vote on any decision, from the way we spend the Faction's Points to setting up duels."

Leus asked in a neutral tone

"So basically, if I join your Faction, I have to give you 60% of all the points I earn and I have to fight whoever challenges any of you"

Halsten awkwardly nodded and said

"Except me, you can only duel people in your Realm"

"There really isn't a lot for me to gain here, right?"

Halsten looked at Kasimir, who took out a pouch and threw it at Halsten.

Halsten opened the pouch and took out a book with a black cover.

"You'll gain all the knowledge we have and we will fight for you if it comes down to that. We currently have 12,000 Points, you'll gain access to all of them (If you manage to convince the Faction members to vote for you)

And also"

Halsten pointed at the book and said

"You'll get this book"

Leus found it amusing

'All of them are weaker than me except Halsten who can't fight for me, the knowledge they have I can probably get on my own, and they won't give me any Points unless it'll benefit them.

Except for the book, I don't see myself gaining anything here'

Leus asked

"What's the book about?"

"Accept our offer to find out, it's a Darkness book that costs 1500 Points"

Leus was interested

'1500 Points? This means that it's one of the expensive ones.

But why Darkness?'

Then Leus remembered

'Ah, right, everyone thinks I'm a Darkness Mage huh'

Leus scratched his chin in thought for a couple of seconds then replied

"I'll be honest with you, I don't think I'll be gaining much from joining you"

Halsten was disappointed to hear that, but he expected as much

'It was worth a shot anyway ...' Sigh

"However" Leus continued

"Because I respect how you were straightforward with me ... unlike someone"

Nuri's face flashed in front of Leus' eyes for a second

"I'll give you a chance, if you accept my terms I'll join you"

Halsten readily agreed to hear Leus but he thought to himself

'He will probably ask for impossible things ... Lame way to reject us'

"1- I'm not planning to stay in this Realm for long, I'm going to be an Elite Soon.

2- I'm ready to fight for you, but don't bother me too much because I want to focus on my progress.

3- I want the right to leave your Faction whenever I want, however, if I take any Points from you, I will give them back before I leave.

4- I don't want you to stop me from Dueling whoever I want, because I have a goal in mind"

Halsten loved what he was hearing

'He didn't ask for anything ridiculous'

He only had one question

"What is that goal, Leus?"

Leus only smirked