Chapter 55: Spartan!

To lengthen their own lifespan, most races strive to empower themselves by treading the path of magic or the path of divinity.

However animals, plants, and stone's that mutate through special and rare conditions, have no such will. Instead, the desire to become strong to survive is carved into their core.

"Amazing, master!"

With an indifferent look, Persephone clapped as she complimented Leon with no sincerity.

"Why are you acting that way?"

"Nothing... I was just amazed why you would be happy in beating a newly mutated divine beast.

And while it just obtained its own consciousness, isn't it weaker than its previous state as it just exerted a tremendous amount of energy to evolve?"

"So that's why you are acting like this"

Leon went out of the corpse after taking the core of the newly evolve divine beast.

"Do you want to eat it?"

"I thought it was for your pet dog?"

"He isn't here... but you are. Aren't you curious what sort of change would happen if you eat this?"

"....."

Persephone looked at the core, the size of Leon's palm, and thought the possible outcomes after taking it.

"I will take it. If I end up dying, then it would be your loss"

Persephone took the core from Leon and sat down.

"I'll guard you while you ingest it"

"....."

After Persephone swallowed the core, Leon noticed that she entered a state of trance.

[Congratualations to <Player: Leon Andreas>]

".....?"

[You have received your personal title <Ruler of the Underworld: Aidoneus>]

"Oh wow!"

[Some of the title effect has been sealed as the <Player> is too weak]

[Title passive effect]

1.) Temporarily enhances the strength, speed, stamina, and power of the title holder for every individual who are under 'fear' or 'madness' within a hundred meter range.

2.) ???

3.) ???

+

[Title active effect]

Two circle: Soul enslavement.

Four circle: ???

Six circle: ???

Eight circle: ???

Ten circle: ???

+

After reading the information regarding his personal title, one thing caught Leon's attention.

"What is the 'Soul enslavement' AQA?"

[Ability description]

Soul enslavement allows you to enslave someone using your soul circle.

- Target must not be stronger than you.

- Target must be willing by their own accord to be enslaved.

- Target must be in a weakened state.

+

"Hmm... these things are good, but... what if they die?"

[The <Slave> that was enslave through your soul circle will cause that very circle to be partially destroyed]

[While it is impossible to recover a destroyed soul circle, it is still possible to repair a half damage soul circle]

"....."

Leon went silent after finding out the consequences of using the ability given to him.

"It has more cons than its pros. AQA, surely that's not everything there is to it, right?"

[That is correct. If the <Slave> were to die by your hands instead, their power can be absorbed without causing damage to your soul circle]

[However, you will not be able to use that soul circle to enslave another individual]

"So like... the number that I can enslave will keep going down if they die as the same soul circle cannot be used twice?"

[That is correct]

"Wow. Whoever designed this really values the balance of the game, huh"

Leon sat down and thought hard about his new found ability, as he stared at Persephone who was busy absorbing the power within the divine beast core.

"No use thinking about it now. I can just use it when I'm stronger in the future anyway"

...

At the same time, in Hasterien...

"Is this the reason why the Seer was so defensive about the city?"

The Witch of the West drank tea as she watched her people going about their daily life.

"The birth of a new individual that is acknowledge by the world. Base on the title he has, it looks like he is someone like me~"

The woman across Pandora said in amusement.

"Are you not going to go there?"

"I won't for now. Purgatory's successor, Hugo, is there.

Even after being warned by the lord of the skies, I don't think the bad blood between us can be washed away that quickly"

"How unlike you. With the presence of the magic tower master there, I fore sure thought you would have went there after receiving news about them"

Pandora poured tea for their teacups.

"I may be infamous for my obsession towards technological advancement, but It is not to the point were I can't control it"

"....."

"What?"

"As far as I remember, didn't you almost angered the ruler of the north when you went there to examine their 'Ice of Beginning'?"

"I did do that back then but I have my own reasons"

The woman scoffed. She then stood up after finishing her drink.

"Going so soon?"

"Yes. I don't want to impose on you. Otherwise, the will of the world just might destroy everything here"

The two looked outside and saw the skies was now covered with dark clouds.

"It has been three days already, huh"

Pandora said with a gloom expression.

"Where are you planning on going to this time?"

"I will go back to my homeland. It is time for me to see my tribe's dreadful faces to show them that the one they abandoned back then is successful up to this day"

"Go break a leg then"

The woman jumped outside through the window and turned into a dragon.

The dragon flew away westward. A few minutes later, the ominous and dark clouds vanished away.

...

[185th day]

The prime minister of the kingdom of Horulas, Diron Horulas, arrived at Heaven Blaze city.

Although he was informed beforehand, Diron and his men were dumbfounded at the look of the city.

With no time to spare, Diron and Charlie sat down and started their talk.

"As I have said, buying a house or land is impossible. Renting is the only way"

Marco's disciple in the ways of being a businessman, Ron said with an indifferent look.

"You own this land?"

"Yes. To be more precise, the five lords own the land"

"Since when?"

"Yesterday. Now. And forevermore"

"....."

While he decided to use a childish approach, Diron did not expect that Ron would actually and stubbornly play along.

"Then... an entire-"

"I cannot allow that. One party can only register three to five stalls at most in the market, the same thing applies in renting houses. This includes companies and merchantries that are under yours"

"So... you are saying that no matter what, five is the limit?"

Diron asked with an angered smile.

"Yes. Unless you have a token that the five lords have created, both outsiders and insiders, a group can only possess five places at most.

And base on your words, I can tell that you do not possess a token"

"....."

The two ended their talk with Ron as the winner as Diron had no way of getting his way in.

...

In the training grounds of the knights under Tony's jurisdiction, Hugo drew a star inside a circle.

"Now that you have completed the basic training, I will now tell you what is important about the things you have done"

"..... haa..... haa..."

Veronica and Tony were catching their breath as they were exhausted beyond their limits.

"Each intersecting point on the circle are traits of your physicality which are: Strength, Stamina, Agility, Sense, and Vessel Durability"

Thump.

"Please... elaborate... sir?"

Veronica asked as Tony lied down on the ground.

"Strength refers to the amount of power you can exert, be it simple movement or through the use of technique. Stamina refers to your endurance and energy. Agility refers to your speed and reflex, this includes your flexibility. Sense refers to your five senses. And then there is the Vessel Durability which refers to how much energy your body can store"

"Is that why... you made us work so much... you freak?"

Tony asked out of spite as he glared at the one who was role playing a teacher who was writing what he was saying on a board with his chalk.

"That's right. Now, the inside of the circle, the intersecting points of the star, are traits of your mentality which are: Technique, Skill, Energy, Experience,and Instinct"

"... Wait, what is the difference between technique and skill?"

"Technique refers to the rythm and different movement you use while Skill refers to the application of the things you know of. Now, be quiet because I am trying to explain them. It is not like I would just say things for no reason, will I?"

Tony nodded as he felt that Hugo was starting to get irritated.

"Now, continuing to what I was saying... Energy refers to the amount of energy your mind can process, it can be both in terms of quantity and quality. Experience refers to the accumulation of actual and practical events, be it training or fights to the death, that helps you to polish yourself. And instinct refers to your sensitivity. While the last one is vague, it could be anything"

"Sir, what is the dot in the middle?"

"That one? Well, that is the most important part"

".....?"

Just then, the two found it hard to breathe.

"A building has outer and inner parts that exist to support itself. The outer parts are the walls while the inner parts are the pillars"

A suffocating and burning sensation filled the two as they desperately tried to breathe for air.

"However, that middle dot is a mini tower. It supports all the inner and outer layers"

The pressure that was weighing down on the two vanished as Hugo sat down in front of the two.

"There are three powerful emotions that exist. The oldest emotion, fear. The most unpreditable one, hatred. And there is the emotion capable of changing fate, desire"

Unlike earlier, the two felt comfortable as a warmth that brought forth a calming and relaxing sensation.

"That dot is your desire, or rather, it is your will"

"....."

"No matter how strong someone is, no matter how fast someone is, no matter hos much energy someone has, no matter how a powerful technique one know, no matter how sharp one's senses are, no matter what.... if one is unable to move due to fear, due to hatred, or due to the circumstance that makes you breathless thus making you unable to think properly, then they are nothing but trash.

Remember this, students of mine, being cool headed and being able to control your emotion during crisises will allow you to see more and think of a way to handle such things"

"You... you can't be..."

Tony and Veronica started to tremble in fear as the two understood what Hugo was trying to say.

"For that reason, it is time to strengthen your will that will push you through tough times"

"....."

"Show me, just how much you want to live"