SYSTEM ASCENSION

Elias got further and further away from the battlefield. He ran without stopping, almost tripping over rocks. The barrier loomed just ahead.

’I should call Rowen.’

A little bit more.

*”Get on. I’ll carry you on my back.”*

He skidded to an abrupt halt as the words echoed in his ears.

He was right before the barrier. He clenched his fist.

”I’m...”

His arms loosen.

”What am I doing?”

He shut his eyes and opened them slowly.

’Why did I believe that I’m a burden as an S rank raider? No...from the start, I have not been myself. Something is not right.’

He blinked.

’Something is not right.’

’Something is not right.’

’Something is not right.’

’Something is not righ...’

He turned his gaze to the field ahead.

”Did I... just run away from a fight?”

’Am changing? Why am I changing? Since when did I...’

”Since I left the trial?”

’Since I met them. Since I started staying with the Ringoff. I’m drifting between my will and...’

His mind hasn’t given him an answer before he dashed right back into the scene. He jumped over sharp rocks and shattered glasses, getting back to the field with a speed better than the one he used in fleeing.

However, when he arrived, there was nothing to get back into.

The fight had ended. The hordes were gone. On the rock was a new face. Unfamiliar. Three, not two. They stared at him like they’ve got all the time in the world.

’Who is that new person? Was he hiding?’

Elias slowed his speed, and glanced around.

”Zeal?”

His breath unintentionally quickened.

”Zeal!” His voice echoed.

No reply. Just the blood soaked corpse filled field.

”Zeal! Ze—”

”Why did you come back...”

He heard it. Undoubtedly Zeal’s voice, right behind him.

One thought instantly came to Elias’s mind.

How much did his energy disperse that Elias didn’t sense him at first?

”That new bastard sucked out my vitality...he took my vital...”

Elias turned around.

There he was, laying amid the wreckage. Zeal lifted his head and smiled weakly.

”Hi.”

”...”

”Karma they call it. It came back to bite me.”

No reply. Elias’ expression remained the same. He stared at Zeal. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought that the forward and reverse ability was used on Zeal himself.

His legs were discarded, right arm dismembered, half of his side craved out, leaving only a pool of blood in his wake. His regeneration wasn’t keeping up.

”Is this my limit? We would have gone on that trip too. To black empire... Dive into that pit and let nature take care of the fall. I wanted to do it again...”

”...”

...Elias.” Zeal muttered.

No reaction.

Zeal exhaled sharply, forcing his voice through pain.

”Hey. Don’t just stand there.”

Still nothing. Elias stared forward, eyes fixed, unblinking.

Denial had already taken root, but his mind was falling apart. Memories began to flash his mind, clearer than he had ever experienced.

*”When you’re ready to leave. We’ll go together, my Lord.”*

’Huh...what was...’

*”My mother and junior siblings will end up as playthings for my father’s remaining wives.”*

*”Then it’s their fate.”*

*”You’re her ally, right?! ”See?! He admits it! We must kill him!”*

”...that’s not—” Elias muttered under his breath, almost soundless. ”That’s not right. Who are...”

Zeal tried to shift his weight.

”Oi,” he called, voice rougher now. ”Look at me.”

Elias didn’t move.

His fingers twitched once, like they were trying to remember how to obey him.

”That’s... not you,” Elias said suddenly, more firmly now, but not directed at Zeal. It sounded like he was arguing with himself. ”You were just...you were—”

His voice broke mid-word, and then he went still again.

Zeal clicked his tongue.

”...damn it Elias. Did I really strike a nerve?”

Another wave of pain hit him. His breathing became heavier.

”Elias,” he tried again, softer this time. ”Listen to me.”

No answer.

Zeal’s expression tightened.

”Damnit brat! Come here!”

This time, Elias moved, almost like a puppet, he got to Zeal’s side and bent down.

”Regeneration.”

”It’s not working. I don’t have my vital core anymore.” Zeal chuckled softly.

”Vital... core? What’s that?”

Zeal paused for a second, then he frowned.

”Did I not teach you something as simple as a vital core? Am I really the worst teacher?”

”Yes. You’re.”

”That’s harsh.”

He laughed a bit, and coughed up a lump in his throat, pumping blood on Elias’s face.

The latter’s eyes widened. Elias reached out slowly and touched the blood, almost to confirm if it’s real. Then, he touched Zeal’s head.

”Reserve...you can reverse it.”

”It doesn’t work on the user.”

”You’re still bleeding. What should I do?”

He sharply turned.

”The core! I should get—”

Zeal grabbed his hand.

”I remember something I should have told you.”

”...huh?” He gazed back.

”Once you complete the tenth trial, you’ll become an Upholder. Then, you’ll be given another ability. I am positive that those abilities are to fight those bastards...”

”Your core. I should get...”

”Then, you’ll be hunted,” Zeal’s voice was lower. ”People can kill you to take your pos...ition, and other upholders can kill you to take your abilities. Disposals too...I guess...”

Elias threw his hand off.

”This is not the time for —!”

”Of course you can also hand it over...” Zeal smiled, the ring lights in his eyes going dim. ”willingly.”

His body glowed softly, getting brighter. Elias flinched back, watching like it was a side story. Out of Zeal’s chest emerged a ball of light. It escaped his body, floated a little and found its way straight into Elias.

”What’s...that?” Elias clawed at his chest, trying to get it out. ”What did you put in me?!”

”My... ability...”

Elias stared at Zeal like he had gone nuts.

”Are you insane?! Why would you give me your ability? Are you trying to live as a cripple?!”

Zeal turned his gaze to the sky.

”Elias, the moment I lost my vital core, my life was basically over.”