The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 251: Chapter 247 — Mind

Their spears pierced through several pickers, yet it did nothing to stop the relentless barrage. Clearly, he had severely underestimated their numbers.

’We won’t last.’

Already, he could hear shields beginning to crack, the cadets’ footing growing more unstable. They were moments from collapse.

Kaiden bit his lip.

’What would he do?’

He racked his brain, but he couldn’t think of anything that could help in this situation. Was this... was this truly how everything would end? After everything...?

He grit his teeth so hard his jaw ached.

”Ah!”

Suddenly, one of the shield bearers was hurled backward, his shield shattering into pieces. He crashed into the others, knocking them off balance.

In an instant, the formation collapsed.

Without even seeing them, Kaiden felt the pickers lunge.

He gripped his blade, ready to make his final stand, when a heavy impact came from behind.

Kaiden glanced back instantly. Light flooded the cavern. He threw an arm over his eyes, shielding it. A moment later, he lowered it... then froze.

Step. Step. Step.

A figure walked calmly into the cavern. Drenched entirely in bluish blood, tall, cold purple eyes, and unnaturally steady gait. Zephyrion.

’It’s him...’ Kaiden thought, unsure of how to feel.

”It’s the Prime!”

”We’re saved!”

The light pierced the darkness, revealing the cave in its entirety. The pickers shrank back from the light, hissing.

Yet, the next moment, their eyes adjusted. Ignoring Zephyrion completely, they lunged at the cadets instead.

Kaiden was about to move when Zephyrion spoke.

”Gravity.”

The air trembled around him. Then, every single picker slammed into the ground.

’What is this?’

Kaiden swallowed.

He could feel the crushing pressure filling the cavern, yet none of it affected him or the other cadets. He could control gravity as a mark four, but not even he could manipulate it with such precision.

Zephyrion didn’t spare the pickers a single glance. His stride never faltered as his eyes flickered. Blades formed in midair numbering into the hundreds. They shot into the pickers, silencing them in an instant.

Silence fell. Kaiden and the cadets stared at Zephyrion with wide open eyes;

This was power.

A moment later, several cadets burst into the cave from behind Zephyrion.

”He just tore straight through the canyon!”

”Hey! He found them! They’re over here!”

The cadets rushed toward the others and began helping however they could.

It would seem the fight outside was already over.

It wasn’t long before word spread about everything that had happened, especially what Kaiden had done. Several cadets immediately threw surprised looks his way, and soon they began thumping their fists against their chests in respect.

”Man... Kaiden actually pulled that off? No fucking way.” Tobias said with a small frown.

”...Why is that so hard to believe?” Fiona asked.

”I mean... it’s... well...” Tobias scratched his cheek. ”...It was smart.”

”So?”

Tobias let out a helpless sigh.

”I mean, think about everything he’s done up till now. Did you honestly think the guy had a single neuron in his head?”

Fiona went quiet. A moment later, she nodded.

”...Fair point.”

”...See?”

As the seconds passed, Kaelion made his way over to Kaiden.

”You did well.”

His eyes were firm, but the smile on his face made it clear he was pleased.

”You kept your composure and got your fellow cadets out alive. Good job.”

Kaiden just stared at him, wondering why the bastard sounded like he was addressing a junior. He clicked his tongue inwardly, though outwardly, he simply nodded.

”Uh... thanks.”

As Kaelion walked away, Kaiden scoffed and shook his head. He hadn’t done all that for this anyway. Besides, it was merely praise, hollow. He felt nothing from it.

Soon after, Zephyrion approached. Kaiden found himself standing a little straighter, a deep frown settling on his face.

”Is it true? You did all that?” Zephyrion asked.

”I did.”

Kaiden instinctively clenched his fists as he met Zephyrion’s unreadable gaze, waiting. How would he react?

Then, a moment later, Zephyrion smiled and nodded.

”I see. Good job.”

He gave Kaiden a light pat on the shoulder, held his gaze for a brief moment, then turned and walked away.

Kaiden found himself blinking several times at his departing figure.

A moment later, his lips unknowingly curled.

”Eh??” Tobias immediately exclaimed from the other side of the cave. ”Kaiden... are you smiling?”

The smile vanished instantly.

Kaiden glared at Tobias, then scoffed as he settled back down, his scowl somehow even deeper than before. However, his heart had never felt lighter.

He clenched his fists.

After all this time, he finally understood the best way to become strong. Zephyrion was strong, both mentally and physically. Now...

’I just have to copy him.’

The resolve solidified in Kaiden’s mind.

...

The pickers dead, the battle was over.

All around him, the cadets had collapsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted. The battle had lasted less than an hour, yet it had been an hour of constant fighting. Their exhaustion was expected.

Even the elites like Kaelion, Nedra, and Draven wore weary expressions. Lumi fared far better, but that was Lumi.bComparing her to the other cadets was like comparing heaven and earth.

’It should be done.’

After everything, it didn’t seem likely the academy had anything else up its sleeve. Even so, it didn’t hurt to remain alert.

”Ah shit... I’m starving.”

”My throat’s so dry I could drink an entire ocean.”

”Same... I need water.”

Naturally, several cadets began glancing his way, as he was in charge of the water. Then he spotted Horus standing in one corner of the cavern and called out.

”Horus.”

”P-Prime!”

Horus staggered to his feet, already hurrying toward him, but Zephyrion simply gave his order;

”Go get the water.”

”Right away, Prime!”

He scurried out of the cavern immediately.

...

After digging into the earth for several seconds, Horus happily retrieved the water flasks from where he’d hidden it.

But the moment he turned, he froze.

A figure now stood before him.

”Hey.” The figure said, tilting his head slightly. ”How about you hand over the water, hm?”