Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 704: Fourth Day

Another day had passed, making it the fourth day since Asher’s return to the Star Academy. Today, William, Finch, and Lucifer Morningstar had decided to take on yet another mission, as they had agreed to it just yesterday, a decision Asher, of course, had no participation in, as he wasn’t a member of the team and held no official opinion toward their decisions.

Asher had already known that the missions William, Finch, and Lucifer undertook usually lasted days, or perhaps even a week depending on their efficiency, but Asher also knew that although William usually joked around and played a lot, the guy was remarkably cunning and extremely intelligent when people like Asher weren’t in the same room as him, so Asher was certain that the mission would be completed in just a couple of days without unnecessary delay.

Asher’s purpose for going on the mission was simply to have a pleasant time. He wasn’t going to fight or participate in any way; he would merely act like a hands-off Instructor, only intervening when something William, Finch, and Lucifer couldn’t handle appeared, maintaining a detached yet observant role throughout the entire process while ensuring nothing spiraled beyond their control.

Asher wasn’t going to take away their chance to experience growth through battles and life and death matches. As for how he planned on not intervening, it was simple: whenever an enemy appeared, he would simply become invisible and just watch from the shadows. Besides, with his Omni Perception now stretching almost a kilometer, he could sense whatever enemy was coming before they even sensed him and his friends... but of course, Asher wouldn’t warn them; he would simply hide, allowing events to unfold naturally without his interference or guidance.

But although Asher planned on not intervening, he still put on his breastplate and his vambraces as he prepared seriously and with intent. While the mission itself was too low-level for someone like him, it didn’t mean something out of the ordinary couldn’t happen, and he wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate unpredictability or the dangers hidden within seemingly simple tasks.

Although William possessed just enough strength to start taking on solo missions just like Ryaen and Asher, at the end of the day, his own overpowered ability became his greatest weakness. He needed to copy a new ability every twenty four hours, and he couldn’t copy the same abilities consecutively, meaning he had to have at least two team members with him at all times in order to maintain his combat versatility.

Such were his own limitations, restrictions he could not ignore.

Of course, he could still decide to take on solo missions, but he would be fighting without an ability, relying purely on his physical capability, such as speed, strength, resilience, and his Astra energy augmentation, a path that was far more dangerous than it initially appeared on the surface and one that could easily cost him his life if misjudged.

Of course, William knew this, but was he willing to take the risk? Definitely not. He wasn’t an idiot who would throw his life away for no reason, no matter how confident he was in his base abilities and natural talent.

A knock resounded on Asher’s room door. Asher, who had been standing within his living room, staring at himself in the mirror in quiet contemplation, turned and walked towards the door before opening it. There stood William, Finch, and Lucifer, waiting with varying expressions.

”Are you ready?” William asked as he stood at the forefront.

”As you can see,” Asher replied as he closed the door behind him, stepping into the hallway with calm and steady movements.

His eyes immediately turned to Lucifer, who stood silently without a weapon on him. The moment their gazes met, Lucifer walked forward as he spoke.

”I greet the Tenth Sun,” his tone respectful and calm as he bowed slightly. Asher was a noble, and he was a commoner. Of course, he didn’t go around greeting every noble, but people like the Wargraves or the Imperial family were entirely different in status and presence.

”Good morning, Lucifer,” Asher responded without a change in expression. Although he had never spoken to Lucifer before, he knew the boy was somewhat strong in his own right, as he possessed the ability to phase through anything and everything as long as he had Astra energy sustaining him.

”And next time, a simple greeting will suffice; there is no need to bow,” Asher added with an indifferent expression, as Lucifer’s bowing seemed to remind him faintly of Lyra.

”I understand, Tenth Sun,” Lucifer replied, a small smile playing on his lips, as though he couldn’t believe he was conversing with a literal Wargrave.

Asher didn’t suddenly tell Lucifer to start addressing him by his name; such a right was reserved only for his friends. Everyone else could continue to call him ’Tenth Sun.’ Of course, it wasn’t that if someone called Asher by his name he would suddenly turn into some arrogant Young Master and punish them; no, he would simply respond and keep moving without unnecessary reaction.

But alas, nobody could call Asher by his name, as everyone knew that only those who could... or rather thought they could match a Wargrave called a Wargrave by their names if they weren’t already friends or acknowledged equals.

”As I said earlier, since Asher is with us, we should accept a harder mission this time, and with his presence in the group, we are sure to land on a huge pile of bonus points,” Finch spoke, as though the businessman in him could already smell the profit from a mile away and was unwilling to let the opportunity slip.

William and Lucifer immediately nodded their heads in agreement.

”I would advise against that,” Asher spoke as they walked down the staircase, something Asher had never done since he got admission into the Star Academy.

”Huh, why?” William asked.

”Because I don’t plan to intervene,” Asher replied, then proceeded to explain his thoughts in a calm and straightforward manner without hesitation.

”I guess that makes sense,” William replied without a change in expression, ”but at least I can put what I’ve trained for the past three days into action,” a smile resting on his lips as he was simply too eager to test himself and measure his growth.

”A mission posted by a noble or someone of high status would suit us best, as they would recognize Asher instantly. Although he won’t be intervening, it doesn’t mean we can’t ride on his coattails when we arrive at the end of the mission... hehehehe,” Finch replied with a grin, his intentions clear.

Although he didn’t say it out loud, Finch, who had always been somewhat on the fence about battles, was actually looking forward to this one. After all, like William had said, this was the time to test the results gained from five thousand points’ worth of training and effort.

Lucifer couldn’t speak. He didn’t know how to input his opinion and words, as he couldn’t speak so casually due to Asher’s presence, choosing instead to remain silent and observant, taking everything in.

Within moments, they arrived at the Logistics and Missions Operations Hall, searched through the available missions with care, selected the most suitable one, and then vanished from the Separate Dimension as they began their journey, stepping into the unknown with varying degrees of anticipation and confidence.