Free Web NovelChapter 6: That’s Even More Ridiculous!
Aurelion frowned as he looked at the holographic screen before him.
[FAILED TO SEE INSIGHT ON GIVEN TARGET]
He couldn’t understand how that was even possible.
His talent had been invincible ever since he awakened it at the age of sixteen. Yet now, that very talent had failed to see through some insignificant boy. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
How could that be?
He hadn’t failed even when observing people far stronger than himself, so he couldn’t understand what kind of power the boy possessed to block it.
But...
It only made him more curious.
He had read through the files of every young noble around his age since he would be enrolling in the Academy alongside them this year. Naturally, this boy, being relatively high in hierarchy, had also been included among them.
But from everything he had gathered, Zenith Ruinbringer was a disappointment for someone carrying two great bloodlines.
Not only was his mana talent lacking, but even his physique was considered worse than that of goblins. Among the nobles, he was known as a stain upon not only the Ruinbringer name but the nobility itself, as they refused to accept such trash among their ranks.
Aurelion never held such prejudices and believed rumours could often be deceiving, yet even he had been slightly influenced by them.
It seems I greatly misjudged you, Zenith Ruinbringer...
...you could indeed become a great asset, if you survive that is.
Tanking an attack from someone an entire major rank above him.
How ridiculous!
From what Aurelion had sensed, the boy was merely at the Third Stage of the Mortal Rank. That meant he was willing to endure a full-powered attack from someone at the Third Stage of the Awakened Rank.
Something like that was simply impossible.
Crossing five sub-ranks within the same major rank was manageable but once the gap extended between two major ranks, the difference in strength became overwhelming.
And even if there was a slight chance he could survive, Aurelion was certain his father, a man who followed rules to the very end, would never allow such theatrics within the Holy Court.
He thought as he noticed his father deep in thought after hearing the boy’s declaration and just as his father was about to announce his decision, a soft chuckle echoed throughout the court.
"Ha... ha, interesting. How truly interesting, boy!"
The one who spoke wasn’t his father. It was his grandfather seated behind him, the previous Emperor and one of the strongest beings within the Empire.
"You have piqued my interest twice in a single day but now, it is undeniable, you truly have inherited the purest form of passion from our Goddess."
"Fine! If you truly wish to prove your devotion, I shall allow it but..."
Solarius’ smile widened.
"...having a mere Awakened Rank test the will of our Goddess feels cheap. Instead, I shall give you a new offer. If you can withstand a single attack from Gerald, the Captain of the Holy Knights, not only will your life be spared, but I shall personally grant you the one favour you desire most!"
The entire hall fell silent.
"Don’t be intimidated. Gerald will use only ten percent of his strength and no mana whatsoever. He will rely solely upon his physical strength while you may use any tricks you wish."
The old man leaned slightly forward, the grin on his face widening further.
"How about it? Will you agree?"
Aurelion’s eyes widened.
Isn’t that practically asking him to die?!
He knew his grandfather, despite the childish front, was an exceptionally cruel man. He hadn’t even flinched when his own children slaughtered one another for the throne.
But even then, Aurelion hadn’t expected him to be give a condition like this. He was practically giving an unachievable hope to a doomed noble.
Just ten percent of Gerald’s pure physical strength stood far above the peak of the Awakened Rank and even someone at the Enlightened Rank would struggle against it.
And yet his grandfather was asking a boy with the weakest physique in the Empire, perhaps even the entire world, to defend against that.
How ridiculous!
This was the second time in merely a few minutes that Aurelion had felt the same emotion but he believed there wouldn’t be any more surprises.
He expected the boy to cry for forgiveness or perhaps attempt something else because nobody should have been stupid or ignorant enough to not realise that this wasn’t mercy.
It was a death sentence.
And yet...
The boy proved him wrong almost immediately.
"I agree."
He spoke with a wide smile stretched across his face as if this was an outcome he had already predicted and for the third time, Aurelion couldn’t help but repeat the words he thought he wouldn’t. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
That’s... even more ridiculous!
But a soft cracking sound immediately pulled his attention away as his gaze snapped beside him toward the throne where his father sat.
The armrest creaked beneath his father’s grip as he spoke in a low voice.
"What are you doing, Father?" The current Emperor, Aurelion’s father, Solvere, looked toward the previous Emperor. "You are no longer the Emperor. I am the one who holds the right to announce judgement, so why are you interfering?"
His voice remained soft, yet the barrier protecting the third level ensured the nobles gathered below, the vultures of the first and second levels, would hear nothing.
"Shut up, brat! Don’t you dare ruin my fun or I’ll simply have to find a new Emperor." Solarius barely cared about what Solvere had to say.
Solvere, despite being the current Emperor, could only grit his teeth and remain silent. After all, he was still weaker than his father.
Meanwhile, Aurelion shook his head, knowing full well there was no convincing that old man.
His gaze soon shifted toward the young noble around his age, the one who had successfully resisted his Insight Talent and was now smiling even as death closed in...
Aurelion himself couldn’t stop a genuine smile from appearing on his face, a smile different from the fake one he usually carried because for the first time in years, among the endlessly monotonous nobles, he had finally found someone interesting enough.
Aurelion was curious to see whether there was truly something hidden beneath that smile...
... Or if it was merely the bluff of a dying man.
***
[A/N: Ranks Mentioned So Far:
Mortal → Awakened → Enlightened → Ascended → Exalted → Transcendent → ???
There are more after that, but they haven’t been mentioned yet and will be gradually revealed! ]
