1360 Him
Varian decided not to think too deeply about Logos' cryptic words.
First, even if he asked, the tight-lipped system would not reveal a thing. If he tried to bully it to answering, then it might start calling him 'Master~ Master~' at inappropriate times and throw him into trouble.
Second, as he accumulated more experience, Varian realized that knowing truth could be dangerous sometimes.
'Even advice given in good faith given by the right person can be dangerous if it's the wrong place or wrong time. Much less the truth. Some truths need maturity to be accepted. Other truths need a heart of stone. A few just need time.'
Logos' conversation about Asherah hinted that ressurrection was possible, though the conditions necessary for it might be much harsher than for even creating a new race.
That's because unlike just the power of life necessary for race creation, ressurection would mean ruffling the fabric of space-time for a soul that ceased to exist at one point.
Varian didn't intend to be pessimistic but something like ressurection might require a rank that's at least one step higher than Asherah.
'A rank 3 divine.'
But no one ever reached that rank.
Even the Jai Emperor, who the world proclaims as 'God Emperor' remained at the peak of rank 2 since millions of years.
'And I don't know if it's still possible at rank 3.'
Because no one knew what a rank 3 was really like. The most accepted guess was that a rank 3 would have power equivalent to a Primordial God.
'But if even a Primordial God has power only in his Avenue.'
So, while ressurection might be within the realm of possibility, the requirements for it were unknown, unexplored and unimaginable.
But Varian was just satisfied knowing that he had a chance. However, if he learned about this truth shorty after getting the system, he'd have been frantic and could've taken great risks to increase his strength recklessly.
It would've likely lead to his death.
As contradictory as it sounded, truth could be poisonous if one was not ready to recieve it.
'Logos, I trust you to reveal what you're hiding when I get there.' Varian said.
[It's not something the System wishes to hide. But if some things are spoken, someone will know. And if someone knows, it all ends.]
'That person, is he—'
[Don't! Mentioning him passing is different from mentioning him like this. He will know the intent even if you don't take his name. It's better to not bring up sensitive topics related to him. Using pseudonyms or skipping his name won't work. As long as the intent remains, as long as it's about him, he will know.]
Perhaps for the first time, Varian heard a trace of fear in Logos' voice. It's not something that one would expect from the being that originated from the fusion of slivers.
Varian took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He understood why some discussions were never brought up.
"I'll just focus on my mission."
[Please do that. If the burden of solar system is taken off your shoulders, you can work earnestly to improve your strength.]
"You speaking so much sense is a bit frightening." Varian's figure blurred.
He zipped past the crowd and reached a huge oval-shaped building that resembled a soccer stadium but with more than a dozen floors.
As he stepped into the building through the main gate, the rank 6 guards gave him strange looks.
'Telor Xon Novak. He's crushed by Prince Robert in this arena grounds.'
It wasn't just a normal defeat. It's a humiliating beating. Telor limped out with his head held down while crowds from first grade to third grade watched on with amusement.
"Oh? Look who's here?"
"Telor? He has very thick skin to return here."
"Wasn't he crying when he left last time?"
"Crying? He pissed himself off. Hahahaha!"
As he walked to the elevator-like thing to reach the next floors, the students nearby didn't even try to hide their voice and mocked him loud.
"Hey," Varian turned back and walked to them in heavy steps.
A thick killing intent spread out from him and enveloped the entire floor.
All the students shivered as if a chilling wind swept past them and turned to the source of this bizzareness.
"Wh-What?"
"Telor Xon, what are you trying to do here?"
"Should we call Prince Robert?"
The three second-grade students were first perplexed but quickly glared and threatened him.
"Hehehe," Varian gave a harmless smile and put his hand on the tallest guy's arm.
He's a eight foot giant and was bulky as hell. But he's only a high rank 6.
It couldn't be helped.
Even though the Academy was for geniuses, it also had its divisions.
The standard for first graders was low rank 6, second graders was high rank 6 and third graders was peak rank 6.
Of course, the toppers in first and secondgrade were low rank 7 while those in third grade were mid rank 7. But there were only a handful of them.
Objectively, Telor would count in the top 50 of the academy. But he had stayed here for so long that he wasn't considered a peer anymore.
But strength was strength.
"Shouldn't you respect your seniors a little, hmm?" Varian's face was smiling but the face of the 8-foot giant quickly turned pale before a pained scream left his mouth.
"Arghhh!"
The sounds of bones cracking and then being pulverized to powder sounded clearly in the silent hall. Then came the sounds of rough breathings and saliva being swallowed.
His act of violence wasn't the scariest. It's the fact that he crushed that arm bone without letting spilling a single drop of blood.
The gazes of the students staring at him changed.
They still despised him for his poor talent. Most of them were confident in surpassing him eventually.
But.
That's something for another day.
For now, however, he's still stronger than them.
Telor had inferiority because of his poor talent and didn't go against others even though he was stronger than most others.
But Varian didn't care. For the competition in two weeks, he'd have to establish a new image for Telor.
If that needed some broken bones and crushed egos, so be it.
He turned to the two students who were looking at their friend's limp arm in horror.
"You two were also saying something unpleasant, weren't you?" As Varian was about to give them a sweet lesson, a loud voice rang from the floor above.
"Telor, Nicholas is summoning you."
"Heh." Varian's lips curled up.
