Chapter 153 - Chuckle From The Darkness

Time passed, but Asil did not take a single step out of his residence. He didn't want to go out or see anyone. Apart from eating, sleeping, and such basic necessities, all he did during his stay in his residence was to look at his nails, which were covered with blood and scabs. He would never forget the feeling Radres had made him feel. His expression had changed many times as he thought about what had happened that day. Sometimes angry, sometimes offended, sometimes emotionless, sometimes dark...

Days later, the door of his residence finally opened, and the bright moonlight filtering from the cloudless night sky entered in all its beauty.

Luminous with the moonlight, Solomon slowly stepped into the room and waited without saying anything.

Although Asil waited for Solomon to speak without saying anything, Solomon also waited for him to speak. Time passed, and at last, Solomon was the first to speak: "How are your internal injuries?"

Asil didn't make any reply and simply clasped his palms to greet him.

"Hmm..." Solomon pursed his lips, turned, walked over to the window, looked up at the sky, and said: "Someone in the Outer School and someone in the Central School usually don't go against each other. Even if such a thing were to happen, the result would be a one-sided slaughter, and the person in the Outer School had tremendous fear in their eyes as it happened. But when I saw you there, there was not the slightest sign of retreat, let alone fear, in your eyes. Such a stance is very rare in someone your age. You really are as much as I expected. Though I wouldn't expect any less from the person who summoned it."

Asil didn't pay much attention to Solomon's words, so he didn't pay attention to the 'who summoned it' part and instead asked the question on his mind: "Senior Solomon... Do you know the power level of Radres? At what level is he? Is everyone in the Central School at his level? If you don't mind, can you tell me?"

"Youth these days..." Solomon sighed slightly. "Young, although you are determined, sometimes you have to take a step back and wait for the right time..."

"You don't have to worry about it. I'm not one to do anything thoughtless." Asil looked at Solomon solemnly, knowing that what he was doing was disrespectful, but interrupted him.

Interrupted, Solomon was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly: "The other day when Radres was walking away, if you had stepped forward and called out to him, I certainly wouldn't have saved you, no matter how much I promised. But you restrained yourself at the last moment, and despite all you've been through, you earned my praise by doing so. That's why I'll give you the information you want, but I'm not sure you'll be satisfied after learning about it."

Solomon paused and looked at Asil's reaction, but Asil's facial expression did not change in the slightest. Noticing this, Solomon moved his head slightly in satisfaction and said. "Radres is not someone who was born or normally lives in Bayanburt City. He has an important background. As you probably know, the Crimson Lightning Empire has five different regions; east, west, north, south and centre. The weakest among these regions is the eastern region dealing with trade. It is followed by the northern zone, which is the business area of ​​the mercenaries, the western zone, where the combat training is given, and the central zone, where the capital is located. Radres' birthplace is the Southern Region, the strongest region of the Crimson Lightning Empire. He also comes from one of the high-status families, even in the Southern Region, which is at war as it is a border region with the enemy neighboring empire. Here's how the background of the person you're dealing with is actually like this..."

Asil knew a few things about the Crimson Lightning Empire, thanks to the books he had read and the knowledge he had acquired. Naturally, this included information about the Southern Region, which was constantly at war and many died in each war. In fact, the strongest division of the Crimson Lightning Empire in terms of average strength level was the Central Region. However, since the Southern District was developed entirely on the military and due to the existence of wars, people were constantly transferred here from other regions, the Southern Division was considered the strongest region of the Crimson Lightning Empire in terms of overall strength.

And Radres was a member of a high-status family even within this Southern District. Asil, on the other hand, was someone who came from the Star Plain, which was the weakest part even in the Eastern Province, the weakest part of the empire. The difference between them was as clear as the difference between earth and sky. 

Solomon studied Asil's expression, and when he didn't respond, he continued: "Your profound strength is at the Third Level of the Nascent Profound Realm, but as far as I can tell, your true strength is at a higher level than that. I'm not entirely sure, but my guess is that you have the strength to fight against those at the seventh or eighth level of the Nascent Profound Realm. However, Radres' profound strength..." Solomon carefully looked at Asil's expression.

"Exactly at the Sixth Level of the Core Profound Realm! And as far as I can see, he also has the fighting power potential to fight people who are stronger than himself, just like you. Perhaps we can even assume that he has the strength to fight someone from the Eighth Level of the Core Profound Realm. Considering his potential and pace of development, I can say that the profound level will rise at least one more level in a year. In this case, his power will be much greater than it is now. Even after knowing all this, do you still want to meet him again?"

The Sixth Level of the Core Profound Realm! This level was tremendously high compared to the Asil's level. The difference was approximately one and a half realms, but as the levels between realms increased, the difference in strength between realms grew exponentially, so the difference between Asil and Radres' powers was too great to be expressed as only approximately one and a half realms! In addition, Radres' true martial power was perhaps high enough to fight someone from the Eighth Level of the Core Profound Realm!

Under normal circumstances, an ordinary person should be afraid of such a powerful person and give up the thought of fighting this person. But when he learned of Radres' true strength, not the slightest sign of fear appeared in Asil's eyes. On the contrary, when he learned this truth, his eyes were completely lit with the fire of determination!

A power from the Eighth Level of the Core Profound Realm... This level might be an enormous height for many, and even an unattainable dream for some. But for the Asil this was not the case. He was a student of Sirius! And who was Sirius? Although he did not know the true power level of his master, how could he fear the strength of someone like Radres, while Sirius was extremely underestimating even those in the Natural Profound Realm. Or Nukro, who managed to kill the Muscular Mountain Gorilla in the middle of the Natural Profound Realm with a single blow, even with just his imaginary appearance?

Even ignoring Nukro and Sirius, among those he knew was Medivh, whom even his master had praised. The last time he saw him, Medivh was at the Ninth Level of the Core Profound Realm, and as someone his master had praised, his true strength was probably higher than his own. If it's about potential, Medivh is clearly Radres' few steps... No! It was much more than a few steps!!

All this fueled the fire of determination in Asil's eyes even more: "Just because I can't beat him now doesn't mean I can't beat him in the future. If I get scared right now and give up, I will never be able to beat him and I will never be able to overcome the challenges I will face in the future." Asil answered directly.

Solomon was pleased with his answer, and after thinking for a moment, asked: "I really appreciate your decision. If anyone else had been in your place, he would certainly have hesitated to make the decision you are making now, but there was not the slightest hint of hesitation in your words or your gaze. Normally I wouldn't ask this but I think it will be better for you and me..." Solomon's eyes took on a kindly look. "Do you want to be my student?"

"Senior Solomon, I appreciate your offer, but I cannot accept it. I already have a master and I cannot accept your offer as it would be disrespectful to my master." Although the person who made this offer was an officer in the Central School of the Rezuba Battle School, Asil had refused it without hesitation.

A surprised expression appeared on Solomon's face for a moment, but that expression quickly returned to normal: "I understand your respect for your master, but a person can have more than one master. So being your master won't cause any problems."

Asil shook his head slightly: "I'm sorry, but I still can't accept your offer. Even though your way of thinking and your advice are in my mind, the only person I can see as a master in my heart is my current master. That's why I'm really sorry."

Solomon narrowed his eyes slightly and said nothing for a while. Then he smiled thoughtfully and faintly: "And what would you do if I told you that you could become quite strong in a short time, but that you would lose something important if you did that?"

Solomon's words instantly caught Asil's full attention. Getting stronger in a short time... It was pretty obvious that Asil would really come in handy if that happened, but in this world, gaining something in a short time often comes at the cost of sacrificing something. Solomon also made it clear that he would lose something as a result of this empowerment. What could have been this precious thing? Was it someone he loved? But how could this happen? How could someone who was too far away from him to become stronger be affected? But if it wasn't their loved one, then what was the price?

"Senior Solomon, may I know the cost of this empowerment method you speak of?" Asil asked with curiously.

Solomon smiled cloudyly: "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what to give as a result, as the price varies from person to person."

Asil quickly considered this proposal. Yes, there was a risk, but those who did not take risks could never gain anything in this world. No matter how hard he thought, he could not predict the outcome after the risk he would take. Asil realized that he could not achieve anything by thinking and decided to accept this offer. After telling Solomon of this decision, Solomon said that he would come again tomorrow for this method, and then left.

After Solomon left Asil's residence, he moved slowly, passing through streets, and then into an alley. After entering the alley, his expression suddenly became as if fascinated. "I will put him to the ego test, as you wish, and make him pay the heaviest price. But are you really sure about that?"

A chuckle came from the darkness of the street after Solomon's question. This chuckling sound was too ferocious to belong to a human, and yet so insidious....