Chapter 282: Aether Gardens [4]

"Then try."

After saying that, Xavier focused on his own opponents.

He acknowledged Marcus' strength after he, Marcus and Ashtarh fought Charles during the banquet.

In his opinion, their team's only rival was Ashtarh.

He even though further down the line and calculated the final fight for the six flags.

With Charles out of fight, the winner was likely to be one from Ashtarh, Marcus or him.

That's why he picked Marcus and convinced him to team up.

Why?

Because once the six flags were gathered, since they were in the same team, he and Marcus would work together to eliminate Ashtarh.

Then, it'd be either him or Marcus.

This was the optimal choice he could think of.

For that, he needed Marcus to be strong enough, but not too strong.

In fact, it'd be better if Marcus was a bit injured.

That's why, he didn't reveal the reason and simply asked Marcus to try.

And try he did.

Raising his hand into the air, Marcus started to gather fire mana and slowly compressed it.

He'd make a compressed fire ball in a few seconds—If launched, it'd blow up all plants in a fifty meter radius, killing hundreds of plants.

If launched…

"Argh!" Marcus knelt on one knee as he clutched his head. His eyes lost their focus and the fire mana was he gathering quickly dispersed.

"…" Xavier continued his attacks without paying any heed.

"Are you alright, Marcus?" Rodey killed a few more sprites and glanced back.

"…I am fine." Marcus slowly stood up.

With a pale face, bloodshot eyes and temples throbbing with veins, he looked anything but fine.

He squinted his eyes at Xavier and asked in a low, but stern voice. "You should've at least told me."

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Xavier shrugged nonchalantly. "Once the plants determine your attack would wipe them out, they'll all gang up on you to stop you. You should've faced the attacks of hundreds of plants, no? Thankfully, they're just trying to stop you in self-defense or you'd be dead.

This is why I told you, mass attacks on these kinds of places is dangerous. "

"Don't play smart. I asked what would happen. You just replied 'Try it'. You think you are a Sovereign or something? Can't just say the whole damn thing?"

Xavier paused and turned to Marcus. "I'm not a hot-headed muscle-brained idiot who doesn't even do his research.

You're supposed to have prepared for everything. We're a team just because it's convenient for everyone."

Rodey glanced at the two of them staring eye to eye and hurriedly reminded. "We're in the middle of a fight."

"Hmph! Conceited bastard. You just wanted me injured." Marcus snorted and resumed attacking.

However, he deliberately saved his mana and reduced his efficiency.

'Let me recover a bit. Why should I put in all the hard work?'

Xavier saw his actions and his despise towards Marcus only increased. He too decreased the efficiency of killing.

He'd also consume less and be in a better condition.

Rodey Nial watched their actions and sighed inwardly. If he maintained the same efficiency, he'd be an idiot.

He too reduced his killing speed.

Just like that, the clearing of the inner layer took way longer than optimal.

"Ashtarh's team would already be in the final stages. Unfortunately, some teams have selfish bastards." Marcus shook his head and muttered.

Xavier's eyes narrowed and he smirked. "I agree. Everyone in that team was well prepared. Unfortunately, some teams have people who don't even know the basics."

The scene fell silent.

Rodey Nial cut down a tree and turned back. "Guys, check out the core region."

Xavier and Marcus stopped their conflict and stepped forward.

They stepped on the precious fruits, rare leaves and coveted seeds…they walked forward absolutely and utterly disregarding the treasures that low awakeners would die for and level 4 awakeners would fight for.

Marcus, in his annoyance, even kicked away a bright red fruit. A fruit that would've helped a low level 4 improve a sub-level.

Not just that, due to his kick, the fruit burst into flames and the treasures nearby also caught fire, quickly turning to ash.

Xavier raised an eyebrow. He recognized the fruit. He was offered such fruits in the past but he refused.

Why?

Because the more external help you took during your low and mid awakener stages, the harder it would be to progress in the high awakener stages.

Of course, some very rare treasures like ambrosia and enlightenment potion didn't have that side effect.

That's why, even before they knew about the 'Sovereign wish' reward, they participated in the Solar Trial.

Originally, they thought the winner would be one among Xavier, Marcus and Ashtarh.

But Charles took everyone by surprise.

"Even if we win, wouldn't everyone look down on us?" Xavier Bell lowered his face and said.

In a war, you must win by any and all means possible. But Solar Trial wasn't exactly a war.

Once the word got out that the four teams—eleven best geniuses ganged up on one person to injure him to prevent him from winning the trial…

Would anyone really respect them?

Marcus' stomped his foot while Rodey looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.

They hadn't thought of this until now.

Why would they? They were in a hurry all along.

Now they got a breather before entering the core region, but to think of this now…

"…I think my grandfather will only be disappointed in me." Xavier gave a self-deprecating smile.

Xavier viewed his grandfather Sovereign Kreo Bell as not only his target to surpass, but also his personal hero.

Now, what would his hero think of him?

"…I wanted to win the trial and limit Xanders' influence on my home planet. But it seems like I only achieved the opposite effect." Marcus Caron slapped his forehead.

Caron Family's home planet was Jupiter. Xander family's influence extended from Earth to Mars and now they're even trying to encroach into Jupiter. If they succeeded, Caron family would become a laughing stock in upper circles.

Xavier looked at Marcus with pity. Despite looking down on Marcus, he recognized the burden the man was carrying.

"I'm not better. I wanted to win. You know how my Nial family is. We need to attract talent. But even if I win, all the geniuses will be attracted to Charles." Rodey's face was drained of color.

The weakest background of the three was Rodey. After Pluto attack, Nial family never recovered.

They still have powerhouses to maintain their strength, but the future was bleak. What they needed was not resources or influence, but geniuses!

Where can you attract the best geniuses of the federation? 

Solar Banquet! Solar Trial!

But even if he won now, Rodey was afraid he'd fail in his quest.

For a while, the trio did nothing but sigh.

For their own reasons, they really wanted to win.

But if they won, they'd only highlight Charles' greatness.

"Ah! Fuck! Don't know, don't think. Let's go kick some ass!" Marcus ruffled his hair and walked forward.

With a begrudging sigh, Xavier followed, kicking away a precious fruit that could help level 5s progress.

Rodey looked at the strewn stuff on the ground and whispered. "Our messengers will pick them up after we're gone. If only they knew their gold was stepped on by someone…"

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A/N: Discord link below:

https://discord.gg/kBKaTtsrp