Chapter 291 - Mark Of Birth (VII)

For Insect People, the mark is the one that will allow them to awaken their latent powers and dominate depending on their bloodlines. If it wasn't even crucial at all, no one would bother of the marks and the social hierarchy wouldn't exist and everyone would be on equal terms in power. And yet, due to this, many who are not accepted by their parents would suffer and the majority would be the unmarked babies would be disposed to avoid "incompetence".

It's a weird culture and practice to the insect people and I may never understand it but that is natural.

As for Tina, it seems Queen Tanya is correct that her latent powers were remaining to be awakened and were repressed as time pass by. The mark of the Insect People can be seen in their skin and depending on the gender, the female would receive the mark and will be imprinted on their chest, above the cleavage once they grow up as an adult while for men, the brand would be placed on their back. Once the adult male insect people managed to grow their own wings as a process of awakening, they would sometimes develop majestic wings or even wings strong enough to compete against birds, angels, and devils in flight.

"I know that Insect People are reliant on the mark to become a powerful individual and to be recognized in a society that is judgemental to those who don't have the marks but I will be sure that the mark is not something necessary for you to become strong. You, yourself is a big proof that even without the mark of acceptance branded to you, you are able to become independent and strong and if you train more, enhance your skills and ignore the prejudice and accept yourself, there is nothing you can't overcome."

"Even my parents and siblings?"

"They are just a minority of the people that you will face and they can be your first hurdle. In fact, surpassing them is only going to happen once you push on. Treat them as barriers. Do not limit yourself."

After the last cup of my drink, I stood up from the balcony and gaze at the sky for one last time.

"I will be going back inside. You should also rest after staying here, you still have the training to do for tomorrow. It would help you to be energized than to have no sleep. Good night."

With the conversation with Tina wrapped up for the night, I spent the rest of the night crafting scrolls and raising some of my alchemy levels and scribe level. After all, I needed to compensate for these things to be able to increase my firepower while having the slowest growth in levels.

And with that, the days of the final showdown are looming closer and closer.

...

...

PENG!

BOOM!

From the smoke, Tina emerges from the smoke that appeared after the explosion of the attack of Lucia, and with a swing, she knocked the Morning Star from Lina's hands that was about to attack her. Tina then grabbed the fallen Morning Star and switches her choice of weapon and attacked Lucia who was staying her distance from the battle to release her long-range attacks.

BANG!

The morning star landed on the ground, just a few inches from Lucia who is already panting from dodging Tina's attacks.

"Alright, stop. Have a rest everyone. Lina, Lucia, good work out there. Tina, let's talk, come here for a sec."

Tina seems to have noticed the heavy tone of my voice and decided to come next to me.

"Did I have other wrong movements? I will do my best to..."

"Congratulations. It seems you have soaked in what I am teaching you."

"Eh?" Tina didn't expect what I just said to her. 

"You have some flaws here and there but it is pretty minor and even I would do that kind of mistake from time to time, you are not the only one to do something like that too."

"E-eh, thanks I guess."

"However, even though you did well today, that doesn't mean you can also do well on the actual battle. Remember that the actual battle will decide whether we live or die. One small mistake and our lives would already be on the line and perhaps that small dangling line would be the end of it. Do not let this get the best of you. You still have plenty to learn. But that doesn't mean you no longer need to improve.

I stood up from the stump I was sitting on and stretch a bit before glancing at her for a bit before looking at the sky.

"Tomorrow, that is the day of the reckoning. I am not the main character during that day, I will be just a supporting actor in the battle. You are the Main Protagonist for tomorrow, so do what you must do."

Yes, the confrontation will be happening tomorrow. As someone who is experiencing it for the first time, I am kinda scared and excited for the outcome. Perhaps, the result of the confrontation tomorrow will change the Main Quest storyline drastically. Whether it will create a big impact or not, this is something I need to see, whether we fail or not.

...

...

Morning...

Pretty early for many people but we are already out and currently staying in a small cafe drinking coffee. The selection would be happening in the royal palace's announcement ground where the people can see what will be happening. It's been a while in the past timeline but this place no longer exists in the past timeline since the castle itself was blown to pieces by the main boss of the Pioneer Quest.

Seeing it in full glory gives me fixed feelings that I don't know how to really feel.

"It looks like it is going to start anytime soon. Is everyone ready?" I looked at Tina, Lina, and Lucia who are currently eating the snacks.

"Yes, Master. The moment of truth is almost here."

"Um..is it really going to be alright to do it in the public?" Tina is now hesitant.

"What, are you hesitant now? Did you get cold feet already? What about the sparring we have done? All the training we are currently doing? Are you going to just give up now?" Lucia looked at her seriously. As someone who is also a former royalty, it seems Lucia is seeing herself on Tina.

"Ah..." Tina almost choked when Lucia lashed out.

"Sorry. I just got pissed a bit."

"Tina. I know you are hesitant on our plan of approach but this is the only way for us to get a chance to have closer contact with them without being barred by the guards. Also, this a chance for you to know whether it is necessary revenge for you to do it for the people or just to save yourself from falling grace."

As we are talking, the sound of trumpets started ringing, and the people around us started to gather to the area where the selection is going to happen.

"It's already starting. Tina, are you sure about this? If you want, you can..." I looked at her since this is the last chance for her to back out.

"No. I needed to see this and do it."

She stood up and followed the crowd. Lucia just shook her head for a bit but she smiled for a bit as she looked at Tina's back.

"Let's go, Master. We can't just keep Tina hog all the limelight later alright?"

...

The selection.

Since the "death" of Princess Tina, the heir of the Insect Kingdom is undecided and for this matter that King Goliath is already old enough to keep up with ruling the whole kingdom, he is now looking for the rightful successor for the crown and the responsibilities.

The selection is also the time where the confirmation of the next ruler will also be announced. No one knows who will be the next heir as Princess Alexandra and Prince Pierre are all formidable and both had the chance to be the rightful heir.

However, the selection event that will be happening today will also be marked in the history books. An unexpected variable will appear and the kingdom will soon fall into disarray.

"The King and Queen of the Insect Kingdom will now be entering! Please welcome them with a round of applause!"

Looking at the crowd's response, it seems the king and queen are respectable in their eyes. In the past timeline, they have been killed alongside the castle blown to smithereens.

"Your parents are pretty influential huh?" Lina looked at Tina who is currently gritting her teeth in anger. She is wearing a hood so no one can see who she was. I can feel the anger seething from her teeth as she grits hard and prevents herself from launching an attack at the wrong time.

"Now entering, Princess Alexandria and Prince Pierre!"

When the two appeared, it seems it was natural that Tina would need to exact her revenge and finish them off. The two siblings of Tina are the two demons who changed their name and decided to manipulate the royalty and instigated the attack of the Insect Kingdom that almost prompted its destruction. No wonder the situation seems a bit troublesome. It seems like the demons are already here sinking their fangs.

"The demon twins, Lemis and Remis."

The f*ckers who caused the Pioneer Quest of the Aquagius region to suffer the biggest and caused the quest to almost fail.. One of the pioneer battles that we didn't manage to save the entire kingdom from its inevitable destruction.