Malachi was the first to regain his composure. He locked eyes with Nova and spoke, his voice steady but tinged with determination. “I’d like to experience your strength firsthand.”
Nova’s gaze remained unwavering as he nodded. He then shifted his attention to the others, his voice calm. “Do you all want the same?”
The group exchanged uneasy glances, feeling the weight of Nova’s presence. One by one, they steeled themselves and nodded in silent agreement.
Nova’s lips twitched into a faint, almost amused smile. “Alright. I’ll give you five seconds to prepare yourselves.”
Without missing a beat, the group readied their weapons. Alaric and Darius unsheathed their swords, Hector called forth a gleaming glaive, its blade sharp and foreboding. Adira swiftly drew her bow, nocking an arrow. Shira and Nox, with a fluid motion, drew their daggers, their eyes focused, calculating. Malachi, the last to move, gripped his mace in one hand, while his shield remained firmly in the other.
Nova observed the assortment of weapons, his gaze flickering over each one. ‘At least not everyone’s wielding a sword,’ he thought with a quiet sigh of relief.
"Time’s up" Nova said nonchalantly. Before anyone could react, he snapped into motion.
The next moment, a pressure descended on each of them, as if an invisible hand had placed itself upon their shoulders. They tried to resist, to push back against the overwhelming force, but it was futile. No matter how hard they strained, their efforts were crushed beneath the weight of Nova’s hand.
In an instant, the entire group found themselves on their knees, unable to stand against the force that had just slammed them down. Nova, standing tall before them, remained calm as ever, his eyes gleaming with an unspoken challenge.
From the sideline, the old leader watched in stunned silence, his jaw hanging open. His heart raced, and a wave of relief washed over him as he silently thanked whatever fortune had led him to agree to Nova’s terms.
“Happy?” Nova’s voice rang out, a small smile playing on his lips as he regarded the kneeling group before him.
Malachi muttered under his breath, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe. “How...?”
Adira, still shaken, stammered out, “I-I didn’t see anything...” Her words trailed off, as if trying to convince herself that what had just happened was impossible.
Hector shook his head, his voice steady but laced with a quiet realization. “If he wanted us dead... we’d be dead.” His gaze flickered nervously toward Nova, who remained composed and eerily calm.
Alaric and Darius exchanged a glance, their minds racing, unable to wrap themselves around the sheer magnitude of what they had just witnessed. How could someone—someone they’d barely known for weeks—be this strong?
Shira and Nox remained still, their expressions unreadable. Yet, every now and then, their eyes would flash with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, their attention focused solely on Nova.
Nova, who had been watching them all with an almost detached interest, finally spoke. “You’re my generals now. Follow me.” His tone was calm, but there was a weight to his words that brooked no argument. Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking towards another room, his steps slow but deliberate.
The seven scrambled to their feet, their knees trembling slightly, still reeling from the overwhelming display of power. They hurried to fall in line behind him, not daring to test the limits of their new superior.
It didn’t take long before they found themselves standing in front of Nova again, this time in a new room. They stood at attention, waiting for his next command, their minds still buzzing with questions, but none daring to ask.
Nova broke the silence, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of curiosity. “First of all, have any of you ever cleared a Green portal?”
The room fell into an uneasy silence as six of them shook their heads. None of them had.
Nova’s gaze shifted to the one who had remained silent. “What about you?” he asked, his tone probing.
Alaric didn’t hesitate, his voice soft but clear. “I have.” There was no pride in his words, no arrogance. After everything that had just transpired, he felt like a mere footnote in a much larger story. He didn’t have the luxury of boasting about his achievements when faced with the overwhelming power Nova had just displayed.
‘Interesting. A talent on the level of Jack and Victor.’ Nova’s thoughts trailed off as he assessed Alaric, before giving a slight nod. “Good. You will be the leader of my generals.”
Alaric’s expression remained calm and composed, though a quiet, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He nodded toward Nova in acknowledgment, his eyes gleaming with quiet pride, but no words left his lips.
The others couldn't help but let out a collective sigh. Now, with Alaric as their leader, they found themselves with two bosses to answer to. The dynamic had shifted, and they were still processing it.
Nova’s smile widened, sensing the shift. “Now, I don’t know what each of you excels at, so tell me your preferences. I’ll design a test for you based on that” he said, his tone casual, but there was an unmistakable gleam in his eyes—he couldn’t wait to train these seven.
Darius was the first to speak, his voice simple and direct. “I like to fight.”
Nova’s smile widened at the honesty in Darius’ response. He admired that kind of directness. "I can work with that."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Hector followed suit, his voice almost a mirror of Darius’. “I like keeping order.”
The simplicity of their answers seemed to satisfy Nova, and the others, seeing the favorable response, began to speak more freely.
Shira was next, her voice measured and devoid of emotion. “I like infiltrating.”
“I also like infiltrating” Adira added, her tone sharper. There was a glint in her eyes that suggested she didn’t care for stealth, perhaps preferring a more chaotic approach to her methods.
Nox, barely audible but unmistakable in his words, murmured “I’m good at killing.”
The others, though slightly unnerved, weren’t surprised by his blunt admission. Nova, however, grinned. ‘I already know what to have them do.’ His thoughts were clear, and he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction before turning to the final member of the group.
Malachi took his time to deliberate, the weight of his words hanging in the air. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, but there was a quiet ambition lurking beneath. “I like power.”
Nova’s eyebrows rose in mild surprise. “Oh? What kind of power are you talking about?” he asked, intrigued by the shift in Malachi’s tone.
Malachi’s smile remained soft, but there was an undeniable hunger in his eyes. “Any kind. I like having enough power to influence and command others.” His words were calm, but the ambition in his voice was unmistakable.
‘I know exactly what he can do.’ Nova’s thoughts were clear, and he mentally cataloged Malachi’s response, knowing exactly where he could place him in the future.
Shifting his attention back to the group, Nova’s smile faded, replaced by a more focused expression. “Since I’m new here, I’ll need someone to explain the politics of these organizations to me. Who’s going to take that role?”
Malachi spoke immediately, his voice steady and clear. “There are three main organizations in the eastern part of Univara. We, the Blades of Freedom, the Iron Fangs, and the Broken Chain. We’re allied with the Iron Fangs, while the Broken Chain is at odds with them but neutral with us. They both have numbers comparable to ours, so a war among us is unlikely—our goals align too closely.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group, waiting for any follow-up questions.
‘Only two other factions, and one of them is already allied with my new business…’ Nova thought, his mind processing the new information. He met the seven’s gaze and spoke with a quiet but resolute tone, “I’ll train you for the next week based on your individual preferences before sending you out. But listen carefully—what I’m about to say is crucial. Memorize it.” His expression hardened, the weight of his words heavy with intent. As he spoke, his understanding of ‘One with’ grew deeper, each repetition sharpening his grasp.
The seven listened intently, fully aware that what Nova was about to teach them could define their strength moving forward. They didn’t dare miss a word.
For the next thirty minutes, Nova explained with unwavering focus, providing intricate details and answering their questions, ensuring they understood the concepts that would take their power to new heights. Finally, he concluded with, “Alaric, you will train in everything the others train in. If they can’t master something, you need to be able to. Understood?”
Alaric gave a quiet, composed nod, his eyes unwavering. “Understood.”
Nova’s gaze shifted, his tone sharpening as he spoke to the rest. “Darius, you will train in war tactics and combat. If you don’t know how to command people, ask your former leader, or find another way to learn it—figure it out. But you will learn it.”
Darius, firm and resolute, answered with a crisp salute. “Yes, sir.”
Nova turned his gaze toward Hector, a smile playing on his lips. “Learn how to defend a city, a town—anything. Master how to maintain order and how to lead your subordinates, all while strengthening yourself. I don’t care how you do it. You could take a few men from the Blades of Freedom and command them for all I care.”
Hector nodded thoughtfully, his expression serious as he absorbed Nova’s words. The implications of what Nova wanted him to become were already starting to take shape in his mind.
Nova’s focus shifted to Adira, his voice sharpening with purpose. “Adira, I want you to master studying terrain, weather patterns, building structures, soundwaves—you need to know everything about a place before you even set foot there. Inside and out. And don’t forget to get stronger along the way.”
Adira’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, her energy palpable as she responded, “Yes!” She was already envisioning the path ahead of her.
Turning his attention to Shira and Nox, Nova said. “Your training will be similar. Learn how to camouflage yourself, move without making a sound, and how to hide in plain sight.”
His gaze settled on Shira, and he added, “You’ll also need to learn how to gather information—study what Adira does. Her skills will be crucial for what you’ll need to accomplish.”
Turning to Nox "Your focus will be reaching your target undetected and eliminating them swiftly. Train with Darius whenever you need to sharpen your combat skills."
Shira nodded, her lips tight with resolve. Nox’s response was just as silent, but the intensity in his eyes spoke volumes.
Finally, Nova turned to Malachi, his tone contemplative as he spoke. “You will focus on studying people—how to read and manipulate them. Learn human psychology and politics. But don’t lose sight of your main objective: getting stronger. Train. Every day.”
“Yes, sir. I will train and study. Anything for power” Malachi replied, his gaze sharp with determination.
“Good.” Nova’s approval was curt, but it carried weight. He scanned the group, ensuring each one had absorbed his orders. “Come back in a week. I don’t care if you sleep or not—master your craft to the point where it becomes usable on the field. You’re dismissed.”
Without waiting for their responses, Nova vanished from the room in an instant.
The generals stood frozen for a moment, struggling to come to terms with the sheer force of Nova’s methods and strength. They were left in stunned silence before eventually, one by one, they made their exit. A grueling week lay ahead of them.
Outside, Nova walked through the complex, his mind wandering as he searched for a quiet place to train. A sudden thought struck him: ‘Why not the rooftop? It should be peaceful up there.’
With that, he leapt into the air, a powerful push sending him soaring upwards. In seconds, he landed atop the building, scanning the area to ensure he was alone. Satisfied, he nodded and retrieved the ‘Spear Basics’ booklet from his Inventory, flipping to the second page.
The text immediately grabbed his attention:
If you think reaching One with the Spear makes you a genius, then you’re nothing more than a fool. I don’t care who’s reading this, but I hope you’re smarter than that. If not, please, do us all a favor—step off a building and stop wasting the world’s resources. And before you die, make sure you pass this booklet on to someone who isn’t as clueless... Thank you.
Nova’s lips curled into a wry grin. ‘Who the hell wrote this booklet?’ he thought. ‘I swear, when I find them, they’ll be kneeling and calling me ‘master.’’
The book continued its harsh critiques of the reader, each sentence more scathing than the last, before finally offering the next steps.
‘At least this person knew what they were doing. If it wasn’t for this, I’d have thought they were a con artist’, Nova mused, still processing the words he'd read.
“In short, I mustn’t separate myself or the spear from the world. But how the hell do you even do that?” Nova muttered under his breath, flipping to the next page in search of answers.
What he found, however, made him recoil in disbelief. He tossed the booklet aside, cursing loudly. “You piece of shit! Who even let you publish this garbage?”
On the page, the text mocked him further:
If you can’t achieve this by the age of 7, you’re average. Don’t worry though, there are people even worse than you. If you can’t get it by the age of 12, you might as well stop breathing. How dumb can one person be? Isn’t this just obvious? I’m willing to bet even an ant could grasp it faster than you. Just give up.
Bonus Chapter Count: 1
Extra chapter for each milestone Ratings 42/50
?????????? 80%
Reviews 5/20
Followers 244/500
Favorites 44/50
Whoever wants to help and read advanced chapters can check out my .
Thank you for reading.
