As soon as they finished their investigation, Akira and the others returned to the castle with fresh information.
The assistant complimented them on a job well done. He did, however, reassure them that this was only their experiment, that he wouldn't request another attempt, and that their knowledge was sufficient.
Someone knocked on the door abruptly while they were discussing the mission.
"Sazoru, you may come in." The new visitor, a man named "Sazoru," who had just knocked on the door, was welcomed inside by the assistant.
A red-haired man, and the only item he wore to conceal his upper body was something resembling an antique gold necklace with a green stone. His left eye developed a scar, indicating he had previously participated in fierce combat. He stood next to them after opening the door. He resembled Kazoru in several aspects, according to Akira.
"Now, introduce yourself, Sazoru!"
"My name is Sazoru Blaze Vlahadeer, one of the great generals of Celesta." He introduced himself with short words.
"On your mission, you will receive assistance from this man. It must have surprised you that a general would aid you, don't you think? This was due to how important this mission is. I am aware that you are a novice, but this nation is in peril and is being threatened by these crooks. I also find it strange that the king would offer you, personnel on this kind of mission."
Akira's eyes were widened by the name of the Vlahadeer, which got him thinking that it was Kazoru's father.
In order to conclude the discussion, the assistant then inquired if they had any final questions. The assistant dismissed everyone but Celine and Sazoru because they all remained silent.
Akira asked Kazoru if Sazoru was his father as they left the room.
"He's actually my uncle, Kitsune's older brother. More like a family tree, actually." In response, Kazoru answered that it was his uncle, and his father remained anonymous.
"A tree of relatives comparable to Sazoru, Mazoru, Chizuru, and Siszoru? Oh, I think the surname with the letter "Ru" must run in the family." Akira briefly considered the possibility that Sazoru and Kazoru were related because both of their names ended in "Ru."
"Your presumption is erroneous, how would Kitsune be named in that case? Kitsuru?"
"Really? I mistook it for a verb conjugation of some kind. Speaking of Kitsune, however..." Akira stayed hidden while being aware of Kitsune's presence.
"Haha, unwind... My uncle assigned her to duty outside Celesta."
"Outside Celesta?"
"Yes, it might be abroad or in a village. We can get a ticket for her because our family is well of, so don't be concerned."
They continued to stroll after Akira expressed no ill will toward Kazoru for making him envious of their affluence.
Akira then recalled something his uncle had mentioned. "What is a general?" Akira questioned Kazoru. "Those were rankings one of the top 3 ranks in the world" Was Kazoru's response. Then Kazoru provided further explanation after Akira requested.
3. General.
2. Celestial.
1. King.
With 16 of them guarding Celesta, generals were fierce warriors who were dreaded by the entire Celesta. It was estimated that there were about 100 fewer of them in the other 7 nations of the world. They were deemed to meet the requirements if they possessed three or more divine powers.
1. Magical or combative skills.
2. The use of weapons or defensive skills.
3. Divine stats or auxiliary skills.
They were few and far between, yet certain people were born with divine abilities. Divine skills, not divine abilities, could be developed via training, although Kazoru noted that these were uncommon because they had limitations. Divine powers were only possessed by a select few people; the majority merely possess exceptional or demi-divine abilities.
Celestials, on the other hand, didn't fight, defend, or hurt anyone. They were said to have been the shrine's power source, which gave everyone systems and main abilities. They were revered as gods who had descended to bless everyone. Both the unfair and the just were present.
Kings were typically regarded as a nation's supreme authority. They were capable of annihilating all of their existence thanks to their unfathomable power. From their authority to their country's systems and other characteristics, each king was distinct in each location. Kazoru added that despite this, he was unaware of the names of the kings of other territories.
King Zero himself stood out as the strongest of all. It was Zero Lamillion who he really was. No one could even come close to him in terms of strength, Kazoru said, adding that he was the strongest of them.
"How strong is the king? I mean, you know, if they had the power to wipe out everything, how could it be that our king is superior to that?" Akira pondered, wanting to know both how powerful he was and whether he could beat him.
"Actually unknown—until recently, we had no idea how powerful he was, and we don't even know what his main abilities are. Since they don't know what he is capable of, the fact that they claimed our king was the strongest is still just a rumor to most of them. Most of the time, people made assumptions about his power and made comparisons to other kings. Typical daily internet discussions and debates." Kazoru was unable to respond to his query.
"Mysteries yet to be solved, but what about the divine thing? What is that?" Akira questioned again.
"Those are levels. There are eight at best for a person's level."
1. Weak (E)
2. Lower average (D)
3. Average (C)
4. Above average (B)
5. Elite (A)
6. Professional (S)
7. Demi Divine (SS)
8. Divine (SSS)
"As for weapons, we have 5."
1. Light.
2. Medium.
3. heavy.
4. Special.
5. Divine.
"And as for levels of abilities and skills, they have 6"
1. Weak. (C)
2. Medium. (B)
3. Strong. (A)
4. Special. (S)
4. Demi divine. (SS)
5. Divine. (SSS)
Kazoru said that "Divine" was very hard to achieve. Akira nodded and finally understood.
Kazoru also told him that the one who had the most divine weapons, whose name was Arthur Scarlet, was the leader of the Knights. He was considered to be stronger than a general and he had 6 divine weapons, which was already explained by The king that was in disguise
Special and Divine would give one's very own weapon, but as for someone who got their main abilities from a family, they couldn't get one.
Akira eventually requested to stop the explanation as he needed to process and remember the information. Within 3 minutes, by noting them in his head, he eventually understood.
They walked downstairs while waiting for Sazoru and Celine after Kazoru stopped.
When they finally reached the second floor, Kazoru was deeply contemplating something. Akira asked and made an effort to help him after noticing that he was upset over something.
In response, Kazoru said he had run across a familiar face. He was Sazoru's older brother, as per the tales his uncle had told him and as seen in photographs. It had to be a coincidence, in the eyes of both Kazoru and Akira. He moaned and thought about the possibility that what he had witnessed might have been a false alarm.
Finally, Sazoru and Celine went downstairs and expressed regret for the delay. The four then got to work on a mission strategy. They intended to sneak into the lab and eliminate the Metamorians.
The attacks by the orcs and goblins, according to Sazoru, were somehow connected to them. They also prepared a fallback strategy in case the enemy's boss discovered them. Therefore, caution was essential. Sazoru instructed Kazoru to take charge when he stated that he wouldn't be available.
After that, they agreed on the plan that Sazoru had made. They then went off to the west of Celesta, the Sylvan Garden.
They were going undercover without Sazoru with them. split up, so no suspicion of others.
Akira went to the alleyway, Kazoru walked on the sidewalk, and Celine went to the grocery store. Akira walked casually in the alleyway until he found a dead-end road. Celine was buying groceries until she stumbled upon a discount, her female side made her eager and she couldn't resist buying the terrific deals.
As for Kazoru, still focusing on the mission, he bumped into a strange man that he met earlier in the lab. His eyes were opened so wide with shock and glued to him.
"Whoops, my bad. Are you okay?" The man smiled and lent him a hand to stand up.
His menacing aura was nerve-wracking and made Kazoru shiver with anxiety, seeing his face there was no doubt about it, he looked similar to what Kazoru was referring to as his uncle's deceased brother. However, his hair was black very different from what he looked like.
His hands were bruised and completely burned, his wrist was full of stitches as if it's been ripped off and along with his fingers.
Kazoru apologized as well grabbed his hand and stood up, his nervousness took over him, sweating, heart-pounding, and anxious look.
The hand that he was holding felt the heat on his palms Kazoru stayed alert as he was very wary around him.
The man apologized and reasoned that he was a victim of a house fire, he smiled while closing his eyes as if he was hiding from something.
Kazoru calmed himself down by clenching his other fist and accepted his reason. He didn't look at him in the face, just below his face because of that man's gaze.
"Sorry if my face sutures make you feel uneasy or like I'm some type of Frankenstein. Would you like me to offer you dinner? I'll be delighted to serve you food as my apology. I'll feel unsettled if someone doesn't accept my apology." He grinned suspiciously before abruptly inviting Kazoru to his house even though they were strangers.
Kazoru declined his offer, and then, His hand was heated up as if he was mad. Kazoru was startled and let go of his hand very quickly.
He smiled while also apologizing again, and so he turned the opposite way.
"Well, see you later, and I hope we'll meet again... Kazoru..." Kazoru couldn't hear the man's low-pitched voice for his name before he turned around and walked in the opposite direction, making his heart race. Taking a hiding place in the alleyway to the right, Kazoru knelt down.
Kazoru was drenched in profuse sweat and he panted. He perceived a bizarre, threatening force that made him feel terrified. He went off to look for his comrades so they could begin their attack because he didn't have time to squander...