Lionel had told the rest to go ahead without him. It seemed that Professor Wayne had something to say to him in private.
After making sure everyone was gone he set up a seemingly invisible barrier, that could not be seen but its presence could be felt.
Lionel raised a brow, he had guessed what it might be but he had never seen such an application of it so he wasn't sure.
"Yes Lionel. I used Internal Sight, or as some call it, Ether Perception." Wayne looked on curiously as he confirmed Lionel's thoughts.
His ether code was way more complex than Lionel so looking at Lionel, he could see all complexities about Lionel. But it seems his father had already taught him a way to conceal his thoughts.
"So what do you want exactly?" Lionel let out a polite smile, but he twitching eyebrows betrayed him.
Wayne couldn't be bothered with entertaining him demeanor turning frosty like before. "I am sure you have no idea why Walter agreed that you come."
Lionel didn't show any signs of approval nor disapproval, carefully watching on, listening… to what he had to say.
"I went to school here with your father years back. We had lost contact until a few years back when I met him again in a distant world that was corrupted.
"He saved my life, it turns out he was working on a project. 'Devourer' was what he called it."
At this point Lionel started excluding an underlying current of pressure, a seemingly gray fog appearing while his careful smile faded.
"I was the first test subject. It failed. All I can do is constantly suppress it lest I kill you all."
Wayne had a cold look in his eyes, the surroundings seemingly cracking. All the table shaking violently.
Taking a deep breath he calmed down, and looked towards Lionel with a deadpan expression.
"You must succeed. I am your first helper.
"For your stay here at our school I will help you out.
"Pass the black ring, I will undo the first seal for you."
Lionel didn't pass it immediately instead he sat there silently…staring…s if gouging whether the man was to be trusted or not.
His now black eyes seemed to glow with Chaos, the tables shaking more violently, the tablet on the one before them cracking directly, before…
"Here."
He passed the ring. Lionel sighed. It seemed this father of his was keeping more secrets than he let on. He knew the Kage name had influence but not to what extent.
His father once told him that if there was someone who represented the word 'Invincible' it was him.
Obviously he believed it to be baloney of course, but seeing this man who was possibly beyond the 7th Lock talking about his father like he was the savior, he wasn't so sure anymore.
"Amazing! It seems the first stage was a success. Direct Control." Wayne talked on like a fanatic scientist who had just experienced a breakthrough in his research.
Lionel on the other hand had no idea what he was talking about.
Wayne took a moment to calm down, after which he took the ring into his hands.
CRACK!
As soon as he did the world seemed to be swallowed up in a vortex of Ether, Everything barely being able to hold unto their form.
The metallic walls held on but the same couldn't be said for the objects in the room, something about this Ether felt… off… destructive. Wayne seemed to barely be able to hold on.
'What is this? Shadow Ether? No. It feels familiar but not the same. The rules are broken?'
Lionel felt fear in the depth of his soul, but there was also an amazing excitement that seemed to bubble up from
his bare roots of existence.
He closed his eyes.
As soon as he did the strange force seemed to become more rampant, most of it flowing towards his body and entering his pores.. The walls quaking, holding on to whatever hinges they had been placed there with.
'That's it Lionel. More. MORE!' Wayne felt like screaming seeing Lionel's actions but dared not, focusing on pouring the leftover Ether in the surroundings towards the ring.
Those who passed by, or who could see the exam hall from where they were, backed away in fear. They had no idea what was happening and could only report it.
In a peculiar location, one that very few knew about, in a world beyond the plane, An old man was chuckling.
Finally he broke out into a wide grin before he shouted into the abyss.
"AND SO IT BEGINS!"
It was unknown whether anyone had heard him or not, what was known was that the void seemed to speak back, answering him, pulsating.
…
"What? The exam hall is quaking?" A student who was in charge of discipline shot straight up.
He was William Gates, grandson of Christian Gates. The Dean. He had been here for only 2 years but was not
only the student in charge of the Discipline Counsel, but was already a 4-Star Disciple.
"Sir the quaking has stopped." Another student ran in through the door, only saluting after he had said
his piece. He was sweating because he realized he had spoken out of line.
Looking towards the student he glared for a while, his skin strangely turned pale. After a while he finally
opened his mouth to speak...
"Lead the way."
…
"Lionel are you awake? Lionel, wake up." Wayne sat next to Lionel in what seemed like an enclosed lull cave room with dull lighting.
One would think he cared from the words he spoke but the expression might make one think otherwise.
A shirtless young man lay on the bed, he had pale skin and dark curly hair.
Not a single blemish on his supple skin and yet one could see an tones of different gradients across his body, highlighting his muscles. Not too much, not too little, The body of a Greek god.
"Ahh!"
Suddenly he shot up, heaving heavily as if he could not get enough oxygen into his body. His eyes were bloodshot which was weird for someone who had been soundly asleep.
"Careful now. Haha." Wayne let out a slight chuckle as he sat, scratching his ass.
Lionel took a deep breath as he tried to calm down. When he had finally calmed down, his gaze snapped towards Wayne.
"What happened?" Lionel didn't remember much of what happened. He had just remembered a foreign force entering his body as soon as he entered a meditative state.
When he opened his eyes just moments ago he was already in this cave.
Looking towards Lionel with amusement and curiosity, he asked, "Why? Don't you trust me? If I were from your dad's long list of enemies, I would have killed you already, eaten you perhaps..."
Lionel glared at him, one would think that he was out for blood, "I asked you a question!"
His eyes began to swirl like holes granted unto that of an abyss. Lionel couldn't help but feel discomfort in his eyes he held his face in his palm as if to relief himself.
"Sheesh! You Kages are really cold to those you don't trust huh?" Wayne went towards a round table which was also in the room, pulling out a chair and committing to the act.
"Come, sit."
The room was rather dull but seemed to carry the simple necessities one would need in life, from a small kitchen at the back, to the washroom at the side.
It felt like this place hadn't been used in years though.
Lionel was still vigilant but stood up anyway, walking towards the table regardless. Taking his seat, he faced Wayne with the same cold gaze waiting for his explanation.
"You fainted and I carried you here. That was Chaos. Don't worry you'll get used to that as it will happen a lot in the near future.
"Your body simply overexerted itself. Now to explain myself. What do you know about the nurturing of your Aether Code Lionel?"
In another Location William narrowed his eyes staring at the tables that had turned to dust and the walls
that look as if their very existence had been ravaged.
He thought aloud, "Interesting."
"Sir."
"Clean this up."
"Yes sir."