[Chapter 35 Comment]
[Twin_dragon13773: It is okay Sir Theo, and as to your question earlier, author-san did convey your determination and emotions through text. ;)]
[SonofSunWukong: Yo Theo, how long is ur lifespan at singularity. The author never gave a number, just said that it is very long. Also, how does traveling to diff realities affect ur lifespan. Does it pause, keep going, or change to the new body's lifespan.]
[Magrijack_2: Be careful, the author has eluded to a powerful being in this reality which will likely be hostile to you. No concrete details yet, so it's probably a distant threat, but you should be ready for it… see more]
Theo took advantage of the time when his students assumed control of the mission to check the new comments that had been posted.
"Thank you for the confirmation," Theo acknowledged. He realized that he could respond to the comments through his actions, gestures, or other means. While he enjoyed speaking, there would come a time when direct replies might not be possible. Therefore, he sought new methods to engage with the commenters as early as possible.
The second comment left Theo slightly puzzled. "I don't think I can provide an answer to that. Do you know how long you will live? No, right? What you know is the average lifespan of humans. Similarly, I don't know the average lifespan of someone like me. Those from the past have perished before reaching the end of their lifespan, so I can't say for sure. Perhaps a few hundred years? Or maybe even more than a thousand years? Regarding your other question, time always moves forward."
However, it was the third comment that surprised him. "Huh? A being like that? But based on how you phrased it, did the author create a scene without revealing the person's identity?"
On one hand, the information seemed plausible since he was unaware if the author had added any details in between. On the other hand, there were certain aspects that raised suspicion.
"A being like that shouldn't appear at the beginning of the story. Moreover, there is a contradiction between having no concrete proof and the fact that she is closely connected to this danger." Theo grew suspicious and an idea struck him when he glanced at the first comment. "Can any of you confirm it?"
After addressing the comments, Theo shifted his focus back to the field. Their group had been moving at a rapid pace, and they finally caught sight of the three humans in the distance.
"Enemies spotted," Maya warned, attempting to assess the level of danger they posed. "They are becoming even stronger... No, wait. Only one of them is growing stronger, while the other two are actually... weakening?"
Maya couldn't believe what she was sensing, but she reported it nonetheless.
"Hmm?" Li Wei raised an eyebrow. "Weakening? Now that I think about it, those skeletons and possessed humans haven't been trying to kill us... Are they attempting to capture us?"
"What do you mean?" Maya tilted her head in confusion.
"Do you mean that will be our fate if we get captured? I've heard that he is on the verge of breaking through to the next rank, so does that mean he is trying to absorb everything from us and enhance his power?" Oliver questioned.
"Yes, it seems that he is currently absorbing the power of his subordinates to strengthen himself," Li Wei affirmed.
"But how does one actually break through to the Noble Rank? What are the requirements to become a Noble Rank?" Maya turned to Nana for answers.
"Hmm..." Nana furrowed her brow. "I'm not entirely sure because it's a rare phenomenon. There are a few reports suggesting that the Supernatural Being simply needs to absorb enough essence. There are also reports mentioning other catalysts that may or may not contain essence."
"So, is he leaning towards the former case?" Li Wei furrowed his eyebrows. Suddenly, the king's body began emitting black-colored essence, startling everyone.
"What is that?" Maya gasped. "Is he about to undergo the transformation?"
"No, not yet!" Li Wei pointed at the black energy. "It's changing its shape."
All of them squinted their eyes, trying to get a clearer view. As Li Wei had said, the black essence gradually took on a rough humanoid shape. However, what alarmed them was its size.
The black essence continued to rise into the air, forming an outline that resembled a humanoid figure. The wingspan and height were both significant, measuring roughly ten meters.
"This doesn't look good. Can any of you increase your speed?" Li Wei inquired.
"No, if I speed up, I will be exposed to great danger since I'm allocating the essence for the barrier to the thruster," Maya replied, shaking her head.
Oliver retrieved an RPG and a sniper rifle. "I can target them from this position. Bullets or rockets should move faster than us. However, I need permission from Miss Nana. Permission to kill the three individuals."
Nana gritted her teeth, facing this difficult question. On one hand, as someone from this realm, she didn't want to see anyone die. Oliver, on the other hand, didn't originate from this realm, so his perspective on the value of lives in this realm might differ.
However, she couldn't deny the fact that it would be better to eliminate those three rather than hesitate and risk further complications when the enemies reached the Noble Rank Supernatural Being stage.
"Normally, I would have to consult with my supervisor, but..." Nana took a deep breath, steeling her resolve. "Please shoot them. I'll bear the responsibility."
She made the difficult decision to sacrifice three lives rather than jeopardize the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of others.
"Understood," Oliver nodded, his expression serious. Since the ground was unstable, he opted to use the RPG first. "Maya, do your best to stabilize the ground, okay?"
"I know," Maya responded, understanding the importance of her role.
Oliver aimed at the targets and pulled the trigger.
The rocket shot out, rapidly approaching the king.
Despite being aware of the incoming rocket, the king made no attempt to evade. Instead, the black essence surrounding him shifted and took a more defined shape. Suddenly, the formed hand swung out, attempting to intercept the oncoming missile.
"Huh?" Oliver's eyes widened in shock as his rocket was caught by the hand and exploded.
The essence dissipated momentarily but soon reformed, reconstructing the entire hand.
"Seriously? It failed," Oliver contemplated for a moment before deciding to switch to his bullets. "I'll try with bullets. It should be harder to defend against them since they're faster."
However, Maya abruptly halted him. "Wait a second. Take a closer look at that giant... Does it resemble something?"
"Hmm?" Nana scrutinized the giant more intently. It had begun taking shape. "A giant creature of this magnitude... And it appears humanoid... Wait a minute. That giant resembles something I know. If I'm not mistaken, it resembles one of the monsters from mythology: Nomon. Nomon is known as the beast of death. That might explain their ability to summon such vast armies."
"Keep going," Li Wei interjected. "Explain quickly. Depending on your answer, we might need to adjust our strategy."
"If I'm correct, the term 'Dullahan' is more commonly used across the ten realms to refer to a deceased knight. Nomon is similar to Dullahan, but instead of a knight, it takes the form of a giant. It can summon the dead and even control them, along with their energy. I believe this is what the king is relying on to advance to the Noble Rank."
Li Wei issued a command after absorbing the information. "Oliver, eliminate him!"
"Got it." Oliver aimed at the giant and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The bullet flew at an incredible speed, leaving the giant with no time to react. However, hitting a moving target was extremely challenging, especially for a young student like Oliver.
In the end, he missed the shot.
"Tsk," Oliver clicked his tongue in frustration and adjusted his aim. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Just keep shooting," Li Wei encouraged him. Li Wei retrieved a small blue sphere from his ring. When he consumed it, the pill dissolved into a gas infused with essence.
This surge of essence enhanced his physical abilities, granting him increased speed. "I've taken a Grade 2 Flying Pill. It will boost my speed for a few minutes, but once it wears off, I won't be able to take another pill for 24 hours, and my physical abilities will be halved for one minute. Keep this in mind and adapt our approach accordingly."
Li Wei accelerated, closing the distance between them. Meanwhile, Oliver couldn't help but comment, "I think all the students in S Class should collaborate more. We could just rely on Serena's potions. They are better and have no side effects."
"I agree. There are programs and items that can support our goals... Maybe we should put aside our differences and work together," Maya chimed in, nodding in agreement.
Though a small realization, Maya and Oliver understood the true purpose of the academy, something that many other students had yet to grasp. The academy had the potential to facilitate unity between realms. The students were more innocent compared to the crafty negotiators of the older generation. They could treat each other with respect, build connections, and even form alliances between families from different realms.
Maya and Oliver exchanged nods, making a silent vow to improve the class and support all the students.
Meanwhile, Li Wei continued to close in on the enemies. He raised his sword, enveloping it with his essence.
"Li Clan's Sword Technique, Divine Thrust!" Li Wei shouted as he thrust his sword forward, causing the essence to extend like a powerful force.
The giant attempted to block the attack, but as it hadn't fully materialized, the clash between the hand and the sword created a burst of energy. Sparks flew as the collision seemed to purify the giant.
The king couldn't help but notice the effectiveness of Li Wei's ability. One of the commanders also voiced their concern, saying, "Your Majesty, I don't think we can continue running any further." His energy was already depleted from being absorbed by the king.
A moment of silence followed, and in that moment, Li Wei gained a new perspective. He muttered to himself, "It seems that the more energy the king absorbs, the closer the giant is to completion. If the giant is fully formed, the king might break through to a higher rank... I can't let that happen."
The giant now had a complete outline and a translucent body. All that remained was to add the details and color to its form. As Li Wei observed and prepared for another attack, the king glanced back, still cautious of their teacher.
However, seeing Theo's passive stance after the previous attack, the king believed their opportunity had come. He abruptly stopped and turned around, causing Li Wei to halt as well, anticipating a possible counterattack.
With a raised hand, the king completed the summoning of the giant known as Nomon.
"I must commend you for chasing me this far. But it's time to end this battle. Even if your teacher comes to your aid, he won't be able to defeat me now," the king proclaimed. He raised his hands and shouted, "All the humans in this world will become my subjects. Sacrifice yourselves and become my undead armies!"
Suddenly, the giant figure clapped its hands, and hundreds of skeletal hands emerged from the ground, pulling bodies out.
Li Wei furrowed his eyebrows. "It doesn't matter. We will stop you right here."
"You should know it's impossible. First, you have to overcome my warriors!" the king retorted confidently.