**
"Leon, what's the first rule when talking to a grown-up stranger?"
"Umm… It was…"
Took a few seconds to answer the young Leon, who had yet to start his school life.
"Don't talk any more than necessary."
"Good job," Mary, his mother, praised with her customary bright smile, "And why is that?"
"Because they may do anything."
"Indeed," gifted a pat, "Adults are stronger than you because you haven't started your universal energy arts training yet."
"Universal energy arts!" His eyes immediately gleamed, "I want to be a Level 6!"
"Haha, I bet you will," but it wasn't the time to let Leon happily jump around while daydreaming, "Strong individuals tend to believe they can do anything simply because they possess the power. They might even kill you if you upset them."
This wasn't the first time he had been exposed to this kind of talk, but children often tend to overlook details in lengthy conversations. Nevertheless, he persisted in posing the same question that Mary had addressed countless times already.
"But... won't the guards stop them?"
"Don't trust them. They'll act based on who the killer is. Only trust yourself, understood?"
"Understood."
"And those guards aren't good people. They can do anything and won't even be judged because they are the Gods' men."
"But Gods are good, right?"
She turned her eyes away from the pair of innocence. "Yes, they are."
"Then why are the Gods' people bad?"
"That's because they are people like us," she remarked, though her underlying sentiments whispered, 'Because they are the Gods' people. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.'
Appearing to struggle to comprehend her cryptic message, scratched his head,"People like us?"
"Never mind, don't worry about it," she said, clasping his hand. "Come on, let's go to the forest."
Lastly, added, "And never talk about this with anyone else, or the guards might do bad things to us, understood?"
"Understood."
**
Black Metal, often referred to as God Metal, initially adopted the moniker of God Metal when introduced by the Gods in its early years. However, due to certain fanatics who believed it inappropriate to associate the name of God with a material, Black Metal evolved into the prevalent nomenclature for addressing it.
It didn't originate from Earth; the Gods brought it with them. Undoubtedly, it stood as the finest material ever to exist.
Thanks to it, holographic computers—in fact, all forms of holographic technology—ascended to the pinnacle of their existence. However, this wasn't the aspect that rendered it as crucial as the lives of Feather Tier guards.
To forge the most formidable weapon in the universe, Black Metal is an essential prerequisite. Whether crafting a laser gun or constructing a spaceship, copious amounts of Black Metal are imperative. It stands as the cornerstone of advanced technology, embodying power itself.
These reasons alone were sufficient for Rebellious to set his sights on acquiring every last bit of Black Metal. To defy the Gods, one must first secure the very materials they employ.
Only through obtaining these materials can you construct the requisite armory to triumph in the war or, at the very least, cultivate a semblance of hope to challenge them.
Five people, armed with four guitar cases and sizable bags, constituted their preparedness. Laima and Belenus, the linchpins of the operation, each carried a guitar case, accompanied by two sidekicks, Triss and Leon, who also bore their musical artillery. In contrast, Memma trailed behind, seemingly without a purpose.
Prayer presented a challenge for individuals like Leon and those who were generally not inclined toward fanaticism. However, it's fair to assert that it proved to be a convenient occasion for members of Rebellious.
After all, they possessed intellect and knew how to wield it. A prime illustration could be observed on Saturdays. The prayer was scheduled for 14:00, while their departure time was set at 14:30.
Even though he was already committed to the mission, he couldn't help but voice his concern, "Are we certain there won't be a Sting or someone even more formidable guarding it?"
"It's just 3 kilograms the Guard Killer," Laima, let out a short laugh.
"Exactly that, Mr. Guard Killer," Belenus, "We can deal with anyone under Sting. We may even deal with a Sting depending on the situation."
"Yes, yes," nodded firmly, "And don't worry. Since it's just 3 kilograms, they wouldn't appoint anyone above Feather."
"Isn't it more important than the lives of the guards?"
"Depending on the amount. It's not like there are tons of Stings and Scepters. Plus, 3 kilograms isn't even enough to make a weapon,"
Laima added, "On a side note, we also want to live. So, we won't do anything reckless," seemingly thinking Leon had feared.
"Everyone wants to live, Leon," pointed at, "Triss, don't you want to live?"
"I want to live."
He then shifted his gaze toward Memma, receiving a nod in response.
Lastly, "Don't you want to live, Leon?"
"I want to."
"Red flag has been planted."
"…"
A momentary silence was abruptly shattered by hearty, "Hahahaha!"
Everyone, except for Leon, burst into laughter at the unexpected and peculiar remark from Memma. It appeared that her intention was to elicit that very laughter, as a faint smile graced her cute face while they continued strolling through the streets toward the western border of the city.
"That was a funny meme, right, Leon?"
"Yeah, it was. Nice one Memma."
Lifted her head, "Thank you so much, it was indeed purrrfect."
""Hahaha.""
"…"
"Memma is quite good, right?"
"Y-Yeah…" He quietly added to himself, 'Once in a while.'
Amidst the silent prayers echoing through the air from the rest of the city's inhabitants, the five continued their journey until they reached the border.
""See you later, Memma.""
She offered a farewell nod and retraced her steps toward the base—Memma, content with merely seeing her friends off, nothing more and nothing less.
"Kids, how's your excitement going?" Belenus.
"I bet they're practically dying from it," Laima.
"I kind of got excited a bit," Triss admitted, trembling slightly the moment she caught sight of the border.
"Yeah, I'm excited."
Slap!
"Come on, Leon," Laima chuckled after a friendly slap to his back, "Get excited or show some enthusiasm. Aren't you 14 years old?""
"I really am excited."
"Why can't we see it?"
"I don't know."
'Idiots. You shouldn't be excited during a mission. Don't you guys know it better than me?'
"Haha, cool, cool. Looks like you're that type of person."
Well, that's way better, right, Laima?"
"Yeah, but they're just gonna hang back and watch. So, they've got the right to be excited."
"That's also true."
"However, you guys, try not to get too excited during a mission, alright?"
"Yes, yes! I know it!"
"Of course."
"Great, then let's keep our speed up for a while."
"Before that, Leon," Belenus, "I heard that you're at Level 1."
"Yes, I am."
"Are you keeping up with your training?"
"Of course."
Belenus shot him a knowing smile. "Great, then maybe you can hit Level 2 on the way."
Laima, "Yeah, we'll be there on Monday, anyway."
"Hope so."
With that, everyone fell silent. Just as Laima had predicted, they would arrive on Monday, and the cargo ship was scheduled to dock on Tuesday.
In short, Leon had three additional days to attain Level 2, Saturday and Monday included.
To the west of Stone City lay Endosto, a waypoint on their journey. That place wasn't the final destination, but it's west, Neaire. The estimated time to reach Endosto was Sunday night, as it was relatively close to Stone City.
Neaire, situated at a similar distance from Endosto, promised a swift journey for them.
The optimal outcome involved reaching Neaire by Monday, ideally right before the scheduled prayer time. Achieving this required them to move swiftly, given the time constraints. However, it's crucial to note that the estimated distance between the cities was based on the speed of individuals at Level 2, not on a Level 1 pace like Leon's.
In cases of urgency or necessity, Laima and Belenus possessed the capability to reach their destination much more expeditiously. However, they chose to move at a leisurely pace, taking breaks for meditation and sleep, both during the day and night.
None of them engaged in any form of physical training as they embarked on their mission, leisurely walking amidst the trees beneath the night's comforting shade. None dared to exhaust themselves beyond what was deemed necessary for the journey ahead.
Reviewing material right before an exam might yield some effectiveness to a certain extent. However, engaging in training moments before a fight held virtually no significance.
Leon and Triss had completed their nightly training, while the two strong ones continued their rigorous exercises.
Observing someone in meditation proved to be a rather dull affair—undeniably tedious. Nevertheless, the two youngsters persisted, their eyes shining as brightly as the moon above.
And then, what they had hoped for finally transpired.
Water particles materialized around both Laima and Belenus. The phase of meditation made way for a session of magical training.
Laima's water transformed into a myriad of entities—bugs, flies, butterflies, and ants. On the other hand, Belenus opted to envelop his suitcase, a few margins longer and thicker than the others. Clear indications of Tier 2 magic proficiency manifested with full force.
Rather than being captivated by Belenus's imposing water cover, Leon's attention was drawn to Laima's intricate array of bugs. Their allure was undeniable, an obvious focal point for anyone witnessing the display.
"Hold on, is she a Level 6!?"
"Hahaha!"
That single laugh woke him up, making him realize, 'Of course not. F*ck, she won't stop now.'
"Of course not, idiot. She's a special case. Both, I mean."
"What do you mean?"
Widening her eyes, she exclaimed, "Are you serious?"
"As serious as I can be."
"Don't you know who your teammates are?"
"I know their names."
"I meant their race."
Now, this was a topic that Leon didn't even bother to approach. At that moment, a fleeting thought crossed his mind, 'I should care about this stuff, right?'
"And their race is?"