Chương 35: United by Chains

Ch 35 - United by Chains Malon swallowed once, his gaze still lowered slightly before he continued speaking.

"Sorry. Let me start from the beginning." He took a small breath.

"My name is Malon, and my Core lets me establish a battle connection with teammates, but it only works when there's genuine mutual trust between us." He slowly lifted his head.

"I mean, my Core is focused on support. Depending on the situation, I can enhance my teammates' speed, strength, and other physical abilities. I can even force their bodies to keep moving during emergencies, although that consumes a lot more mana. Still, it can make all the difference when the situation becomes critical."

"Wait!" Zeph cut in.

"Are you seriously telling us about your Core ability that easily?" Malon nodded, his expression remaining as stiff as ever.

"If I expect honest answers from everyone else, then it's only fair that I tell them about my own Core ability first. Besides, I don't reveal it to just anyone. I'm telling the three of you because I believe I can trust you."

"Yes, Malon..." Suki said with a small laugh.

"You're way too honest. It's actually kind of funny. Not everyone reveals their Core ability so easily, you know. That's valuable information. Most people keep it a complete secret."

"But Suki," Hugh interrupted, "you also told us about your Core ability right after Malon explained his without even thinking twice."

"Oh." She chuckled awkwardly.

"That's because I felt like the two of you weren't dangerous, so... I just said it." Zeph let out a quiet sigh as he looked at the strange people he had somehow ended up sitting with.

"Hehe." Suki grinned.

"Then I guess it's my turn. I'm an archer. My Core ability lets me change my point of view. I can shift the vision of my left eye to a point high above the battlefield, letting me observe everything from overhead and keep watch in every direction."

"... That's incredible." Zeph clicked his tongue in genuine admiration. Hugh spoke up next.

"Sorry if my Core sounds like the dumbest one here, but mine is pretty simple. The heavier my body gets, the more of that weight is converted into physical strength." Zeph instinctively straightened in his seat again.... These three really had remarkably unique Core abilities. One was a strategic support who could control the flow of battle from behind the front lines. One was an archer with an unbelievably powerful scouting ability.

And the last was a natural tanker whose strength increased along with his body weight. Before Zeph could say anything, Malon spoke again.

"You don't have to tell us about your Core ability, Zeph. The fact that you're willing to join our team is already enough." Zeph nodded.

"No, it's okay. I'll tell you, though not everything. My Core lets me regenerate much faster than normal. I'm a frontline fighter too," he said. Malon nodded after hearing the answer.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure Malon already said the same thing earlier," Suki whispered to Zeph. Zeph turned toward her, a questioning look appearing on his face. Suki smiled before continuing.

"During that confrontation earlier, I used my Core ability to get a better look at what was happening. I only saw that you got a small cut on your cheek from the energy released when your swords clashed. But a moment later..." She paused.

"The wound was already gone." She then turned toward Malon.

"That's when Malon told me, 'Invite him to join us, Suki. He alone is enough to complete this team.'" Hugh gave a slow nod before continuing where Suki left off.

"Malon said you're incredibly strong. Strong enough to make up for the two members we're missing. A frontline fighter with an exceptional regeneration ability." Zeph frowned slightly after hearing that. It wasn't that he was trying to be humble or anything. He was simply intrigued by these people. The smug-looking kid sitting across from him had analyzed all of that from nothing more than a brief encounter. Noticing Zeph's gaze, Malon seemed to feel responsible for explaining himself.

"Zeph responded to the provocation of a group from a well-known family without the slightest hesitation. There were seven of them. Someone with no backing doesn't normally challenge a group like that." He adjusted his glasses before continuing.

"You didn't show fear or uncertainty while they were provoking you. That only suggests one thing. You're confident in your own strength." This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. He looked directly at Zeph.

"Sorry if I'm overstepping, but I'm even confident that you intended to take the Selection Test alone if you hadn't found a team." After saying that, Malon lowered his gaze again, as if he suddenly felt awkward for talking so much. Maybe he was worried he had said something wrong.... Still. The analysis was surprisingly accurate. Zeph really hadn't been afraid of those seven. If they wanted to fight, then fine. Let's fight. That had honestly been his first thought.

Was it because he was incredibly strong, with both his Core and Sigil supporting him? Who knew. What mattered was that he hadn't been afraid. And yes, he genuinely wouldn't have minded completing the entire Selection Test alone if that was what it came to. He slowly nodded before smiling.

"You really are scary, Malon. I'm just glad we're on the same team." He let out a small laugh.

"Well, I hope this works out. Let's do our best to work together. I don't have much experience either, so..." Before Zeph could finish speaking, the other three interrupted him at the same time.

"You'll lead this team," Malon said.

"You're the strongest and the bravest. You should be our leader," Suki added.

"Zeph," Hugh said with a warm smile, "I'm sure you'll make an excellent leader for this team."

"Damn it." Zeph clicked his tongue.

"You invited me over, praised me for five straight minutes, and now you're dumping the responsibility of leading the team on me? That's exactly the kind of responsibility I've never liked from the very beginning." He leaned back in his chair.

"Just let Malon lead the team and tell me what needs to be killed. That would be much easier. I don't like talking." Malon shook his head.

"Zeph, I'm sorry if I've been talking too much, but I think the bravest person in a team is the one who should lead. Someone who never hesitates to face danger and can inspire everyone else simply through their actions." He paused for a moment before continuing.

"You don't need to talk much. Just be yourself. I believe that's already enough to lead this team." He lowered his eyes.

"Just let me speak whenever you need analysis or advice. You make the decisions, and whatever decision you make... I'll follow it with everything I've got."

"Yeah, me too!" Suki said without the slightest hesitation, her smile somehow growing even brighter.

"Absolutely."

"I trust you too, Zeph," Hugh added with his usual calm smile.

"We'll make this work." Zeph let out an awkward smile.

"You're making me a little suspicious by pushing this so hard. We literally just met." He looked at the three of them before letting out a quiet sigh.

"But... I guess I don't really have another choice." After a brief pause, he gave a small nod.

"Fine. I agree with the arrangement Malon suggested."

"Yeah!" Suki shouted, raising her right hand high into the air. Her voice was loud enough that several people around the area turned to look at their table. Malon lowered his head even further, clearly embarrassed by the attention, while Hugh simply watched Suki with the same gentle smile that never seemed to leave his face, looking genuinely happy to see her so excited.... Alright. This might not be so bad after all, Zeph thought. They waited there for a while, with Suki doing most of the talking.

Hugh answered almost everything with small laughter or the occasional random comment, keeping the conversation light. Meanwhile, Malon stayed quiet beside them, wearing the same thoughtful expression as always. He only spoke whenever someone asked him something. Then, someone stepped into the area from one side, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Zeph looked over and saw a man who appeared to be in his fifties.

He had neatly combed blond hair parted down the middle, a clean-shaven face, and a spotless uniform that looked more like a senior instructor's formal attire than ordinary academy clothing. Every part of his appearance was sharp and disciplined.

"Instructor Wazo," Malon said quietly.

"Rank 8 Sage." Zeph immediately turned toward Malon.

"Rank 8 Sage?" This was probably the first time Zeph had ever seen someone with such a high rank in person. A Rank 8 Sage. There was no doubt someone like that held an important position within the academy. Even so... there was something strangely odd about his appearance. He didn't look anything like what Zeph had imagined someone of that rank would.

With every step the man took, it felt as though an invisible wave of pressure spread across the entire hall, pressing down on everyone present until the lively chatter faded into complete silence. Then something happened that left countless people staring with their mouths open. The instructor took another step. But there was nothing beneath his feet. He climbed as though invisible stairs had appeared in the air, one step after another, until he was standing high above the center of the grand hall.

Gasps spread through the crowd, and many instinctively stepped back in disbelief.

"Good morning, everyone," the instructor said, his calm voice echoing throughout the hall.

"What a wonderful morning. I can already see such remarkable spirit in all of you. Now, pick up your equipment and prepare yourselves." The instant those words left his mouth, Zeph's instincts erupted with warning. Behind him, Malon's voice rang out.

"Get ready! Now!" The next second, everything happened far too fast. An invisible force suddenly seized their bodies. The entire world around them twisted and blurred in an instant, as though space itself had been torn apart. Then… They fell. A massive-area teleportation spell?! No way. Zeph tumbled wildly through the air as powerful winds slammed into his body from every direction.

He struggled to steady himself, forcing his body into a proper falling position while hundreds of others plummeted alongside him in complete chaos. He quickly spotted Malon, Suki, and Hugh, all falling not far from him. Then Zeph looked down. A bottomless chasm stretched beneath them. But... What was that? A gigantic web-like structure spread across the abyss, its countless strands woven together into an enormous network that covered almost the entire opening.

"Whatever happens, grab the web and hold on!" Malon shouted over the roaring wind. At the same moment, the sigil on the boy's forehead lit up. Chains burst from his body, shooting through the air before wrapping around the other three and linking them together. By then, Zeph had finally stabilized his fall. His body angled toward one of the web's thick strands. Closer. Even closer. He gritted his teeth as he reached out. His fingers caught the strand.

The impact sent a violent shock through his entire body, nearly forcing him to let go as his arm screamed in pain. Then, in that split second… Hugh missed. His hand slipped past the web, and his body continued hurtling straight into the abyss.

"Hugh!" Without thinking, Zeph released his own grip.

"No! Zeph!" Suki screamed. Everything happened in less than a heartbeat. Two ropes shot from Zeph's hands. One lashed downward, wrapping tightly around Hugh's body. The other shot upward, its hooked tip catching one of the web's thick strands before locking firmly into place. An instant later, both Zeph and Hugh swung violently through the air, their bodies tossed back and forth beneath the massive web. All around them, hundreds of other participants failed to catch the strands.

Their desperate screams echoed throughout the chasm as they continued falling into the darkness below. Cold sweat ran down Zeph's back. He had no idea how he had managed to think and react so quickly. But somehow… He had saved Hugh. Zeph looked up. Both Malon and Suki had already secured themselves on the web, locking their legs firmly around the thick strands before slowly pulling the rope upward. They should be able to handle this much weight. They were Awakeners, after all. Even so, Zeph could barely hold on.

His hand was on the verge of cramping as he fought with everything he had to keep his grip. Even though the rope was connected directly to his body, the strain still traveled through his arm, making every second feel heavier than the last.