Heir of Chaos: Blade of Death

Chapter 5 - The Nine

Silence stretched on for what seemed like eternity… there was this questioning expression on their faces.

When had he stood before the mirror and they didn't remember it. But a few seconds later, everything returned back to normal… training was the following day, so if they didn't see his aspect ability today, they will see what it is tomorrow… and continuously until they all graduate from Echelon high school.

From the moment a human awakens, there's already a huge responsibility on their shoulders… the government, the city… protectors! Saving the city in desperate times is what they were being made for. 

The coordinator sighed… 

“Alright, since you've all discerned your aspect ability, we will commence with training tomorrow… for now you don't have to be anywhere at the moment because you've not learnt control over mana and even your aspect ability. You could decimate the town so the ten of you will have to camp in the school. Information will be passed to your family on behalf of your absence.”

Rime frowned.

He tried to sense his aspect ability. 

The coordinator was right. His energy channels were chaotic, like he would unleash it… something prevented him from doing so. And even for some reason, his mana was slowly depleting and he did not know how to manage it.

With such abnormalities, he might just destroy his family home… his mother didn't have another place to stay so he better keep it safe by staying in the school.

A few seconds later the experts left them alone… Principal Tade also had work so it was just the newly awakened that remained on the fifth floor with a warning not to step out.

They knew that some of them would rebel so they placed an energy barrier to prevent anyone from stepping out of the fifth floor.

Rime stared at everyone while sitting at a corner, observing the crowd from where he sat. Then he realized something.

Six of the nine had formed an alliance and they turned into bullies since the aspect ability they awakened seemed to be of higher grade. 

Actually, their aspects haven't been graded yet because of what happened earlier… After memories were wiped, everyone involved was mentally stressed to continue the process so they needed to rest for a bit. But it seems like most of the new awakened could tell the potency in their aspect. 

The vine guy, Curt, wasn't even the leader of the group… to think that his own aspect caused the most commotion. Even Fiona, who has an aspect that has to do with void beasts, wasn't at the top… If at all, she's ranked the bottom of the top graded aspect.

Now the remaining four which included him will be subjects for their torment.

“Hey Minsu… hahaha, what was your aspect again? Flowers…. Apparently, he could cover the entire school with harmless flowers. What a trashy ability.”

Rime's brows knotted.

There's this flashy kid. After Fiona stepped out to face the mirror, it was this kid Gareth. Technically, his aspect ability was terrifying. Rime remembered that he could control the human mind and also human emotions. It was like a single aspect, granting him different abilities.

Back then, Bruce's shields guarded him from physical attack… but his mind was assaulted. His emotions were also assaulted very badly. Now here he is, acting all high and mighty because there's no doubt there… an aspect ability like his is definitely insidious.

Rime took mental notes… 

‘He will be a formidable enemy.’

Not to even forget that every awakened person has impressive inhuman strength.

Rime watched Gareth walk towards Minsu and pulled his chin up in mockery…

“What more can you do with that aspect ability? Can it move like Curt’s vines? Can it strangle someone?”

Then he snorted…

“Trash isn't supposed to be amongst us.”

“Hey…” 

Gareth turned towards a cool young lady.

“Nala… if I remember correctly, your aspect only allow you conjure a fireball… A harmless fireball.”

Nala walked towards Gareth and sneered.

“Do you think that we will remain trash forever? Don't you know that there's more we can do with our aspects if we train it?”

Gareth could not hide his amusement.

“Train it? Train a pathetic aspect, probably D-graded. A D-grade aspect ability offers minimal benefits you know. And it will affect your future growth. So I guess that future you dream of will be squashed in a few more years.”

Nala smiled softly revealing stunning beauty.

“We haven't even gone through the grading process and yet you're giving grades like you know what it is. Before you make assumptions, check it properly.”

Rime watched the drama with open curiosity, but didn't dare make a comment. If anything, he wanted everyone not to make out his presence. But of course, not every wish will come true.

“Hey Gareth… leave someone who discerned their aspect for now… this guy, I'm not sure he discerned his because how can we not know what it is?” Orion said with his head tilted in Rime's direction.

Gareth was suddenly curious.

“Hey man, what is your aspect ability?”

Rime answered.

“You'll get to see it tomorrow.”

The blue haired guy Orion jumped down from where he sat and swaggered towards Rime and snorted. “Hey… we can choose to attack you at this moment and you'll have no choice but to defend yourself by using it. Do you dare?”

Rime stared at that look in his eyes but completely ignored him… Bruce's shields were currently invisible to the naked eyes. So he did not need to be pushed into using his aspect ability.

“Like I said, it can only be displayed tomorrow at the grading process.”

Gareth smiled darkly and said…

“But I can find out for myself. I am already in your head.” 

Rime shrugged. 

“You won't see anything.”

Rime had forgotten… he could only feel that his ability is potent and active, but he didn't know what it was. And just like he had said; Gareth didn't see anything. To Gareth, it felt like Rime had hidden everything from him.

To someone with an aspect like mind manipulation and emotions, it is much easier getting a hang of the ability since it wasn't more about channeling and releasing but more of thoughts and concentration. But then what aspect did he have that someone of his caliber could not invade his mind.

Gareth immediately shouted.

“Orion, Curt… get him to defend himself.”

Curt was still struggling with his aspect so he opted out. “I… uh, I might expend too much mana. You know I shouldn't be out of it.” He chuckled nervously.

But Orion did not back away.

“You fucker…”

Then his body bloated out as beastly scales replaced what used to be a pristine white skin. Plus his clothes seemed to tear off his body…

Rime shivered.

Orion here awakened a beast power. He could morph into any beast at all provided that he knows their details to perfection. And the beast he'd taken its form is the one that had almost killed him as a child. 

A gateway had mysteriously appeared and the experience, hiding behind his father as he watched him struggle to contain just one of that beast…

Now… he had taken the form of that beast and boy, it was huge. Even Rime felt a chill glaring at such ferocity. The beast that Orion had become actually towered two meters. Such freakish height.

However when Orion lunged towards Rime, the invisible barrier glistened. The beast's strength pushed Orion's physical power to terrifying degrees and since it was just brute force, he struggled to control it, but he was actually doing fine. 

If there wasn't any shield, that force would have caused all of Rime's teeth to fall off.

Then Fiona shouted.

“He can create forcefields… look at it.”

Gareth immediately snickered.

“Is it forcefield that he would actually hide from his own brain? There is more to just him being able to create forcefields.”