Second Genesis

Grey lay on the sand, his white hair completely inundated with the coarse earth. Let alone his hair, he could feel it in his throat.

Today was already the second day, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite seem to progress Goblin Warlord Spirit to Active Link. He felt like he was using it better than ever before, like his body was more adept with it despite the fact it had only progressed to Level 7 from Level 6.

But still, it wasn’t at Active Link.

Funny enough, there was a moment there where Edmun had almost thought he reached it. The old man smiled and was about to congratulate him when he frowned and stopped.

He thought that Grey hadn’t noticed so he hadn’t said anything about it, but Grey hadn’t missed it. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Grey had somewhat felt it back then as well.

If he had to describe his current state, maybe it was some sort of halfway point between Passive Link and Active Link, his speed definitely being something that caught the old man off guard.

But it still wasn’t good enough.

Honestly speaking, Grey kind of just wanted to see what the Holy Knight Trial had to offer him first before he considered anything else. Maybe he was just too arrogant, or maybe he had gotten too used to dying and wanted to use it as a get out of jail free card, but he was itching for it.

The monotony of constant battles with an enemy he could never defeat was thrilling at first, but it had begun to wear on even him.

He hadn’t even managed to nick the old man in the last several days. Though, he had passed out about a good seven times.

Every time, he woke up brimming with energy and an IV drip in his arm.

Every time it was just the very same failure again and again.

Grey sighed inwardly and Edmun didn’t seem to have answers for him either.

While he assumed the both of them were Resonant Types, the old knight had seen Grey’s Neural Frame and knew that it was anything but simple. There was just no way that was a normal Resonant Frame.

He didn’t even know how to classify Grey.

Honestly, when he thought he sensed Grey break through, he had tried to hide his shock with praise. That was why his reaction was so overt.

In reality, even if Grey took a full three months and still didn’t make the breakthrough, Edmun would feel that that was about right. Reaching Active Link was already difficult enough, let alone doing so with an Ability not tied to a Frame.

This was a trouble that all Holy Knights had to go through. If you couldn’t, then you just weren’t worthy of being a Holy Knight.

Every one of them had awakened their Holy Frame without a single Ability, and they had to pass through their trials without them.

Because he had seen Grey’s talent, he had been a bit more ambitious, though. Usually, they would learn simple Abilities, ones like Strength Control or single attack Abilities like a Slash or Cut.

These simple, one-focus Abilities, or ones utilizing abilities that they were very familiar with were the most common amongst new Holy Knights and the sorts that gave them the best chance of success.

But they had skipped all of that with Grey.

’Maybe this is my fault. It is the first time I’ve taught a student. I got over-eager.’

Edmun shook his head. "Tell you what, Grey. You’ve worked hard these last two days, I think it’s time for a break. Once you come back, I’ll have a new training plan for you."

Grey didn’t respond, still gasping for breath.

"Also, Baron Giyoto has come several times asking after you, so you might want to go and thank him. I believe he said something about a certain Gnome’s shop and how it might have to be passed down to someone else if you took too long to come and claim what was yours."

Grey still didn’t respond.

That Baron wasn’t going to be giving that shop to anyone else, he was certain of it. It was definitely going to be his. Baron Giyoto needed him, and now Grey was an even more valuable asset.

Grey wasn’t sure what the Baron needed even now. But what he did know was that there was no better person than Grey.

He was just trying to force whatever little control he had back into the situation. After Grey awakened a Holy Frame, things had most definitely gone awry and the Baron had probably spent the last two days rethinking things.

’But maybe this is what I need.’

Grey pulled himself up from the ground, his abs glistening with his own sweat.

’Damn, I need a shower.’

"Alright old man, I’ll be back in a few hours. I don’t feel sleepy at all right now. But I do want to eat. Then I’ll consider other things."

"Consider?" Edmun raised an eyebrow. Then he shook his head.

Considering how little respect Grey had for a Vanguard Class elite Holy Knight like himself, it was no wonder he didn’t show any respect for Baron Giyoto either.

It was almost amusing. But Edmun knew that if Grey wasn’t his disciple he would be a lot more pissed about it.

However, it was because of the young man’s lack of care that his mind was so free and clear to pursue exactly what he wanted. Grey might be a little rough around the edges but what was undoubtable was the fact he was someone who worked hard.

In these two days, Grey hadn’t asked for mercy a single time. After this rest, he would have undoubtedly jumped right back into it.

Edmun looked down at his hands and he found his wrists trembling. Part of that was strain from old age, but the other was a hint of excitement. It was like Grey had awakened something within him that he thought had faded away a long time ago.

An excitement for battle.

Edmun took a deep breath and exhaled.

While Grey was gone, he would figure out a new action plan. He couldn’t let such a talented disciple go down the wrong road, but he also couldn’t get too over-eager either.

He needed to find a balance.

Since Grey had made so much progress with an Ability that seemed to be far more complicated, Edmun would pick a few middle-of-the-road Abilities. With Grey’s talent, he should be able to learn and adapt to them quickly. Then, maybe once there was a foundation, other things would flow easier.

Only then could they take some risks and go for broke.

Grey wasn’t thinking along the lines Edmun was at all, though. All he cared about was seeing what secrets he could squeeze out of Baron Giyoto.

That and he was going to see if there was an opportunity to kill a certain fake-smiling cunt.