Solaris' Strongest Resonator

Lucian observed everything from a perspective detached from the events themselves.

Once again, he began to ponder whether the next turn of the story might introduce a sheep unlike any other—one that refused to submit to the shepherd and was ultimately driven out of the village.

After all, Scar seemed to fancy himself the all-seeing sage, while he—or rather, the Fractsidus—would play the role of the outlier in this tale.

This way, they could achieve their goal of making Rover approve of their actions.

With this in mind, he turned to Rover and silently reminded her, "Don’t forget what we just discussed."

Gathering the scattered clues one by one, they noticed that the Tick Tack Tacet Discord seemed to be leading the way.

The two followed it until they stopped before a small, raised mound of earth.

A corner of another tattered picture book peeked out from the mound.

Rover pulled it out and brushed off the dirt.

The drawing depicted a flock of white sheep surrounding a single black sheep, while the shepherd watched silently from above the town.

Scar: "Day and night, the flock held bonfire parties, celebrating the shepherd’s arrival—all except... the black sheep among them."

"Under the cover of night, only the black sheep noticed that the number of lambs was gradually dwindling."

Lucian let out a long sigh and cut him off. "I think there’s no need to see how the rest of the story unfolds."

Scar (surprised): "Oh? Have you lost interest in what happens next?"

Lucian shrugged. "Aren’t you just saying that you’re the black sheep?"

"The one that breaks the rules."

Scar froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha..."

"I’ve underestimated you. The story hasn’t even ended, yet you’ve already guessed its conclusion."

"Why don’t you tell me—what does the story look like in your eyes? And how does it end?"

Lucian wiped the dried blood off his Blade.

"Actually, you’ve been telling us the ending from the very beginning, haven’t you?"

"Blind worship, wavering kindness, lies known to all, lives taken at will... and that small yet special existence, pushed to its death by the masses."

"The shepherd fulfills his wishes at the cost of the other sheep. The flock knows the truth and becomes complicit, eliminating the black sheep that broke the rules."

Scar (smiling): "Your guess is spot-on. I never expected you to be the first to see through the truth."

"Well then, the story is over. I assume you both understand the truth of the village now."

"The black sheep that rebelled against the rules. The white sheep that bowed to power and greed, selfish to the core."

"The sacrificed maiden. The villagers—greedy, cold, persecuting one another, branding their own as heretics..."

Scar’s voice turned sinister. "...They brought this upon themselves."

"All it takes is pushing the rebel onto the execution stand to intimidate the flock, win hearts, and maintain the unshakable established order..."

"By the way, why did you assume I was the black sheep and not the shepherd?"

Lucian: "There’s only one innocent party in this—the black sheep."

"Since you want to win Rover over, you naturally wouldn’t place yourself on the side that appears villainous."

Scar clapped his hands and laughed. "Your mind is sharper than your combat skills."

He said meaningfully, "It seems you, an unplanned variable, might just become a wildcard after all..."

Rover finally caught on. "The dragon-slayer eventually becomes the dragon."

Scar (grinning darkly): "Hahaha... fascinating, Rover. I’m growing fonder of you by the minute."

Lucian: "Rover only needs my fondness."

Scar materialized a crimson card between his fingers and slammed it onto the ground.

"In that case, let’s see if this black sheep will be as easily crushed as you predict!"

A dark red domain surged around them, enveloping all three.

In the next instant, a white light flashed in Rover and Lucian’s eyes, and they were instantly transported elsewhere...

...

Crumbling ruins, fluttering cards, the scent of gunpowder thick in the air.

Scar’s voice echoed from the void. "Infinite and endless, lost in chaos..."

"Take this time to think carefully—what truly is the right path?"

Lucian tightened his grip on his sword and glanced at Rover.

"Rover, let’s fight side by side."

He pulled out his terminal and pressed it lightly. Three streaks of light flashed, summoning a Stonewall Bracer and two Violet-Feathered Herons before them.

The heron named "Handsome Lucian" was kept in reserve.

After all, since becoming a Resonator, he could also enhance his strength by manifesting as an Echo.

Just then, a group of phantom Fractsidus followers charged at them, armed with an assortment of weapons.

But in Lucian’s eyes, these believers were nothing more than minor obstacles.

He smirked, exchanged a look with Rover, and sprang into action.

Lucian swiftly activated his Aero (Wind) Resonance ability, gathering all the enemies together while simultaneously striking them with Blood Saber, dealing significant damage.

Rover, in silence, cut them down one by one.

Working in perfect sync, the two swiftly eliminated every foe.

After dealing with these "appetizers," they approached an illusory gate—its edges glowing white, its center pulsing red.

Without hesitation, as if sharing a single mind, they stepped through.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived in an entirely new place.

The environment here was completely different, putting Lucian on edge.

It seemed Scar possessed space-related Resonance abilities—which explained how he had teleported Yangyang away.

The thought made Lucian frown.

Meanwhile, Scar stood calmly at the center of the arena, as if waiting for their arrival.

"Do you wish to become the shepherd who creates the rules... or the black sheep who breaks them?"

"If a sane man lives alone among madmen, do you call him the only sane one... or the sole aberrant lunatic?"

"Think about it—the shepherd is not the embodiment of absolute truth. If he were to vanish completely, and the black sheep gained trust..."

"...Then the world would no longer have categories like ’perpetrator’ and ’victim’!"

With those words, Scar raised his gun—two cards shot out, hurtling toward them.

At this moment, Lucian had the buff from ’Wander with Rover’.

His Blood Saber had also leveled up to Lv. 2, unlocking a new skill: Bloodblade Barrage.

This was a consecutive slashing technique—each strike faster and fiercer than the last, forming an unrelenting onslaught.

At Lv. 2, Lucian began to feel that Sword was no longer quite enough.