Awakening: I Ascend As A Legendary Ranked Necromancer-Chapter 42: Who’s the leader?

Thayer explained, "Zones are formed from a buildup of energy, right? There’s always a place where that energy is most concentrated, that’s the strongest point. We call that the center. It’s where monsters are drawn in from other places."

From his spatial ring, he brought out an artifact. It was a round, smooth ball the color of the sun.

"This is a Gold-rank artifact," he said proudly.

We all looked at it. I tried to sense it, but the small ball remained still and silent with no waves of power coming from it.

I felt nothing special from it. "What does it do?"

"It’s a dungeon regulator. Place it at the center of the zone, and it will regulate the flow of mana there, controlling how many monsters can come through." Thayer cradled the golden ball. I could tell this thing was important....important enough that remembering its cost made him wince.

"It’ll eventually turn into a zone core and will be able to do much more for the zone. Every team will be racing for the center. The first to place this there wins."

"So that’s how you claim a zone," Litha said. "Then how do we know where the center is? I’m assuming you don’t mean the literal center."

Thayer placed the zone regulator on the table.

"The center is wherever the mana is thickest. It concentrates there, causing rifts in space that twist the environment. It’s usually surrounded by the strongest, meanest monsters. Think of it as the boss room in a dungeon. I’ll give you something that points in the direction of the center."

"Now that all of that is settled, let me introduce you..."

I already knew Tim. The woman sitting beside Thayer was called Cele, and the beast-man was Dile.

"...and this is Litha. All of you are among the strongest in the current set of climbers."

"But you’re strong too, Thayer," I said, raising my brows. "Why aren’t you going?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Because I’m a Guildmaster.....to be. Honestly, I’ll stay outside to smooth things over from this side. Building a Guild is one of the most difficult things to do in the Tower." He sighed.

Temur shifted beside me. "Who’s going to be the captain? The leader of the team?"

Thayer dropped a card on the table. "I’ll leave that for you to decide, since you’ll be the ones entering the zone." He stood. "I’ll be back in two days to pick you up. Here’s some money buy whatever you need to prepare."

With quick strides, he closed the door firmly behind him and left.

An awkward silence followed. I grimaced as we all looked at one another, then away. I hadn’t imagined I’d be sharing a room with this many people when I stepped out earlier.

I sighed in a tired way. "So... who wants to be the leader?"

Tim pointed at me. "Don’t you want to be?"

No.

I don’t want to be.

Most Awakeners had fought in dungeons back in their worlds before climbing the Tower. They had something I didn’t....experience. There would be time to lead later. For now, I needed to watch and learn.

"I don’t want to be the leader," I said aloud.

Tim grinned. "You’re the one who defeated me. If you don’t want to lead, then I can’t either."

We both turned to the others.

Dile closed his eyes. "I don’t want to either. I would’ve liked to, but my abilities don’t allow me to lead effectively in battle."

Cele, Temur, and Litha exchanged looks. Cele, a red-haired woman with orange eyes, spoke up. "I will lead."

Litha bristled. She didn’t want the role, but she clearly didn’t want someone from Thayer’s team leading either. I could tell she would’ve preferred me. Instead, she turned to Temur, and their eyes met.

He sighed. "I want to lead too."

"Unfortunately, we can only have one leader," I pointed out, even though it didn’t help.

"I am the leader of Team C among Thayer’s teams," Cele said firmly. "I’m a fire mage. I can command from the rear while supporting with my long range spells."

"I stay at the front and keep track of how the fight is going," Temur countered. "I’m a warrior. I think it’s best if I lead." He didn’t sound eager, just resigned. With contracts involved, control mattered just as much.

"Are we voting?" Dile asked, sounding completely uninterested.

I smiled, a glint in my eyes. "Why don’t we do what Awakeners always do to decide things like this? A duel! A fight!"

Temur groaned. Tim laughed. Litha sighed, but nodded.

"I agree," Cele said confidently. As a fire mage, she trusted her firepower.

Temur had no choice but to agree as well.

We went downstairs and out into town, renting a training ground for two gold coins. We gathered around as Cele and Temur stepped onto a square stone platform.

"Ready when you are," Cele said from the opposite side. Her Grimoire manifested as a furnace, burning steadily behind her.

Temur weighed his options and chose his weapon. "I am ready."

I raised a brow when he picked a shield, but it made sense. Fire and sword didn’t mix well.

But then he added a sword.

Litha brought her hand down sharply. "First hit wins. Fight!"

Fireballs bloomed around Cele, her eyes glowing orange. She didn’t hesitate, sending them flying toward Temur. He weaved between them, aura coating his body as he moved.

Cele grinned. "You think you can dodge my fireballs and get close? You’re not the first to try! Spinning Inferno!"

A whirlwind of fire erupted between them, the air cracking with dry heat, and with a sharp gesture, she sent it lashing toward Temur’s head.

I held my breath, expecting him to dodge.

Instead, Temur swung his sword, cutting through the air. Aura burst outward, tearing the fire whirlwind apart and splitting it in two. In that opening, he hurled his shield.

It struck with a heavy blast.

Cele grunted as the metal shield slammed into her stomach, lifting her off the ground and sending her sprawling. When her vision cleared, Temur’s sword was pointed at her throat.

She fell back, breathing hard through clenched teeth.

"You win."