Reborn with the SSS-Rank Creator System-Chapter 11: Xiphos

A Few Hours Earlier...

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The night sky stretched endlessly above as two figures soared through the air, gliding smoothly over the vast forest below. The older of the two was a tall man with long black hair, his robes flowing despite the stillness of the wind. Suddenly, the younger boy, perhaps around Theos' age, tensed. His fingers clenched around the hilt of his weapon, and his head snapped sharply toward a distant part of the forest.

The older man abruptly paused, hovering in place as though stepping onto an invisible platform. He raised a brow, following the boy's sudden change in focus. "You can sense that from here?" he mused, his tone holding a hint of curiosity. "I wasn't planning on getting involved, but since it caught your attention, let's go see what's happening."

The two figures moved without sound, gliding effortlessly through the sky as if weightless. Below, the forest remained unaware of their silent passage, its creatures oblivious to the presence of two beings far beyond their comprehension. As they approached, they witnessed the brutal scene unfold—Theos cutting down his enemies with merciless efficiency, his killing intent saturating the air. The boy with the blindfold tightened his grip on his weapon, sensing the raw violence emanating from the lone figure below.

Present Time...

Theos steadied himself, muscles tensed, his stance unwavering despite the overwhelming presence of the two figures before him. The older man observed his reaction with a hint of amusement.

"That's a good response," the man remarked, his voice smooth yet carrying an undeniable weight. "If you can't run, then you should face what's in front of you."

Then, without warning, the man began circling Theos in mid-air, his gaze piercing as if stripping away every layer of concealment Theos might have had. Theos shuddered involuntarily, feeling as though nothing about him could remain hidden under this man's scrutiny.

"Are you from a sect? Or perhaps a noble family?" the man questioned, his tone casual yet probing.

Theos hesitated for only a fraction of a second before replying, "No, I am a lone cultivator."

It was a lie—one meant to protect his family and village. He had no idea of the man's true intentions, and he wasn't willing to risk anything by revealing too much.

The man studied him for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! You're not very good at lying, little boy. You haven't even reached Muscle Forging yet, and yet you wield this much power? That must come from an exceptional cultivation technique."

Theos said nothing, keeping his expression neutral as the man continued talking, almost as if to himself.

"Oh? You must have received a legacy, then." The man's eyes gleamed with interest. "Yes... that makes the most sense. A powerful inheritance left behind by someone great."

Theos neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply let the man reach his own conclusions, knowing that anything he said could be used against him.

The man grinned. "Yeah, that must be it."

He then turned his focus back to Theos. "Hey, boy, what's your name?"

Theos hesitated but eventually replied, "Theos."

The man chuckled. "Theos, hmm? That's a strong name for someone with great potential."

There was a brief pause before the man's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you thinking of joining a sect?"

"Yes," Theos answered, keeping his voice steady. "I will join the Red Sky Sect next year when they hold their recruitment trials."

At that, the man burst into laughter again, shaking his head. "Red Sky? Are you serious? Hahaha! Boy, your power is far beyond anything those puny sects can offer. They will never be able to nurture you properly."

Before Theos could respond, the man reached into his robes and pulled out a medallion. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward Theos.

Theos caught it instinctively, glancing down at the engraved patterns. The surface bore intricate carvings of mountains and stars—dozens of stars, some even seeming to shift as if alive.

"Theos, if you truly want to become strong, you should join the Heavenly Star Sect," the man said, his expression growing more serious. "What do you think about it?"

Theos hesitated, his mind racing. He had never heard of this sect before. He wasn't sure what to make of the man's offer. His grip on the medallion tightened as uncertainty clouded his thoughts.

After a brief pause, he asked, "Why are you doing this? Helping me?"

The man smirked. "Why not? You have the potential to become truly strong. Power like yours is rare, and I have an eye for talent. It would be a waste to let you stagnate in some nameless corner of the world. You could rise far beyond what you imagine."

His eyes gleamed as he continued, "Tell me now—do you want this opportunity or not? I have other matters to attend to."

Theos fell silent, his mind working quickly. He didn't know why, but deep down, he felt as though rejecting this offer would be a mistake—one he would never get a second chance to correct. His gaze flickered toward the blindfolded boy beside the man. The boy, who had been silent all this time, gave the faintest nod as if urging Theos to accept.

Theos inhaled deeply, then exhaled, tightening his resolve. "Yes. I want this opportunity."

"Great, great!" the man said, clearly pleased. "Listen carefully. One year from now, the Heavenly Star Sect will hold their entrance test. Go and take it. I will personally recommend you, so no one will question your background."

He pointed north. "It's about 100,000 kilometers in that direction."

Then, just as Theos was beginning to process everything, the man's smirk widened, and he turned to the blindfolded boy beside him. "Oh, and one more thing."

Before the boy could react, the man flicked his wrist, and in an instant, the boy was sent hurtling toward Theos. Theos' instincts flared, his body tensing as he braced for an attack. His Supreme Eyes activated in an instant, tracking the boy's descent with razor-sharp clarity. His muscles coiled, ready to counter, but just before impact, he realized something—the boy wasn't attacking.

Xiphos landed softly, his posture perfectly balanced, as if the air itself had cushioned his fall. Theos remained on edge for a heartbeat longer, his fists clenched, before finally exhaling, reassessing the situation. The blindfolded boy let out a small sigh, shaking his head. "I knew you would do something like this, Master."

Theos raised a brow, looking between the two of them. The man only grinned. "Theos, this is Xiphos. I was taking him to the same test, but now you have a partner. You two can go together."

Xiphos crossed his arms. "You just wanted to get rid of me, didn't you?"

The man ignored the complaint, instead addressing both of them with a wide smile. "Theos, Xiphos—get along well. You're both strong, and I'm a great judge of character, so I know you can trust each other. Don't fight, learn from each other, and grow stronger."

Then, without warning, the man's body flickered. "Well, that's all from me. See you both sometime in the future!"

With a single movement, he shot into the sky at an unimaginable speed, sonic booms echoing in his wake. His speed was beyond anything Theos had ever seen—at least Mach 7.

As the last remnants of the shockwave settled, Theos turned to Xiphos, who exhaled in exasperation. "Well... I guess we're stuck with each other now."

Theos smirked slightly. "Seems that way."

And just like that, his path took another unexpected turn.

For a moment, Theos simply stared at the newcomer, trying to process just how quickly everything had changed. He felt no immediate hostility from Xiphos, but caution lingered; this was someone thrust unexpectedly into his life. Whether ally or adversary, Theos wasn't sure yet, but he knew better than to lower his guard after all he'd endured. Was Xiphos a threat, an ally, or simply another obstacle on his path? His posture was relaxed, yet Theos had no doubt Xiphos could strike in an instant if he wished. The idea of facing an opponent he couldn't read through their eyes unsettled Theos more than he cared to admit. Was this boy truly blind, or did he possess a perception beyond normal sight?

"So," Xiphos finally broke the silence, "are we heading somewhere, or do you plan to just keep staring at me?"

Theos narrowed his eyes. He didn't sense any malice from Xiphos or the old man, but caution still weighed heavily on his mind. Bringing a stranger—no matter how benign—directly to his village was no small matter. "Before we go anywhere," Theos said slowly, his voice hardening, "I need to be sure of one thing."

A sudden, suffocating pressure erupted from Theos, his killing intent slamming into Xiphos like an invisible wall. The air grew heavy, forcing Xiphos' muscles to tense. His breathing slowed, and his grip on his sword tightened—yet he didn't flinch.

"My family and village are everything to me," Theos stated, calm but deadly. "If you so much as think of harming them, I'll kill you on the spot. Understood?"

A tense silence stretched between them before Xiphos let out a small huff. "If we intended your family harm, we wouldn't have given you warning by letting you sense us," he replied flatly, easing his stance. "But I don't blame you for being cautious."

Theos held his gaze a moment longer, then finally withdrew his killing intent. "Good." Without another word, he turned and started walking. It was nearly dawn, the horizon already painted in bands of orange and pale gold. He needed to get home—and figure out how to explain Xiphos to his parents.

Xiphos said nothing more, trailing behind Theos with silent acceptance. As they approached the village, a few early risers paused in their morning routines to glance curiously at the unfamiliar boy. Whispers passed among them, though none dared approach.

Elena was the first to spot Theos. She came running from the doorway of their modest home, a woven basket in her arms. "Theos! Where have you been all night? And who is this?"

A moment later, Samuel joined them. One sharp look at Xiphos told Theos that his father would want answers—and fast.

"It's... a long story," Theos admitted, suppressing a sigh of relief at seeing them safe. "Let's talk inside."

They gathered around the wooden table, the warm scent of morning tea lingering in the air.

"His name is Xiphos," Theos said quietly, scanning his parents' reactions. "He'll be traveling with me for a while."

Elena's brow furrowed, maternal worry clear in her expression. "Traveling? Where?"

Samuel's focus never wavered from Theos. "Explain."

And so Theos did—he told them of the old man's abrupt arrival, the invitation to the Heavenly Star Sect, and how Xiphos had effectively been dropped into his care. He strategically omitted the details of his confrontation in the forest, not wanting to alarm them further.

When he finished, Elena let out a slow breath. "You're still so young, Theos... Do you have to go?"

Theos met her gaze with quiet resolve. "I must. If I want to protect you—and everyone else here—I need to become stronger."

Samuel nodded after a lengthy pause. "And him?" He flicked his eyes toward Xiphos. "Can he be trusted?"

Xiphos stepped forward calmly, addressing both parents. "I won't harm Theos or you," he said. "My sole purpose is to grow stronger, just as he does."

For a moment, Samuel studied him, or at least what lay behind that blindfold. Finally, he nodded. "We'll hold you to your word."

Elena approached her son, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Be safe, Theos. That's all I ask."

Theos nodded. "I will, Mama."

The rest of the day passed in hushed conversations and hesitant acceptance. Elena, ever the caregiver, prepared a hearty meal to feed both boys. The house's warm glow contrasted the lingering heaviness of the situation. Xiphos spoke only when necessary, his answers polite yet distant. He seemed unused to this sort of domestic closeness.

During dinner, amidst the clinking of bowls and the soft murmur of voices, something changed. Theos, who'd been watching Xiphos for any sign of ill intent, caught a fleeting smile crossing the blindfolded boy's lips. It vanished almost immediately, but it had been there.

The sound of gentle conversation, the occasional chuckle from Samuel, and Elena's soft humming as she refilled their bowls created an atmosphere that Xiphos hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity.

As he sat at the table, listening to Theos and his parents talk, something stirred within him—a faint yet unfamiliar emotion. He had been prepared for hostility, suspicion, or even rejection, but instead, he was met with warmth. No one pried into his past, no one treated him like an outsider or an obligation. He wasn't just the blindfolded boy with a sword—he was simply Xiphos, sharing a meal under a roof that, for the first time in a long while, felt like home.

------A/N----------

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