Rising god-Chapter 109: Second greatest thing

Baines’s composure shattered, his face betraying the most shock since his quest for vengeance began. His mind blanked as the registrar’s words echoed like a thunderclap. The unease that had plagued him all morning. This was the reason for it.

The woman’s further explanations fell on deaf ears as she sighed and left, leaving Baines reeling.

Obviously, it wasn’t him as he was standing here, alive and well. However, it was the implication.

He had been gathering achievement upon achievement and didn’t think anyone would hate him to the point of even trying to kill him.

’I have been too naïve,’ He looked down at himself. Just like the underground organizations in Darkan who only saw him as a hindrance, it was the same here.

’How could I have expected everyone to like me?’ Not that he cared about that in the first place.

The last time anyone had actively tried to kill him was in the free principalities. Ever since he began his revenge, he had been the one aiming for his enemies, not the other way around.

’I should’ve factored in the fact that there would be people I unknowingly harm in the process of my achievements.’ After a while, he took a deep breath, then another.

’So, they aimed for him.’ He didn’t know how to feel. If he were there, he would’ve escaped, no doubt; however, it was the impact.

He wasn’t safe. Even in one of the most secure places in the empire, he wasn’t safe.

’Could it be the Black Sun?’ The empire’s official rebels and the largest underground organization. ’Who else could do this?’ Baines fell into his thoughts. The names he was thinking of weren’t aligned with something like this.

’Could it be them?’ His thoughts went to the Sable assassins. Bleeding eye and reversed dagger. It wasn’t out of place that they noticed him and struck. ’Or, it could be another group no one knows of,’ He exhaled once more.

He was still in the process of searching for his family. He couldn’t stop to deal with assassins aiming for his life?

Even then, he checked himself again. There was a reason he couldn’t even boldly come out and announce his real name or purpose, and why he had to take extra care when he moved.

He was still weak.

’I need to push harder,’ He reaffirmed and looked down at the treasure he just acquired.

***

The academy, Zorath, and the Sun Palace awoke to the morning’s report:

-Jin Malakar was assassinated.

The news shook the empire. It wasn’t even funny. This was a future pillar of the empire they were talking of; however, he fell so soon?

If the brains in the empire hadn’t already known about it, they would’ve directly sent people to investigate. However, an investigation still had to be carried out. Anyone bold enough to attack such an important place could do far worse.

One shouldn’t forget, he died on the premises of the moon tower. This was enough to sour the relationship between the two territories, but they knew more.

However, the same couldn’t be said about the citizens.

They vented fury, but as days passed, their outrage waned. Jin’s legend became a cautionary tale of young talents falling before their prime. However, that didn’t change the jealous ones from shouting their lungs out.

They explained that he fabricated his level and lost without being able to put up much of a fight. Their reason was the strange strategies he used to win battles. Eventually, he was only known for his strategies, not his strength.

In the emperor’s chamber, Ar’den Gel Sol’aris chuckled, reading the report. "Wow, if we didn’t know better, he’d have tricked the entire empire." He glanced at the Third Imperial Commander. But he couldn’t help but think, ’Did he also know something like that would happen?’

Kiol remained silent, then spoke. "Your Highness, it’s time to uncover his origins. Now that ’Jin’ is dead, we must know everything before he reappears."

The emperor nodded, his ethereal eyes narrowing. "What do you suggest?"

"We..." Kiol began, his plan unfolding, the emperor’s eyes widening with each word.

"Do it," Ar’den commanded.

...

Three weeks later, the furor had subsided.

It had already been four months since Baines holed himself in the sun tower. So, due to his progress and something else, he decided to take a stroll around the academy. In his light gold flowing robe that identified him as a mage of the sun tower and his ordinary features, he perfectly blended into the surrounding area.

’I have been able to learn magic,’ He looked down as mana flowed around his hand. It felt different than aura. Just imagine receiving something through struggle, and another just by studying. That was how it felt.

There were so many methods to draw mana into the body, and what he chose were circles to store them. He wanted each circle to wrap around his stars, and for now, he had formed three circles.

’It’s convenient,’ If Baines had to describe it, it was that, convenient. It came with the simple command spells like dash, clean, buff, and others like that. A person who had never fought in their life could suddenly begin displaying inhuman abilities. If that wasn’t convenient, what was?

There were also the techniques. He had already absorbed some knowledge from the silent staff, the Silvers’ wind techniques, some from the library on magic, and the two books he got before leaving Darkan.

One was a 9th star technique, and the second was on ’Flow’, just what he needed, which connected to the main reason he was outside.

He wanted to see how others used it. Their styles, patterns, and techniques he wanted to see what he could pick from them. After getting an idea from the tattooed person in the underground fights, he thought he could get another clue by just watching others.

Finally, he held up a book.

After finding his brother, maybe this was the second greatest thing that had happened to him.

Basically, this book could take him anywhere he wanted. Without explaining to anyone, he could get to anywhere he wanted to, and without getting tracked.

Soon, he reached the sparring arena. Students sparred against each other over almost any little thing. Food, clothes, accommodation, even girls, they fought in this arena, and anyone could come to spectate at any time.

Today, it was just some random students sparring, and others waiting for their turn. The spectating seats were sparse with people, and Baines just took his seat.

All of a sudden,

"It’s been a while, Sir Jin." A voice came from his side.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel