Chapter 1044: Assertion of Power
After leaving Milhwa Island and the ruined academy, the plan had been to head to South Drywall, where Northern’s acquaintances—and possibly family—waited, so they could strategize and determine their next move.
However, upon reaching Verulania, they discovered the city was once again under siege. Moreover, Ascendant Zion and the drifters had suffered devastating damage.
Bairan alone plunged into the raging battlefield in Verulania and crushed it within ten minutes.
Afterward, they settled in Verulania briefly. Lynus and Jeci briefed them, reporting the bizarre shadow storm and its erratic behavior.
It had nearly annihilated them all, then suddenly retreated and vanished without a trace. Then another wave of monsters swarmed them.
Many perished, but Braham was instrumental in minimizing their casualties. For once, he was intensely focused and didn’t demand outrageous compensation to save lives.
He recognized they were in dire straits, so he acted with urgency, and they all fought together to preserve one another. Though it seemed almost effortless, they nearly died until Bairan descended into the fray.
Afterward, they continued toward Drywall, only to discover another nation just beyond vast Verulania—also under vicious monster assault.
This time, only Abyss Tyrant ended the carnage, and they pressed on.
Their journey slowed drastically as they began intervening in every battle they encountered, until they reached Welster.
Beyond Welster, they believed they would finally reach Drywall—at least according to Ascendant Zion and Selis, who knew the Central Plain better than most.
Along the way, after a day, Northern also awakened and joined the mission to neutralize threats. He understood the stakes: the sooner they could halt these battles, the faster chaos would stop feeding Kryos the strength he needed to break free.
Northern had contemplated the sinister bond both father and son shared with Chaos—not far-fetched, considering Kryos might have devoured his son to become an Origin.
Before that transformation, he was connected to bloodshed and madness, which explained why he could master Chaos as an Origin. What Northern didn’t yet understand was why Kryos had been imprisoned.
Countless rumors surrounded the reason: the other Origins considered him an outcast and had never trusted him. He was too dangerous, so they locked him away.
Northern refused to believe any of it yet. But he suspected the most plausible reason was simply that Kryos was an Origin of Chaos.
Should Chaos have an Origin embodied in physical form? Wouldn’t that create catastrophic imbalance?
The same applied to Void. Weren’t both forces too primordial to be contained?
These were merely Northern’s musings. He believed they needed to understand their enemy to defeat it, so he was already preparing for the worst-case scenario.
They all were.
They were preparing to battle an Origin.
And they were grateful it was only one.
The atmosphere had grown tense, and Northern had been obsessing over how to grow stronger—specifically, over Endless. That’s why he sat perched on the ship’s bow when it descended.
Northern stood considerably taller than Eli, forcing the man to crane his neck slightly.
"Rian. The boy the scouts mentioned—the one with multiple talents?"
He sounded mildly surprised.
"I heard you were quite young, though... Seventeen, according to your profile."
Northern nodded.
"I am seventeen."
Eli stared with uncertainty, squinting.
"You... can’t possibly be."
Northern smiled.
"I am."
Meanwhile, Nahia spotted Selis Vorn approaching.
"Selis! You were supposed to return four days ago! What happened?"
Nahia could barely restrain herself. The only reason she remained beside Eli was because it was Eli—every fiber of her being wanted to leap forward and embrace the approaching young woman.
Selis bowed respectfully.
"Lady Nahia. I apologize. Much transpired."
Behind them, Ascendant Zion, Jeci, Lynus, Raven, Annette, Vida, Helena, and Bairan also arrived.
Nahia embraced Selis, examining her with tender care while Northern surveyed their surroundings.
"It seems the Caelvyn Citadel has provided Welster with all necessary aid."
Eli slipped his other hand into his robe and straightened, studying Northern.
"Yes. Most enemies have been slaughtered—the scattered remnants in other cities are being eliminated."
Northern’s smile broadened with satisfaction.
"Excellent. It’s reassuring to know there are dependable allies."
Eli stared at him, blinking.
*This boy...*
"That’s quite humble of you to say, considering you’re a Sage. You think the world needs you to survive?"
Northern regarded him blankly, then laughed—a brief, sharp sound. His expression hardened as he locked eyes with the Headmaster.
"I didn’t used to... but recently, I’ve realized the world does need me to survive. The world cannot endure without me. Over three days, my crew and I have rescued eleven nations from annihilation. While you’ve remained here... in your homeland... defending it alone."
He fixed the man with an indifferent stare, though a dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.
"Not every nation has a Paragon—in fact, most places my crew and I saved didn’t even have an Ascendant."
Northern glanced at the lady, then back at Eli.
"Yet you had multiple Paragons to assist you... seriously, be realistic. Nothing was particularly humble about my statement—it was simply factual."
Eli and Nahia fell silent. The boy had struck home. If his claims were true—that he’d saved eleven nations in three days while they’d spent those same days fighting solely for themselves—then weren’t they the ones being presumptuous to challenge his words?
Eli lowered his head slightly.
"I apologize... Sage Rian. I misunderstood."
Northern frowned.
*Huh? He apologized?*
He’d never expected such a direct approach to actually work. He’d assumed everyone in the Central Plains was fiercely proud, especially Paragons.
Somehow, people consistently underestimated his power when facing him. Or was he the one who hadn’t been assertive enough about it?
This encounter made him question that assumption.
"It’s quite alright, sir."
Northern scanned the area one final time.
"There’s little happening here now, so I believe we’re free to depart."
Northern stepped back, but the Headmaster called out.
"Sage Rian."
Northern half-turned, paused, and faced the young man again.
"Yes?"
"Do you know what’s happening? With the Central Plains..."
Northern shrugged.
"A Tyrant is using our continent as farmland to cultivate Chaos for an Origin’s prison break. Well... it’s nearly succeeded, actually. I doubt anything we do will stop it at this point."
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