Chapter 319 The Group Leader
Northern stared intently for a couple of seconds, inspecting every inch of Fano's abilities.
As expected, he had some really amazing fire techniques. It'd be very cool to have them for himself.
However, Northern had come to the limit of talent he could copy right now. He wasn't even sure he could copy the talent like that.
What he could do, however, was substitute the name for his own and gain the abilities for a certain duration. Even that was limited and not permanent because Nameless was an overwhelming space of emptiness in his soul that would consume anything that tries to occupy it.
Which meant that should he hold on to the name longer than he should, he'd lose it.
Northern guessed that this trouble was from Chaos and Void, and the reason why Chaos and Void can find compatibility with him is because he did not have a core.
However, the names stood a very great use, apart from being used as shards to improve his attributes.
Northern could bestow these names to his summons. He wasn't sure if he could do it to anyone aside from his summons.
But he had clearly inspected it and saw that he could give his summons names that he steals from other monsters, or people.
Which was why Northern decided to start stealing names.
Although, stealing Fano's name was the only way to render him harmless and bearable through the next few steps that they'll be taking to confront Sura.
Instead of Fano's power going back to Sura, he'd be taking it.
But he was also sure that Sura would probably know the instant that happened... he didn't know what to expect from an enemy that is already expecting them.
Northern was unsure what to do in a time like this, but at the very least, it wasn't like they had any other choice but to go forward.
So they were just going to go forward.
The one thing he was certain of was that–
'I cannot die...'
He had too many cards up his sleeves to go down that path.
Northern slowly extended his hand forward, the air humming with a silent anticipation of what he was to do.
[You have no essence, you have no identity, you are a storm that seeks to swallow and steal the identity and essence of everything around you. Nameless. Your path to ruin extends further before you]
[Do you want to absorb True Name: Ignis Dominus]
Northern nodded slightly and internally responded:
'Yes'
Immediately, Fano opened his mouth and eyes wide. He could feel something leaving his body. Inasmuch as he had instinctively tried to wriggle himself out of Northern's grip, his strength ran away quickly.
And in the next couple of beats, he dropped to the ground, the red tint at the tip of his hair slowly faded, returning to black.
Northern stared at his hand, clenched and opened it. Even though it was slight, he could feel the increase in strength within his soul.
And a little bit of his Void Essence was also replenished.
With mouths gaping and in different languages, Raven and Cal simultaneously asked:
"What did you do to him?"
Northern stared at them, hesitating for a moment, whether or not to really tell them.
'Well, it does nothing for them to know...'
"I took his true name," he said particularly to Raven.
Raven frowned. "What did you say, you took his true name? How's that even possible?"
Northern sighed.
"It's possible because of my true name."
"You have a true name?"
"Of course, I do. Practically everyone does."
Raven's eyes stayed glued on him for a couple of seconds, then she deeply inhaled and exhaled.
She folded her arms, looked away, and when she turned her head back to Northern, her face was all scrunched up and almost pouting.
Making Northern wonder, 'Did I do something wrong?'
Ignoring her the next second, he looked at Cal who clearly understood what he just said, or at the very least got the idea of it.
He was beginning to reconsider whether Cal understood their common language too. Or as Fano had said, anyone with a semblance of intelligence could puzzle the words together.
Cal's voice interrupted the air.
"So, what do we do now... Sura will be expecting us."
Northern nodded and tapped his shoulder.
"I understand your fears and I've been there. Chin up and own your gut, the last thing that could happen to us is death."
Cal gave him an unimpressed look.
"You do realize that dying means you will cease to exist."
Northern looked at Raven and pulled Fano up–the poor guy had lost the majority of his strength, although still retained his otherworldly beauty.
His eyes opened slightly, he tried to talk but lacked strength.
Having his true name taken away from him was like taking his soul essence from him. It'd take some time for a significant amount of it to be replenished.
In that time, he'll be rendered weak and useless.
A clone appeared next to Northern and collected him, placing the now nameless guardian on his shoulder.
Then they began to walk out of the mountain depth. A couple of minutes later, they were outside.
Having met his three clones and Corpse Eater—Lamla on the way outside, all that made it out were Northern, Raven, Pangu, four clones, Lamla, Cal, and Ulzred who was still unconscious, being carried by one of Northern's clones.
They all stood at the entrance and watched the crude scene Raven had left behind.
Northern glanced at her once again.
This time he wondered how old she was and how she could viciously slay monsters like that without any emotional drawback whatsoever.
How dark and traumatic was her childhood to make her grow up so fast?
But the next minute, he shoved it out of his mind and decided to focus.
If he was right, they still had a long journey ahead of them.
"I don't know how this is done. This is my first time challenging the guardian of a rift with anyone, and this is my second time in a rift. So, I'm sure both of you are more experienced than me. Who'd be willing to take the reins to be the leader of this situational party?"
Raven stared at him coldly for a few seconds, she scoffed and commented:
"I certainly was not expecting such words from you."
Cal also smiled and shrugged a little bit but didn't say anything.
Which caused Northern to look at both of them, and thought:
'Was I wrong?'
The logic he had worked with was what he often heard about while growing up.
A rift of more than one person needed someone to be in control of it.
This was why a Master, or of higher rank, was required to go along if it was a group of drifter ranks. If it was a group of Masters, a Savant or even a Sage was required.
By all common sense, Cal should be their leader, but Northern was having mixed feelings about saying that out loud.
He'd honestly preferred if Raven did the job rather than him. He still couldn't bring himself to trust the guy.
He turned to Raven after none of them was willing to say anything.
"So you're going to do it then?"
"Why would I? When you're here?"
Northern tilted his head back, he didn't understand what she meant by that.
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
Raven spoke, gesticulating with her hand as she did.
"You are the one that survived a tier V rift on your own, all alone. If there's anyone that should be leading this situational party as you painted it, that should be you."
She ended with her finger pointing to his face.
Northern looked at her with irritation dancing across his face.
Instead, Raven looked at Cal and inquired of him,
"Do you have any objections?"
Cal shook his head slightly and smiled at Northern. The expression he had on said all that was needed of his words.
Raven gave Northern a confident grin and said:
"It looks like you will be leading us on this great expenditure. I am glad you got a chance to prove yourself."
Northern's face contorted into severe disgust, one that was on a different and more vivid level from before.
He was outrightly showing how distasteful her words were.
Prove himself?
To whom? Why would he ever want to do that?
He had never had that line of thought nor would he ever, lest he start living his life for anyone other than himself.
'Call me selfish and self-centered, but that's what every other person does too.'
Northern exhaled and then spoke:
"If you guys want me to lead you, I will do so. However, I have to know we are all on board and that everyone in this party can be trusted."
His eyes stayed glued to Cal. "Which means if there is any secret or any information that would be useful to us, it'd be wise to share it now."
Cal sighed and smiled a little bit. Of course, he knew where Northern was trying to bite hard.
He looked at Northern and confidently declared:
"I don't have anything that will help us, and I am keeping no secrets that will bring us harm."
Northern swallowed his spit and glared more before finally declaring their way forward.
The group of Northerns, monsters, and drifters (traversers) made their way forth to the hot region.