Book 1: Chapter 37: Old Man

More time passed but the cave only grew more silent and eerie, at this point they tried everything but nothing happened seemingly stuck at this long corridor like a prison cell. And during this time more people showed up belonging to a different group but the corridor seemed endless, seemingly expanding every time someone show up.

At this moment someone pointed at Regal and ask in a commanding tone. "Hey you! You came here first. Maybe you knew something but don't want to tell us!" And all the other voice out in exclamation like they all had enlightenment.

Of course this move from the guy really is malicious at first Regal just ignoring the man's accusation, but as more and more people began to pin their anger on him he got irritated.

"The heart of man really is fickle and unfathomable, no matter how absurd all they need in darkness is hope even if it's ridiculous, or anger that will help them ignore their incompetence and blame someone. Such is the ego of man." Said and old man, when all the other people heard this they became angry and looked at the old man sitting calmly on a lotus position at the end of the corridor.

The old man wearing a grey robe with long white whiskers, only half of his eye close but one can see that the old man's eyes isn't human. Or rather no normal human has the eye of a predator like snake. Of course the angry crowd doesn't care about him.

'When was he here? I didn't sense him!' Said Zack of course he was shocked, the old man was there but his heart shook like the old man doesn't exist here but in another dimension.

Of course not only him but Regal was also shocked, amidst the shout of the crowd there's always a character that we know it exist, but still surprised us when we saw one. A man with a mustache charge at the old man with large strides like a bull holding his spear, but the moment he got 5 feet to the old man he stopped and melted. Yes melted and turned into a gray like substance that turned into dust and vanished.

Everyone gaped in shocked and horror even Regal gasped inwardly.

"One must know their limit, and next move of their every action. Like the yin and yang, the sun and the moon. Every move correspond with endless possibility, such as this very moment that happen you must be confused" The old man said with his eyes closed seemingly talking to a wall like all of them didn't exist there, the old man smiled and shook his head with a sigh.

Everyone now noticed that the long seemingly endless corridor has now it's end. And a door at the back of the old man, of course some of them noticed this earlier but no one voice out the obvious because of the thing happening too fast.

All of them waited with bated breath at what will happen next this includes the big characters and leader such as Zack, and Regal even. If one has most of the courage in world they wouldn't throw their life after seeing something they don't understand.

...

Time passed fifteen minutes like this many mouths opened and close but no one asked, and the elder just sat there with his eyes closed.

Zack was staring at the old man calmly but inside he's sweating bucket 'No matter how I see it this old man doesn't have aura. Clearly he's here but also not here. I'll just ask my subordinate to ask the old man'.

This is his thought there's nothing wrong with being cautious but before he can do that someone talked.

"Senior may I ask what shall we do next is this still part of the trial? Or is this your resting abode if we disturbed you I'm really sorry senior." All of them exclaimed and look at the one who spoke. He was Regal yes. The one who spoke is him.

'The senior doesn't seem that brutal maybe we're disturbing his peace and this is his place. It's already merciful that he didn't kill us if he wants us to die we will die, so I'll just ask what is there to fear.' Regal thought after a long contemplative silence staring at the old man.

'Look at this guy he's so dumb that he asked the elder, didn't he saw that the other guy died because of his insolence let's see how will you die honorably'.

'The guts who are you to asked senior you mongrel'.

Everyone snickered in there heart human heart is really hard to understand, if one is angry or jealous.

'Of course for someone like Zack was shocked and surprise he didn't know if Regal was really gutsy or just dumb and can't see the situation clearly.

But to everyone's surprise the elder who sat there calmly from the beginning open it's eyes, his eyes shone with a dazzling light when he opened it, the eyes of the elder has no pupil but at the center of his eyes there's a crucifix with the color of blood while his pupils is white but for some reason it's so bright like the clouds of heavens.

"And what makes you think that I will answer your question if I won't receive anything?" The eyes of the elder didn't change but the tone he used was like of amusement.

Of course everyone thought differently about the tone they thought the elder's tone was that of ridicule. He's not wrong what is it for him to answer a question of a weak junior?

"Senior I can't offer anything but... Forgive me for being me if we're disturbing your peace senior." Regal answer without much thought with a casual tone.

Everyone exclaimed on how bold this fellow was or he really wished to die.

"What if it does? What if it's not? Does it matter? I do commend your courage facing the unknown but still facing it head on, fine then one has to have a courage to continue further this is indeed my resting place but also my inheritance." With a smile said the elder.

Everyone exclaimed of surprised how amicable the elder was if they didn't see the scene earlier they wouldn't believe that this old man can kill any of them.

Seeing how amicable the elder was Regal was happy inside, he doesn't have any interaction outside the one who raised him. But he was thought that to always be respectful even if at the disadvantage, but not too much at first he doesn't understand this sentence but now he understood. Nothing can go wrong with being respectful, but many things will go wrong if he's disrespectful.

"Then may I ask senior what can we call you and also what does your inheritance entails?" Regal just ask whatever comes to his mind this time, he was usually cautious because of what's happening on his life still left him in shambles. Sometimes he was wise, sometimes he feel the Regal he knew wasn't him. And right now because he just want to ask the old man, like a kid asking a grandpa about the story that grandpa is telling.

"Well you see no one will tell something about their inheritance no matter how strong they are. Who doesn't want a surprise right? You will know what it entails if you become the successor. Of course it connects to my power." The Elder said with a gentle smile on his face, even with his forehead with deep wrinkles he still look majestic like a mortal yet looking divine scholar because of his smile and eyes

After hearing what the old man says about inheritance a lot of prideful and powerful figure among the crowd got their confidence back and ask the Old man about some stuff.

The Old man answered everything amicably and some words he uttered seems so insightful that only the powerful will get enlightenment through it. Of course none of this people here were that powerful.

Many of the people of course ask the Old man to get on his good side if it's really his inheritance who doesn't want a master or to become someone powerful as him? And also others doesn't want only Regal to continue gaining the favor of the elder.

Regal wants to ask more but seeing how many of them voicing out their question he reigned in his curiosity and just look at the senior quietly.

At some point someone asked what's the qualification and how can someone pass the inheritance. This senior is powerful and back to their respective group they didn't see power as unfathomable as making someone melt and vanished without a trace.

"Of course it's courage, without courage none will be able to accomplish something big pure heart, and the will to discover and push through on a field that someone didn't walked on." Said the Old man.

Many of them also asked the elder about his name but he told them that his name isn't necessary because only one of them can inherit his will. So he just told them to call him old, sounds presumptuous because they knew how powerful the old man.

"At the first test none of you passed only the guy who asked me the first question did, and second none of you also pass. Because none of you is pure enough him did." Said the elder pointing at Regal.

Of course everyone of them was shocked on how they didn't understand the Old man's decision adding the fact that people are innately jealous.

"By pioneering and facing unknown circumstances he pushed through. While all of you didn't, While all of you had the courage with him as a reference not all of you are pure enough." Said the Old man.

His words are hard to understand for some. But the smarter ones and the rationale ones thought that when he asked the question when no one does. And when ask only the inheritance entails but some of them only asked after that. Or maybe some other reason but clearly they had to admit that they lacked the courage. But who could blame them after what they saw? It's either Regal is courageous or just dumb.

But when Regal heard this he was surprised, he only followed his heart just curious but deep inside he was still being cautious and reckless at the same time. Now that he realized what he did, sometimes he wants to never bow down, never compromise and at times like this he was just curious and followed his heart. Even when he killed at first he didn't feel something wrong but looking at the perspective of a youth there's something wrong.

But all of this will only matter soon when he realized what his real goal is, at the later date in the future.