Master of All Arts
As he walked calmly through the rain, Arthur thought about everything that had happened. From the moment he found out about Amanda leaving the house to the moment she left now.
He wasn't the type of person to wait for disaster to happen and then try to understand what happened. If it was in his power to control and prevent, he would do so without hesitation. And that's exactly what happened now.
From the moment he'd met Amanda he'd known something was off. When he noticed that he was under surveillance and there were cameras in the Guild, in the place where she slept, he knew that someone was wanting something from him. And from what he now discovered, it was his information, along with intimate photos. When he called Gabriel that night, it wasn't just to release Amanda, but also to get information about her. Her entire past was like an open book to him since they'd met.
But there were some details left out, which was the exact reason why Arthur hadn't killed her, or let her kill herself the night before. She was doing this for someone she loved. It was a fair reason for him, and he was sure to do the same. That's why he kept her by his side. Someone capable of doing anything for those dear to them is someone worthy of making friends and being on the good side.
Since they'd gone shopping and he bought her laptops and cell phones, Arthur had put a spyware on them. He learned how to do it from Thomas, and it wasn't too hard. Amanda always seemed to be fine and calm, but she was constantly avoiding contact with someone, who somehow got her number. Only after many threats did she decide to betray Arthur.
All this hesitation of hers was for two reasons Arthur knew. Thanks to 'Soul Vision', he more or less understood what other people showed, like feelings, emotions, and depending on their weakness, even parts of memory, but that was rare. Thanks to that, it was obvious to him that she was clinging to him and didn't want to bring possible destruction to his doorstep. The other reason was that she no longer had any hope of finding her beloved. Losing two people she cared about would be too much for her. That's why she decided to kill herself, twice.
Even though it was Arthur's malice to leave her in deep despair first to rescue her later, he was still angry with her, so in his mind it was justifiable. Thanks to the conversation he had with Emily, he used her tip. React to the situation differently, and do your best to take advantage of it. He could have gotten angry and let it all happen, but he saved Amanda, earning her complete loyalty, and also discovered a hidden enemy.
Speaking of this hidden enemy, he found out from the information, and also with the help of Thomas, what a criminal society really meant. Apparently, in the entire northeast of Brazil, crimes, clubs, nightclubs, drug, organ and human trafficking is done by the union of five mafia organizations. Basically, everything was in their control.
Thomas at this point was already a confidant of Arthur, and knew the things he was involved in. That's why he, with the help of artificial intelligence, was archiving and hacking into their system. Arthur took the chance to make an attack on known bases.
These bases were not control points, but were scattered all over the city. They served as a point of trade for drugs and other things. Arthur was angry and wanted to vent a little, so he destroyed them all. But he wasn't stupid enough to destroy the most important. He didn't want to declare all-out war with these organizations, but rather give a warning.
This warning was as much for them not to play in this city anymore, as well as for the person who used them to hit him. He didn't lie to Amanda when he said he didn't know why he was a target, but he did know that the person who wanted his information wasn't inside the organization, but outside, using them.. That way, the warning would serve both of them, so they wouldn't mess with him.
He might not be strong enough to beat everyone up right now, but that was his will now, and he'd be as quick as possible to catch up. In those fights he spent the night in, he realized that he was still too weak to challenge the ultimate bosses, but it won't be too late for that.
Speaking of strong, getting hurt wasn't the only thing that happened to him as he fought all night with these bases and the people who were there.
Absorption
•Rank: A+•
•Level: 2 (1000/5000)•
•Active Skill•
•Can Evolve•
[Description]
After the Thief of Worlds stole Mage Supreme Preoxdice's documents, he sold it to an unknown person. Years later, an evolution of the 'Expansion' skill came to light, called 'Absorption'. After activating this skill, the brain enters a state of hypersensitivity, being able to absorb literally any information around, whether the user understands it or not.
[Effects]
- Information absorption capacity is increased by 1000% for 2 hours.
- Area of 1000 meters around will be completely felt and guarded.
- Everything that can be converted into information will be stored by the brain.
Will
•Rank: C+•
•Level: 7 (0/8000)•
•Passive/Active Skill•
•Can Evolve •
[Description]
Developed by the user's desire to live. Your will rules over the weakest and confronts the strongest.
[Passive Effects]
Your presence is more marked, being able to influence others.
[Active Effects]
All those with a weaker will than yours within 700m will be completely subdued.
Abyss
•Rank: B+•
•Level: 9 (0/15500)•
•Active Skill•
•Can Evolve•
[Description]
Skill inherited from the user's victory against Abyss. With its essence captured, the entire existence of Abyss was understood and turned into an skill.
[Effects]
When activated, it attempts to take control of the opponent's body and mind, absorbing the original consciousness, making the skill stronger, and gaining control of a minion.
Force
•Rank: C+•
•Level: 8 (0/9000)•
•Active Skill•
•Can Evolve•
[Description]
Indicative of magical awakening. A type of mental energy controlled by high-level warriors that can awaken magic in their bodies. Controlled by the mind alone, using the force of the mind alone.
[Effects]
In addition to better body control, Force also increases your Strength and Agility by 200% while in use.
...
Feeling the Force circulating through his body, Arthur was feeling powerful. He had much better control over it, and the effects it had on his body were good. Thanks to the skill leveling up, his mana flow has become smoother as well, keeping up with the Force more firmly.
Looking at the center of his palm, Arthur only moved a little of his Will, before a black dot expanded and threatened to engulf his soul. It was like looking into a bottomless abyss that was beckoning him to jump. Dispelling this frightening power, everything returned to normal.
Thanks to this skill leveling up, more information about it appeared in his brain. He could now feel all the people he was controlling, see what condition they were in and even control their actions a little, but it was quite limited. Still, it was a better power.
This skill was the one that leveled up the most for the simple fact that it absorbed the ego of all the people who were in those bases. Those of lesser importance he quickly got rid of, but all those who seemed to have a higher position on the bases were being controlled by him now, serving his will. Arthur did this because he thought it would be more convenient than killing them. Eventually it would serve some purpose.
Those things aside, Arthur concentrated on the melody of the song playing in his earphones. These last few days had been full of thought and trouble, and he just wanted to relax. He was reliving the moments he had with Beatrice and Emily in his head, to relax. Were good memories.
As he did so, he coughed up some blood, and all the bandages on his body turned red as the wounds opened.
"Fucking damn reaction!" Squeezing those words between his teeth, Arthur stood in the rain, waiting for the reaction to pass.
***
"Good morning!" Arthur spoke to Beatrice when he arrived in the room. Aline seems to have been absent today due to illness. Probably the flu, since it was the rainy season.
"Good Morning! What was that in your hand?" Beatrice reciprocated and asked as she looked at Arthur's bandaged hands.
In fact, his entire body was still bandaged. This morning's reaction damaged the wounds a little and they were not able to heal in time. Even though he had spent the night focusing on recovery, there were still a lot of wounds to heal.
"I got hurt... You know, the life of a worker is hard..." Arthur sighed as he sat back in his chair and relaxed.
"What were you working on?" Beatrice asked curiously and with a smile. She already seemed to have forgotten the kiss scene, and didn't bother being close to Arthur. But she didn't realize that even though she didn't care anymore, her desire to be close to him increased.
"In a sculpture of yours, but I don't think it will be as beautiful as the original model..." Arthur spoke without shame.
"Silly! You sure are lying!" Beatrice instantly blushed, surprised at a catch up from Arthur so early in the morning. She soon began to talk about something else, to ward off the shame: "Do you make sculptures? You don't seem like that type."
"You underestimate me. I am the disciple that Leonardo Da Vinci wanted to have. Master of all arts, except astrology." Arthur introduced himself, his chest puffed out and a dignified brow.
"Why except astrology?" She asked, wanting to see how far he would go with this.
"Because the only star I want to read is right here in front of me..." Arthur lifted her chin and raised his own eyebrows in flirtation.
"You're such an idiot!" Beatrice rolled her eyes as she blushed and turned around. Class would start in no time and she didn't want to waste any more time. Not to mention that when he lifted her chin, she remembered that scene and her lips got moist, almost in preparation.
***
It was break time at this point, and Arthur was sitting on the floor in a hallway with Beatrice at his side. It was raining at the moment, and they were talking about a activity while enjoying the cool breeze.
"Can I sit with you?" Emily appeared and spoke to them.
"Of course, sit here!" Arthur didn't even try to bother with some embarrassment on his face and hit the floor next to him. On the other side was Beatrice, so he didn't want to keep her away.
"Hello!" Beatrice spoke to her.
"Hi!" Emily returned the greeting.
"Beatrice, Emily. Emily, Beatrice." Arthur took both of their hands and made them shake hands.
The two laughed a little, but inside they already saw each other as a potential threat.
'Since we can't be together, is he after someone else now?' Beatrice's thoughts.
'Does he have something with her? Have I arrived late? They even study in the same class!' Emily's thoughts.
"So, we are talking about the general properties of matter, teacher activity. Know something? I'm dumber than a door for this." Arthur asked as he pointed to an activity in his notebook.
"I do remember, I'm even studying again for the entrance exam. Let me see... Is this your notebook? You don't have all the answers?" She took out a black notebook and it looked complete, in addition to the handwriting being very pretty.
"Aah, that's not my notebook. It's this one!" Arthur took the notebook and gave her a pink one full of decorations. It was Beatrice's notebook.
"Aah!..." Beatrice and Emily laughed at his joke.
After that, they continued talking. Arthur's conversational skills seemed to have reached a huge peak in avoiding any kind of trouble between the two. They were actually getting along quite well, with Emily helping Beatrice understand some common mistakes and Arthur making his usual tasteful jokes.
***
Watching the scene in the distance, almost like something melancholy, Cesar was sitting on a bench with some people around him trying to flatter him. His arm was in a cast, indicating it had been broken.
He returned to school today after a few days of rest and medication, with an immense hatred for Arthur. And now, seeing him talking to a woman who was supposed to be his, and with another beautiful girl at his side as well, he just felt envy consuming him.
'I'll make you pay for everything, you bastard! For all the humiliation and I'm going to do it right in front of the whole school!' His eyes then landed on the principal's office door.
Some plans were already forming in his mind.