This Will Not Slide

The year is almost ending and with the heavy snow covering the whole place, every member of every family now must do what they can to clean their immediate environment. But of course, playing in the snow is one of the best things people like doing, kids especially.

As an element bender, moving the large snows away was left with Ambrose and Blythe, on which they easily did.

Blythe's magical aura has been developing as well. It seems she must have had a breakthrough, and this made Ambrose a little curious.

Extending his mana zone, Ambrose scans Blythe's power level and there, he found out she recently just broke through the Third Gate. This is surprising indeed, since he hasn't seen her doing any kind of training.

"I've gotten stronger, haven't I?" says Blythe with a bright smile.

"S_ sorry," says Ambrose as he retrieves his zone.

It turns out she had sensed his actions, thankfully; she is just too kind to be annoyed by that.

"Like you've been doing, I also did my meditation late at night while sleeping," says Blythe.

"Oh," Ambrose just discovered his secret late-night cultivation wasn't much of a secret, that could mean Ackley could also be aware of his actions.

This makes sense since they are both mages... He should have thought of this before now.

"There is a lot about me you are yet to find out," says Blythe as they both do their chores using magic.

"I can tell," says Ambrose in reply, "I'll like to know more if you don't mind,"

"Hahaha, of course, you do..." Blythe is indeed amused by his words.

Ever since sealing the Negative Mana within him, Ambrose could not feel his connection to it as he used to, and even better, the demon stopped speaking to him, more like it could not even if it tried to and that is very relieving. For once, Ambrose feels like he is in control of himself once again.

In addition, his cultivation finally brought rewards, the same ones he had been chasing after for a long time. Now, apart from the sealed Negative realm, Ambrose has created an additional energy source called KI, though compared to his mana, the KI's development within him is still tiny as it currently looks like a wisp.

His progress began right after putting the dark realm in check.

It turns out all those times he had been absorbing natural energy from the surrounding, the Negative Mana is consuming them all, thus, the reason all his efforts back then had been a waste.

Ackley had stayed a little longer. His children's progress as mages is a new priority he needed to take care of, and he is not about to slack in that. Not even the cold snow could stop this.

"Good, you're both here," says Ackley while calmly stationed under the shade of a tree.

"Why are we even here?" asked Danica.

"Because it is very spacious, which means you're free to unleash everything you have," Ackley plans on teaching his kids some basic tactics when faced with an enemy, many of which he believes will come in handy.

Pulling out two wooden swords; "Alright, you're both going to be using this," he said, and handed them over to Ambrose and Danica.

"This explains why you gave us the Scabbard earlier," says Ambrose.

"Exactly," Ackley said in reply.

He then brought out a key chain with two keys on it and says; "If you can get this from me before the day come to an end, you will both have the chance to go on missions that would be of significant benefit to you. Danica, do you remember the plan your mom said she has for you in chapter 3 of this novel? This is the beginning of it,"

"You're saying I will get the chance to go out of this city on adventures as a mage?!" Danica seems very excited about this prospect.

"That's exactly what I'm saying, and you will also get the chance to school in one of the most powerful cities, which will open a path to become whatever you wish," Ackley added, "But first, I need to know if you are qualified for this, that's why you are both here,"

"So basically, we just have to kick your ass?" says Ambrose as nonchalantly as he always sounds.

"Yeah, exac_"

*KaBang!!*

Without having to finish his words, Ambrose kicks the air and pushes himself forward, fully ready to attack. However, Ackley easily blocks it with his arm like it was nothing.

"Of course, I knew you would do that," another voice that resembles that of Ackley resounded from a distance.

"huh?" Danica could not believe her eyes.

Just a few distances among the trees, there, another Ackley could be seen gently walking out. The other Ackley that was attacked by Ambrose disappeared.

The last time Ambrose saw something like this was his encounter with those assassins who wanted him dead.

"You're probably wondering what I just did," says Ackley.

"Yeah, exactly,"

"It's a cloning technique,"

"Cloning technique?" Danica asked.

"Yeah, this is a way of creating a copied version of yourself with the same personality and so on,"

"That sounds complicating,"

"Well, it kind of is, but that's not why we are here," says Ackley as he once again lifts the keys in his possession. "Come get this from me before the end of the day."

Ackley faded, and soon, he was nowhere to be found...

"Another clone," mutters Ambrose.

Activating his mana zone, Ambrose and Danica step into the forested area filled with tall trees. Their goal is to get hold of Ackley and snatch the key. This is going to be hard.

"We should go separate ways. Finding him might be quicker that way," Danica suggested.

"And what will you do if you find him?" says Ambrose, "You seem to underestimate him. Even both of us together are no match for Ackley. How then will you fare if you were alone?"

His words made sense and Danica understands, "I was about to make a terrible choice," she silently said.

"It's a pity I did not bring Little_Blue with me. He should be able to trace Ackley's scent," says Ambrose.

And so, the desperate search for Ackley began...

.

.

.

"What is this that I hear, Nevaeh," a male shouted in anger. "Did you kill members of the Snake organization?"

"That wasn't my doing," Nevaeh defended.

"Then who did that?" says the male named Orson.

"I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that stupid orphan," Nevaeh tried to deflect the blame. She does not know how right she is, though.

"You're not planning to tell that to them, are you?" asked Orson in disbelief. He is Nevaeh's husband, by the way.

Don't get the wrong idea just yet. Orson is no better than Nevaeh, and to top it all, he despises Ackley due to the fame he had gained, especially since he is nothing in wealth.

Yes, Orson is a very arrogant man indeed, and finding out Ackley's bastard son is going to take a position he and his wife had always wanted their first son to claim fills him with bitter hatred towards Ackley's family.

Orson has two sons and one daughter, the oldest son being twelve years of age, while the other kids are between six to eight years of age.

As a member of a prestigious family, both Orson and his wife believe they deserve whatever good things that come their way, one of which Ambrose had supposedly stolen from them. However, their biggest question is how those assassins sent to assassinate the young kid end up dead... brutally dead, to be more precise.

The Snake organization will have the same question if they come around, on which they most likely will.

"This is also a golden way to get rid of Ackley once and for all," says Nevaeh.

"How so?" Orson wasn't sure what she meant. "If you're still planning on blaming whoever that kid is, this will sound like an insult to them, and they might as well wipe us from existence,"

"But Ackley is a formidable warrior, which means he is more than strong enough to single-handedly take them out by himself,"

"The Snake organization will go after him to avenge their fallen mates if we push the blame to him,"

With the new realization, Orson laughed out; "Hahaha, that's just perfect!!"

Why didn't he think of this until now? Perhaps, because he is stupid... I'm just saying, don't take my word for it.

This new evil plan of theirs is a win-win for them. First, they would get rid of Ackley, and second, this might just open a vacant space for their eldest son to get the position he solely deserves.

Colton, who had been secretly listening to their discussion, could not believe his ears. Until now, this is the first he had seen Orson's dark side, something he never thought existed.

If the Snake organization goes after Ackley's family, there is no telling what they would do. One thing is sure, and that is this organization will not let this slide.