Mission

Internally, Astral's mind was haywire. Externally though, he remained aloof. His aura made it seem that if the world was torn apart, he would remain. Covering the skies with one palm... he'll protect his disciples!

"Little disciple, it seems that there's been a few misconceptions. Firstly, the fact that you must draw your sword is already going in the wrong direction. Secondly, what have you learned over the past couple of months..?"

Astral's expression was dark as he explained.

"Killing leads to more killing. The young master, then his big brother, uncle, father, a mother with the title of the little princess, a grandfather from a supreme sect, an ancestor from the upper world, and then the ancestor's mysterious friend with an unknown background..!"

By the time he reached this point, Astral felt like crying. 'The worst part is the fact it doesn't end there.' He thought.

"The mysterious friend of the ancestor would be connected to a giant organization that in turn would be ruled by an evil being wanted by the whole world. But this evil entity would be incredibly strong." Astral paused.

At the same time, Blade was left speechless. Wasn't this just too much? Cautiousness... didn't it have a limit..?

"Look, disciple, maybe you'll survive, and after being kidnapped and tortured, maybe Dolion would also survive but, your innocent master. By the time we reach the ancestor, wouldn't I be killed?! Even if I survive the ancestor arc, I'll definitely be killed by the ancestor's mysterious friend. So please, don't do me such wickedness."

The room fell into silence. By this time, Astral realized he had ranted for some time.

Cough!

"Okay, now, what do you want to name your sword? Although I've named it before, it's officially yours now so you should rename it. But, before you do, think properly... Please, don't sully the sword like the last one. Icy Sword... humph! What the actual fuck goes through your mind to come up with such a boring name?"

Spitting on Blade's naming sense, visible disappointment appeared on Astral's face. As a master, he had failed to teach his disciple many things. One of them was his ideals, and the other was naming sense.

Sigh!

Finally being able to speak, Blade asked. "So, great master, what did you name your sword..?" His voice was sarcastic, clearly offended slightly but, refused to show it. At the same time, Astral smirked arrogantly and proudly proclaimed.

"Fallen From Grace: Heavenly Celestial Slaughtering Sword Of The Exiled Angel..!"

Huh?!

Andra was left shocked by her master's actions and words once more. This day was filled with many surprises but, she felt that this was the greatest surprise of them all.

'What is happening to the world?!' Andra was left in confusion, and Astral saw this. He couldn't help but feel that she was internally laughing at him.

'Oh boy Dolion, watch and see. The next few years are going to be extremely painful for you!' Astral was slightly annoyed and his eyes released ill intent.

Hohoho!...

On the other hand, Blade tried... he tried to stifle his laughter but, he couldn't. "Master... you truly are the greatest thing out since the creation of sliced loaf..!"

Hearing this, Astral felt as if even though the words were complimenting him, Blade was still making fun of him. Especially the condensing smile on Blade's face...

Sigh!

"Okay, do you have a better name then?" Interested in what gave Blade soo much confidence, he asked the boy with an aloof aura surrounding him. Once more, silence descended. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face before.

"Well, seeing from your name, that you wanted to express how vile the sword has become after falling from this so-called grace, a fitting name would be..." As the disciple, he learned a thing or two from his master, so he paused at this moment, to build up tension.

"Evil Blade..!"

Ahh!

Astral's face paled. Even Andra's eyebrows rose and eyes widened in shock. With bloodshot eyes, Astral pointed toward Blade with his shaking index finger.

"You..! What bullshit is that?!"

Huh?

Hearing this, Blade was confused. 'I was once a rich figure who enjoyed the peak of what mortal life has to offer. I had everything in my hands but, the system appeared, sending me to a world where all my majesty and grace of the previous world was stripped away.'

'From there, I was tortured twice, my view of the world altered, and now one could say I've become evil. Isn't this just like what you tried to express in the sword's name... Master?' Thinking this, his eyes glanced at the sword in hand as he then proclaimed.

"Master, I'll be keeping this name, this blade will now be called Evil Blade..!"

Sigh!

Seeing his eyes filled with determination, Astral merely sighed in defeat. 'All lifeforms have flaws, especially the lifeforms called final bosses. And even if he's the protagonist, it doesn't change the fact that they also have flaws.'

"Disciple, it's time you know the contents of your mission. Once you're successful, you'll be rewarded but, if you fail, a punishment comparable to the level of your-!"

"Just stop. Hurry and say it, do you think I've got all day to deal with you two?!" Andra, who was previously quiet, couldn't help but intervene.

She was slightly jealous of course.

While Blade got a Half-Step Origin-grade treasure, she got jack shit yet still needed to remain present, listening to the bullshit conversation of two weirdos.

Cough!

"Okay, disciple, in three years, you're to return. In that time, you must find at least three opportunities, and become a Martial Sovereign..!"

Thrum!

"What!!"

Andra shouted in shock, confusion, and anger. "Three years to become a Martial Sovereign from a Martial Lord?! Have you gone crazy!"

From Martial Lord, there was Martial King, a level where Jin and Aurel were in. This was a level that one could truly be labeled as a true powerhouse of the world. Then, there was the Martial Emperor realm.

Even in thousands of years, Aurel and Jin hadn't entered this realm. One could only imagine how hard it was to raise one's strength in this realm but, even after entering this realm, Blade would need to raise his rank by a great realm to enter the Martial Sovereign rank.

The time it took to reach such a level, would be unimaginable.

"Okay! I'll do it." Andra was left shocked once more when hearing Blade agreeing to such an outlandish statement.

'Tsk tsk. Oh, disciple, you don't understand the unfairness of this world. A protag's luck and his encounters, magnified by the fact that he has a treasure which would help in searching for opportunities... Ahh! The unfairness. I can almost smell it.'

'What is happening to the world?!' Andra thought this once more. At the same time...

Ding!

A system prompt appeared in front of Blade's eyes. He quickly declined to analyze it right now as he gazed into the calm gaze of his master.

There was a weird silence. Blade understood what was taking place as he cackled internally.

'Hehe... poor fellow. Right now you're questioning whether it's okay to send me or not.' Someone as cautious as Astral, he was truly questioning if to send Blade out or not. 'Well, I can't promise that I'll come back without killing but...'

"Master, you need not worry. As a member of the Limitless Sky Sect and your disciple, I wouldn't go about slaughtering like a bloodthirsty madman."

Sigh!

Hearing his disciple's oath, Astral heaved a sigh of relief. It's just that, as someone who promised to eliminate all life on a planet filled with countless lifeforms... Blade's view of slaughtering like a bloodthirsty madman was much different than someone like Astral's.

"I'll take my leave, Master, Dolion..!" Taking one last glance toward the two, Blade turned around and soon exited the cave, leaving two slightly surprised individuals.

"Dolion, does he know how to exit the Sect?" Astral suddenly asked Andra. "I doubt he even knows how to get off the mountain..." Andra's voice resounded as soon after, Blade reappeared with a slightly embarrassed expression plastered on his face.

...

...

Limitless City...

It was labeled as the capital and a place where important matters took place because it was directly connected to the overlord of this continent, Limitless Sky Sect.

In a certain part of Limitless City, one can see what seemed to be hundreds of platforms with uniquely designed dark blue patterns.

On the outskirts of this area, tens of figures in silver armor shone wondrously under the sunlight, each radiating with a heart-clenching aura.

They each stood in place as their eyes showed the will to battle at any time as if an enemy could appear in the one moment they weren't paying attention.

At the center of this group of platforms, several massive platforms surrounded one much smaller platform.

Unlike these eight platforms, the other platforms would light up every few minutes, and shockingly, once the light disappeared, a few figures would be left standing on the platform before, being led by a guide of sort out of this location.

Buzz!

Suddenly, the center platform gave out a light hum. Immediately, the men and women who adorned the glittering armor sharply brought their gaze toward the location.

Their faces changed instantly as the center platform gave off a bright light that momentarily enshrouded everything in its surroundings.