A Rank Mage Versus D Rank Tenebrix

"Poke."

"Poke, Poke."

"Poke."

Zayde face squeezed in annoyance from the sound and disturbances he was getting. He felt a finger go into his cheeks repeatedly with the words 'Poke', He had thought it was Ravena but the self respect she has, would not let her bring herself so low as to disturb him in his sleep.

Leaving him with one person, Ash.

He peeked through his eye lids, lifted his hands and waited till Ash poked him again. He caught his fingers in a tight grip and bent it backwards expecting a reaction–pain from Ash but instead he smiled. "Wipe it off."

"Why? You seem to enjoy massaging my finger," A creepy smile made its way to Ash's lips, he quickly withdrew when Zayde cringed. "It's good you are awake now, We need to go through everything in this scroll."

"No," Zayde immediately said as he got up, "I would rather throw them away or burn it because I will not read anything in that scroll."

[Burning or Causing damage to the scrolls will result in loss of points]

'Why!'

[They are items retrieved from your missions, destroying them would cancel all points received, with additional punishments]

'Great, just great,' Zayde sighed in defeat and sat down on the sofa across Ash, he gazed at the scroll but instantly averted his gaze. "I don't think I can read it."

"You have to, Ravena is terrified of that thing and I can't do much either, The energy emanating from it would not affect you, but on us, Yes. Those who wrote it knew what they were doing," Ash stated and pushed a pen and note pad over to Zayde. "Write down what you read so we wouldn't have to touch it when we need to use the information."

Zayde sluggishly picked up the items, he turned the scrolls to face him and heaved a sigh. "Which one do I start with first."

"The recently given one, Read it out loud....Rave!" Ash yelled taking his gaze to the door beside the kitchen. Ravena hurried out holding a box, she kicked the door closed and sat down in a lotus position beside Zayde.

She brought out the items from the box, a small globe that she turned on. It opened up like a flower, then a holographic blue screen and keyboard appeared before her, she wore a headset that was linked to the globe.

Gave one to Ash, she pulled off the white surgical glove she had worn earlier to protect herself from the burning sensation of the Scroll.

"Okay, I will type everything you say here, The headphones will keep us focused and will alert us when something goes wrong," She stated keeping her eyes focused on the screen, Ash gave Zayde the go ahead and leaned back into the sofa, then he shut his eyes.

"Items hidden by yours truly, A few beyond the gates of the Hidden city," Zayde began, raising the scroll up to get a better look at it.

"My stolen pair of horns , Five Energy cores from SS ranked beasts, The project blueprint and Oblivon's programme, two out of five soul orbs belonging to the Hyperion leader, Obsidian tourmaline,Vial of starlight essence, Hourglass of ancients and Realm gates key," Zayde concluded his brows raised as confusion over took him.

Zayde finished reading the list, and the room fell silent. Ash and Zayde exchanged a knowing glance, and Ravena began typing away on her holographic keyboard.

"Let's face these first, Ravena could track them and the map could be useful later,"They responded with a nod, "So, What's the plan?" Zayde asked, handing the scroll back to Ash.

"We need to gather these items," Ash replied, his eyes scanning the list he wrote down. "Starting with the easiest ones. Ravena, can you track down the locations of the Energy cores and the obsidian tourmaline?"

Ravena nodded, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "Already on it."

"Zayde, you're with me," Ash said, standing up. "We'll head to the Black Market and see if we can find any leads on the stolen horns and the Vial."

Ravena raised her gaze up from what she was doing, she had a frown on her face that showed she was against what Ash had said. "Why the black market? Isn't it better to start with Sage's crypt."

"You both destroyed that place, or have you forgotten?" Ash asked with a raised brows, he frowned when they both averted their gazes, laughing nervously." The black market is not that dangerous, as long as he doesn't loose his cool and i don't see you know who. Then we are fine."

Zayde heaved and sigh and pushed his fingers into his hair, "I am glad I would not have to look or touch that thing ever again."

"You have to put it into your inventory," Ash chipped in causing Zayde to choke on his saliva. "You added the arcane one to your inventory, why can't you add the other?" He ashed, with a frown visible on his face.

"Do you know how terrifying those pieces of paper are?" Zayde uttered as he picked up the scroll in both hands. "One gives a chilly reminder that a chaotic Lord is in me, I am him. The other just reminds me how nasty I–him–we. You get the idea. It reminds me how nasty I was, Have you seen what they do together?"

Ash stared blankly at him,'This clueless idiot,' he says to himself as he pinched the bridge if his nose in annoyance, and sighed. "You are a god, a deity, people fear you. Why are you scared of a piece of paper?"

"I feel like you don't hear me, the aura they carry are terrifying."

"You are going to be a mix of all three. Psychopath, serial killer, sex lord, villain. You have no remorse for people, all you need is blood. Tell me what can intimidate you?"

Zayde laughed nervously throwing his hand behind his neck. "Seeing myself succumb to...." He gestured at Ravena who remained focused on the screen of her phone. "The Hyperion's lord interest in me and the memories of the previous Shadow Lord's that are constantly hunting me. Trust me there alot of things i fear more than death. And it's them."

Ash scanned Zayde from head to toe, squinting to see what others could not. Suddenly a smirk appeared on his face, "You don't happen to have a certain flaw that relates to one of these, right?"

Zayde glanced at him with furrowed brows, he raised his brow up in confusion and nodded slowly.

"That explains why you are so gentle with her," Ash snickered and chuckled, softly, "I wonder if there's anymore to the flaw than being susceptible to her. Maybe it has to do with feeding."

"Oh please, It has nothing to do with that," Zayde waved him off and turned around to leave only to freeze when a beep interrupted him. He sighed in disappointment already knowing what would be coming next would either be life threatening or impossible.

[Ding!]

[New mission alert]

[Battle and Add the soul core of a S rank mage]

'You can't be serious, I am not even a B rank yet, Don't do this to me.'

[Failure to complete the mission before sunrise will result in punishment s, such as; Health points reduction, Death, Additional Flaws and loss of Abilities]

"What the hell is wrong with this system?!" Zayde yelled out loud startling Ravena and Ash. However before they could react or ask questions.

A knock came from the door followed by a voice Ash recognized anywhere.

"Zayde Rivers, Surrender or be brought down in pieces."

"How did she find us?" Ravena whispered, with urgency in her voice as rose up and began she packing p her devices without thinking.

"Should be when I used my Mana...We have to leave," Ash replied his voice laced with worry as he began thinking of ways to escape.

"What rank is she?" Zayde asked with a low tone, his heart was racing but he was focused on the task at hand and the punishments attached to it if he failed to complete them. He was not going to risk getting a flaw worse than what he already has.

"An S rank, Uhm mage, I think. Anything?"

"No, get Rave to the top and you both should prepare to leave if I give you a signal."