198 The Plan (1/2)

Loosening their embrace, Lumia and Helial looked at each other again. Two worlds met through their irises.

Green on Blue.

Sun on Moon.

”Hey, what the fuck are you doing?” Cried Medusa across the arena. ”What are you waiting for to fight?”

Helial ignored Medusa once more and stood up straight, still looking silently at her sister.

He could have said so many things, he could have told her that he didn't want her to get stronger, that he didn't want her to bear all that suffering. He wanted to tell her that there was no need to feel pain if she did it for him.

However, Helial had learned more than one lesson alongside Alexander.

Lumia didn't need to get strong just to protect herself when Helial wasn't at her side. Her sister had to explore the world to discover herself, like every other living creature in the universe.

Looking out of the corner of his eyes at his team, Helial smiled.

All this was not just about Lumia. Frankenstein, Lulu, Vlad... they too were taking such a difficult path to find their own Mana Path. And suffering was indispensable to savour the joys that life reserves, just as it is impossible to enjoy the light if there is no darkness.

Living a dull life would not lead them to be happy, but only to live like beasts. To be happy they would have to fight. And suffer.

The young man's resolute gaze passed over his companions, dwelling on each of them.

Snowflake had things to settle with his family. Helial would have pulled the sky down if it helped.

Vlad was in love with Francesca, but Orma's precarious balance kept him prisoner. Helial would rebuild that city brick by brick, after destroying it, if it helped him.

Lulu and Frankenstein were probably only looking for a place in the world, and to help them Helial would dig with his own hands even in a mining vein.

Aiako intruded on the young man's flow of thoughts with a high-pitched laugh: ”Are you really still in the Late stage of the First Phase? At least your teammates had the good sense to level up as fast as possible.”

Helial glanced sharply at Aiako, and then turned back to his teammates. ”Follow my orders during the battle. Nobody is allowed to do as they want, otherwise some of us will die.”

Then turning to Aiako, the boy's gaze brightened.

Skill Activated:

Perception

The consumption of Mana due to the use of Perception was negligible, compared to its advantages. After a few seconds, Helial already had a general idea of their enemies' abilities and weaknesses.

”I want to face Margherita in a one on one match,” said Frankenstein, looking at his counterpart on the other team.

”Silence.” Without turning, Helial raised a hand and motioned everyone to keep quiet.

The boy's new attitude left everyone perplexed. Despite having always had the leader attitude, Helial had never possessed any authority, nor had he claimed to possess it. Now, however, he looked like a consummate general, almost as if his chest had been filled with medals during the last night of sleep.

In fact, in the new life passed alongside Alessandro, Helial had led more than one strategy capable of reversing the fate of a battle. Helial's military acumen was not something Medusa or her friends could have possessed.

Iblis' disciple, after a quick analysis, had already understood what would be the main problem in the clash. ”Medusa,” he said confidently, ”I have a proposal for you.”

With her brows slightly raised and a look full of contempt, a nod of her chin was the only answer Helial got.

”We skip the direct confrontations and jump directly to the group clash. Changing the order, it would not be difficult for the two of us not to face each other directly. You could use your men to tire me and I mine to tire you. If this happens, the direct confrontation between the two of us would be useless. I don't think you want a mutilated victory. And then, you could send someone ahead of you, to make me waste as much mana and stamina as possible, to avoid colliding directly with me.”

Medusa trembled with anger. Did the bastard just imply that she might be afraid of him?!

But before the enraged woman could speak, Helial continued: ”Let's fight directly in groups. The Colosseum should have no objection. Otherwise, we can also fight outside these walls. What interests me is to have a match directly with you. In a group battle, your teammates will be busy fighting with mine. This is a reasonable proposition, isn't it? While they will fight each other, we will be able to slaughter each other at will.”