Chapter 99: Maze runners 6

“Oh.” Sia let out, after I told her Dpress was dead. “Was it the bugs?” she asked.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “You should have seen it, it was quite terrifying, and somewhat brilliant, in a chaotic way that is.” I added.

“Their mosquito like mandibles pierced through his body like hot knife through butter, blood splashed, as his body got manhandled, and eventually devo…”

“Quit it already!” Sia snapped.

“What? I didn’t take you to be disgusted by gore considering how you seem to love decapitation.” I mused. “Or is it bugs you’re afraid of? I raised a brow hoping to catch something on her.

“No, idiot, I’m not scared of bugs, and speaking of bugs, they’re behind us.” She retorted.

“What…” I trialed off, as I looked backwards with my main body. “Holy shit!” Quite far behind us, were those bugs, they were also much bigger than the ones from before. And at the same time gave off a vastly more powerful aura.

These were the Theta+ ranked beasts I had sensed within the swarm. But really, how the hell was their flight so silent. They were way larger than humans for god’s sake.

Perhaps they realized –If beast’s of this rank could even think– that the lower ranked ones wouldn’t be able to catch up to us, which was why these ones left the swarm behind, and came after us. Not that this ones also weren’t a swarm. It also meant that Greg and Nina were probably dead.

“Why the hell would they be hellbent on coming after us?” I mused grimly. Or was it that they could track us by our scent? No, I hadn’t been in contact with them, so maybe it’s her they’re following.

“Hey, quick question, did you by chance take anything from their nest?” I asked carefully.

“Uhh….no?” Sia answered, but I caught the swift change in her expression. “Why’d you ask?” she inquired.

I facepalmed.

“So you definitely did take something from their nest.” I accused.

“No I didn’t.” she denied.

“Yes you did.” I said in a matter of fact tone.

“So what? It’s not even a treasure, it’s just some stupid glowing stone.” she said exasperatedly.

I scowled.

“If it’s just some useless stone, then fucking throw it at them, so they can back off and leave us alone.”

“No way, I’m not doing that.” She shook her head.

“Sia, throw that fucking stone to them, or I swear if I die to some mere bugs, I’ll come back as a ghost and hunt you forever!” I yelled.

“Are you stupid? it’s a naturally purified aether stone that has at least been forming for thousands of years. Why the hell would I give it to some mere beasts?” She countered.

I blinked.

“…”

“Oh, I thought it was some ’useless glowing stone’.” i said, the sarcasm evidently pronounced.

’This bitch.’ I cursed. A naturally purified aether stone with that amount of age, even Alpha level beings could use it. My eyes glinted just thinking about the amount it could fetch. No, such a treasure was priceless, if one tried to sell it, they wouldn’t even know how they died. Except of course it belonged to a royal house.

“Fine, it’s an aether stone. You got me. Happy now?”

I took a glance at the woman running beside me again for a long moment, at a loss of what to even say.

“How avaricious could you get?” I asked. “I thought we agreed on sharing the spoils fifty- fifty.”

“When did I say I was going back on my words?” she decided to act dumb. “We haven’t left the tomb yet, have we?”

“Yeah right.” I scoffed. “Sure, if we weren’t being chased by some life sucking bugs, you would tell me about the stone.” I rolled my eyes.

“We might have to run all the way to the end of this maze” Sia suddenly changed the topic. “Because there’s no way I’m leaving the stone behind.” she added.

“I second that.” Hell would freeze over before I left something that valuable to some mindless bugs. My reflection had more than enough aether to keep running. And it wasn’t like the bugs were also near catching us. Plus, we had almost crossed three- fourth of the maze, at least according to the map.

————–

While Damon and Anastasia were running for their dear lives in the maze, things back at the institute was a lot more subdued.

Alistair was faced with a bizarre situation. He looked at the stunning woman sitting opposite him once more, and her words replayed in his mind.

“I want you to become my student.” She had said.

About ten minutes earlier, Alistair was just leaving the training hall, lost in his thoughts, when he bumped into someone. He snapped out of it and tried to apologize, but then noticed it was their geography instructor, Instructor Summers. Her long oak brown hair, and her mesmerizing emerald eyes instantly rendered him speechless.

It took him staring for almost ten seconds before he snapped out of it.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t notice you there, Instructor Summers. And also, forgive my rudeness. It was inappropriate to stare.” He swiftly bowed a little.

Instructor Summers smiled. But in Alistair’s view, that smile was blindingly bright, so much that he froze once more.

“No need, it’s understandable.” she said, obviously used to stares. “I have something to speak to you about though.” She continued. “Come with me.”

Alistair continued staring at she left, before his brain resumed working, and he followed after her. Walking silently, they soon reached the upper floors of the dome, before Instructor Summers stopped before a door scribed with the words; Instructor Summers.

She entered, after the pushing the door open, and Alistair followed with no hesitation.

Alistair had realized that this was her office by now. He was slightly amazed by the place. The office space was big, bigger than Alistair’s own dorm even.

“Sit.” the stunning instructor motioned to a nearby couch, while he was lost in awe.

Alistair hurriedly took a seat, and the instructor then took a sit on the couch opposite him.

’What could she possibly have to speak to me about?’ He finally thought, but before he could think any further,

“I want you to become my student.” She said. Alistair stared at her, baffled. ’Become her student?’ he thought. Out of all things, he hadn’t expected her to say this. What was the reason she was asking this?

“There are two reasons why I want to take you as a student.” She continued. “One of the reasons is that, with your potential, you’ll grow up to be a solid pillar of humanity and Nahaar alike. And I want to have a hand in building that pillar.” She paused, letting her words sink in.

And sink in they did. ’So that’s the reason.’ Alistair thought. It was way simpler than he thought.

“The second reason meanwhile, is because I don’t like seeing people who don’t maximize their potential.” she said, before she smiled again. “Believe it or not, even with your physique rank, the current rank 1, is currently stronger than you are.”

This provoked an exaggerated rection on Alistair’s face. His eyes widened.

“Stronger than me?” He muttered. No way, he had never even entertained that thought. To him the current ranks didn’t matter, after all, they weren’t based on combat prowess. Sure Anastasia had shown she was powerful, and he knew she was, but to him, she was still lower than he was in strength. He was supposed to be the most powerful first year.

“Yes, she certainly is stronger than you currently are.” Instructor Summers affirmed. “And she will be, for a long time, especially if you keep going the way you are now.”

Clench! Alistair clenched his fists.

“I’ll surpass her.” he muttered.

“That’s the spirit. So, would you like to become my student?” the stunning instructor asked. “I’m a master of the spear myself.” she added.

Alistair looked at her, he was the heir to House Drake, so he had also had powerful teachers before, the strongest being his very own father who stood at the Beta rank. But here at the institute, he had no one to personally guide him, so Instructor Summer’s proposal while unexpected, was far from unwelcomed. She was a Delta ranked aetherial after all, and besides, ’She’s pretty, stunning even.’ he silently thought.

“It would be my pleasure.” he smiled.

“Great.” she also smiled. “From now on, you’ll be my student, till the day you surpass me, at which point, I’ll stop being your master. Do you accept?”

“Yes, Master.” Alistair replied.

“Good.” she nodded. There are still two weeks to the Mid terms, in that time, I’ll make you the strongest first year.”

If Damon was here, he would realize, this relationship of master and student between Alistair and Instructor Summers, had formed way earlier than it was supposed to be due to Anastasia’s presence.

Were he to really be here, Damon would be wondering whether to strangle Anastasia, for being the cause of this, or praise her for the fact that the protagonist of the novel was getting stronger. After all, doom was quietly approaching this world, in less than a decade.

**************

A/N:The second trial will end in the next Chapter, I think it has dragged on long enough.

Thanks for the support everyone. There are now five privilege advanced Chapters on webnovel. So if you want to read ahead, you’re welcome.

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