It had taken the Sage magic-convertible ship half a day to arrive at the Sage island, making it five days since they had gone into the Sahuagin dungeon—just yesterday.
They were surprised to find the island vacant of the other candidates, only to discover that they’d been transported back to Earth just a few hours ago, and if they hastily packed up their belongings they might have a chance of catching up with them.
But before that, the candidates were called to the Sage elder’s office where they were informed that Felix wouldn’t be participating in the tournament due to the unforeseen circumstance. This was because putting him up with any of the candidates—including the S-Ranks and SS-Ranks—was a guaranteed win for him considering his high level.
So, to prevent the media from asking too many questions, as they couldn’t use the [Appraisal] Skill to see that it was clearly a lost cause and an unfair match for the other candidates if he were to participate, Felix was being publicized as an SSS-Rank Sage candidate—the only one in that decade’s set of Sage candidates, and the third there ever was with the Walton family head being the first, with the second being declared missing for over two decades now.
Felix didn’t have a problem with that, as he was confident he could pass for an actual SSS-Rank with all that had been going on for him lately. But someone wasn’t happy with the turn of events.
Felix couldn’t understand why Aaron was so desperate to impress his father, whoever he was in the Walton family, even as an SS-Rank. But if Aaron’s fear was valid, not only did he risk the lives of the other S-Ranks by leading them into an unsanctioned dungeon, he had smuggled weapons into the Sage island through a small-time Sage who was currently being investigated, ditched his party to monopolize the boss kill, abandoned the safety of people of Lumengarde for the boss, and attacked a fellow party member with the intent to kill.
These were the charges Aaron was currently facing, and if not for the respect of his family he would have been facing much serious consequences.
Felix had asked a Sage and they’d said Aaron would at most be getting a slap on the wrist by his family. But if Aaron’s fear was valid, then he would definitely be getting more than just that.
Nothing less than being disciplined with a golf stick at least—like those strict billionaire fathers in most movies.
Felix couldn’t stop himself from chuckling at the thought of Aaron being whooped in the ass with a golf stick by a Lv 10+ Sage—haha.
Felix returned to his dorm room to see Kelly’s side of the room was vacant now, which made him remember the first day she’d arrived with several briefcases that made him wonder what had been packed in them. Of which was still a mystery to him.
With a smile, he began loading up his belongings. They didn’t require more than a briefcase and a duffel bag for the little extra Kelly had gifted him from that day.
Felix felt indebted to her, and if it weren’t for those bras’ fighting with those fleshy mounds on his chest, unhinged, would have been a real nightmare.
Taking one last glance at the dorm room with a heavy sigh—the next people to occupy the room would be the next set of Sage candidates from the following decade. Because after the tournament, there was no use in coming back here. They’d be deployed into Vastoria as the next set of heroes, and the Sages from the previous set would be set free to return to Earth and choose whatever they wanted to do with their lives after that.
Their 10-year service to humanity was over.
They could still choose to return to Vastoria as Sages, or remain on Earth still as Sages. But they weren’t bound by any oath to protect or prioritize anyone’s life over theirs.
"Lilith, do you have any small blades?" Felix suddenly asked as an idea struck him. He wanted to leave a memory behind.
"I would have said no—because I use a scythe. But sensing that mischievous glint, I’ll craft one for you right now!"
Felix walked out of the room pulling his briefcase behind him.
If one were to open the door and walk into the room now they wouldn’t see or notice anything strange. That is, until they closed the door behind them to see the bold inscription carved behind the door. So bold that it covered the door’s length as it was written symmetrically from down to top:
With a bold drawing below it of what looked to be a ripped penis piercing through a heart and some liquids spurting out of its tip.
Felix and the other candidates met up at the designated location, boarded their magic-convertible ship and were flown to the Temple where it had all began. Then using the teleportation portal there connected to one from the Sage HQ at Earth, they were teleported back to Earth—just like they came.
As soon as they arrived at the familiar reception hall of Sage HQ with the teleportation runes faintly glowing beneath their feet, Felix could hear the loud cheers of a massive crowd gathered outside like a big artist was holding a concert, and could see the other Sage candidates, now all in the same combat all-black outfits with the Sage insignia imprinted on their chests, standing in a long queue just behind the door. Those at the front were stepping out into the crowd one after the other.
The candidates’ gazes were instantly drawn to the arrival of the missing S-Ranks. They began whispering amongst themselves, when one decided to hit Felix with his [Appraisal] skill. He screamed in shock, informing those around him, who began using their [Appraisal] skill as well, on not just Felix, but the rest of the candidates too. In the next moment, the Sage HQ became just as loud as the outside with the candidates screaming in shock.
[Felix Thomasville | Lv 4]
[Athenae Rhodes | Lv3]
[Lucy Sterling | Lv3]
[Ballista Stone | Lv2]
[Chelsey Finch | Lv2]
[Michael Reed | Lv2] ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI~Fire.net