Chapter 44 | Viktor Draven, Forever First
"Why the hell is he even here?" Levi asked, the bow he had bought from the Trading Centre held firmly in his hand, his expression a mixture of confusion and disdain. "I thought normal people weren’t able to enter the Awakener Association?"
"Maybe he yearned for it," Alex grinned widely, his voice dripping with condescension. "After all, he’ll never be one of us, so this is the closest he’ll ever get."
Levi, Alex and Daan had entered the First Layer around three weeks ago, their progression through the ranks swift and impressive.
Their potential was incredible, or at least that was what everybody told them, their classes praised by instructors and peers alike.
Each of them completed the Initial Stage in less than three days, a feat that most awakeners could only dream of, and completed their advancement task on the fifth day.
This meant that by now, they had been in the First Layer for almost a month, growing immensely strong and accumulating wealth beyond what most normal people could imagine.
Alicar could indeed see that the three of them were immensely powerful, more than he was currently, their levels far surpassing his own.
But still, while they were busy talking and laughing at him, he quietly peered into their souls, analyzing their true potential.
---
[Name: Daan Evanz]
[Level: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Potential: Excellent.]
---
[Name: Alex Starfield]
[Level: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Potential: Excellent.]
---
[Name: Levi Reaver]
[Level: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Potential: Good.]
---
Indeed, their potential was incredible, better than most people Alicar had observed over the past month of his grinding in the Initial Stage.
And yet, that didn’t even make him budge, their taunts rolling off him like water off stone.
Their levels were extremely high though, it seemed like they had spent most of their time fighting monsters.
"It’s fine, I don’t think someone like you would get it," Daan shook his head with a mocking expression, his voice filled with false pity. "After all, we’re already considered rich from all the cores and materials we sold while you’re still living in your shitty apartment!"
"Sure," Alicar shrugged, unbothered by their petty talk as he had more important things to do. "Anyway, goodbye."
Not only did he not care about them anymore the moment the awakening ceremony ended and they abandoned him, but they were much stronger than him now.
A level 18 awakener was beyond the power of even the Sun Beast, their strength far surpassing anything he had faced, so he knew he wouldn’t be able to do anything, making it better to retreat for now and avoid conflict.
And yet, his ex-friends weren’t quite done with him.
"Is that guy ignoring us?" Alex’s expression turned ice cold as he pointed at Alicar, his voice sharp with indignation. "Seems like years of friendship mean nothing to him!"
Fwoosh!
In an instant, a wall of bones rose from the ground in front of Alicar, blocking him completely, the skeletal structure gleaming with an eerie light.
’Right, he has the [Bone Wielder] class,’ Alicar thought as he gazed back at Alex, his expression neutral. ’Seems strong.’
The trio was about to intercept Alicar to do who knows what, their intentions unclear but certainly not friendly.
But right as they were about to reach him...
Slash!
A figure darted through the street with incredible speed and slashed through the wall of bones Alex had created, destroying it all in a single, fluid motion.
"I believe the Awakener Association has stated that using your powers for such reasons isn’t allowed," the figure spoke calmly, his voice carrying an edge of authority. "Scram."
Alex and Daan were about to retort, their faces flushed with anger, but Levi placed his arm in front of them, his expression darkening with recognition.
"Its Viktor," Levi warned his companions, his voice low. "Just move."
"Viktor?!" Alex’s eyes widened, a flicker of caution crossing his face. "Oh shit, we can’t beat him for now, but trust me," Alex pointed his arm at the man, his voice filled with bravado. "In just a few weeks or months, you won’t be able to talk to us anymore, Forever First."
"Sure," Viktor smiled, a dismissive gesture, and as he watched the trio leave, he shook his head as he turned back toward Alicar. "Do they do this often?"
"I don’t know, first time I saw them since my awakening," Alicar shrugged, his voice calm and unbothered.
At the same time, he took notice of the man before him, studying his appearance carefully.
Viktor was tall and lean, clad in a dark robe, a jagged lightning scar running down his left cheek that glowed faintly with residual energy, and a sleek dagger held loosely in his hand that hummed with power.
Then Alicar decided to peer into Viktor’s soul, and as he did, his eyes widened with surprise.
---
[Name: Viktor Draven]
[Level: 25]
[Race: Human]
[Potential: Supreme.]
---
’Daan, Alex and Levi seemed to know him, probably from the First Layer since he’s level 25,’ Alicar thought, his mind already racing with possibilities. ’A Supreme potential, just like Iris and Leon.’
Then he opened his mouth to speak, his voice calm and measured, "I haven’t seen you anywhere since I awakened."
"Yeah..." Viktor sighed as he glanced at his dagger, his fists clenched with frustration. "I’ve been trying to rank up for over two years now without success, so I got the nickname ’Forever First’."
"Why?" Alicar asked, genuinely curious.
"Because I’m forever stuck in the First Layer," Viktor spoke bittersweetly, his voice heavy with defeat. "But since I’m fairly strong there, I can defeat most opponents, it’s just that as soon as they advance to Tier-2, almost every awakener can defeat me because my stats are locked."
"Damn," Alicar replied, understanding the weight of those words.
Alicar wanted to ask what kind of advancement task could stop him for so long, or even what his task was, but he held back.
But seeing the man before him, someone who had been trapped for years by an impossible task, Alicar understood that this was the perfect vessel to recruit, someone who would be grateful for the opportunity.
And so, he simply asked, his voice carrying a hint of promise.
"Do you want another class?"