Chapter 45: The Predicament
Sol and Alice's training passed by quickly. The day was done with their attacks getting sharper and cleaner and, while Alice still had no idea what her skills were, she could somehow figure out what her passive ability was. Namely something connected to enhancing her reflexes.
While they were busy doing this, King Jubilee finished reading through all the details he needed. Taking note of all the parts which he himself highlighted when he was young. Lilia also took all the prototypes just as the king ordered, transporting them immediately to Pentagon using a [Teleportation Rune].
Everyone did their part in ensuring that the Void domain would win. It was their one and only shot after all and, nobody understood the weight of this more than the king himself. Hence, he returned to Pentagon as soon as he could, bringing Lilia as promised and introducing her to the two remaining titans.
"Solomon, Alice, this is Lilia Pendragon, my second wife." She looked at the children while rubbing her chin.
"Jubilee, they don't look that gifted to me." Alice immediately disliked Lilia. In fact, she tried her best not to look annoyed.
"Hahaha. They are kinda small aren't they? But their muscles are well developed because of the lives they lived in the slums and, their seeds aren't something you can see from the outside."
"Well, that is true. Anyway, I'd love to be introduced as a scientist instead but, nice to meet you two." Lilia said, extending her hand to Solomon and then to Alice.
While exchanging introductions, Sol thought it weird that Alice actually looked like a younger version of Lilia. The same silk black hair, the same devil red eyes, the same bloodless looking skin and, an expression of disinterest to the common ways of men. But he paid it no mind for the moment.
"Let's head to the training facility, we'll be doing everything there." King Jubilee said.
"Should I get the equipment ready now?" Lilia asked, with Jubilee nodding in reply.
"Be back in a bit." Lilia furthered, leaving the king and the two Void titans to themselves.
"Okay, as for you two, the training facility is…this way." Jubilee touched the wall and a door opened immediately. They didn't even need to move from where they stood as the area adjusted for their needs.
"Well? Come in then."
It was a large open field. Target dummies were scattered all around and, there were large empty areas on every side. On top of this was the viewing area where Sol and Alice currently stood. Looking at everything in utter amazement. It was basically twice the size of the oval where they ran.
"Now onto the planning. I know that you and Alice have some sort of idea on how to win laid out in your mind but, believe me when I say that the nine domains wouldn't be that easy."
King Jubilee showed the profiles of the strongest among the titans. Including Jade of the Fire Domain.
"During the meeting with the other domains, we have been told of the primary power owned by all the titans. These are just vague general description without actually telling us their powers. But that in itself is enough to measure their danger level." King Jubilee said, moving his hand in a swiping motion which the [Notification Windows] followed.
"The good news is, during that time you two were still normal. So there was nothing for me to say. Except that I have five brats…well only two now…who will be representing the Void. Anyway, enjoy reading." King Jubilee said, allowing the two children to grasp what they were in for.
[Fire Domain Titan - Jade]
[Ability - Green Flames]
[The highest grade of flames that has ever been recorded in the Fire Domain's history.]
[Water Domain Titan - Melissa]
[Ability - Moist Manipulation]
[The ability to use water to the point that she could even control mist and, probably the water within a person's body.]
[Steel Domain Titan - Hendrix]
[Ability - Man of Steel]
[Amplifies body defense. Probably uses a heavy melee weapon which can deal destructive damage.]
[Summoners Domain Titan - All]
[Ability - Summoning]
[Each summoner has a unique set of summons which could all use five spells.]
[Frost Domain Titan – Tia]
[Ability – Sub Zero]
[The highest grade of ice that has ever been recorded in the Frost Domain's history.]
"Of course the other domains also have their strongest cards but, I think these are what you should watch out for. Take note that they would also have teammates and, those would be almost at the same level at the very least."
Alice expected that much. Even with their powers being unlocked, the situation was still dire. Yet, the smile on Sol's face didn't leave. In fact, he was already thinking of ways on how to bring down their enemies.
"You don't seem fazed Sol." The king took mention of the boy.
"They're still mortal my liege. Even if we are pawns and they are bishop, rooks, knights or even a queen, they could still be taken down."
"They're still mortal huh?" The king said in a flat and unimpressed tone.
"That is true Sol. But for you to do that, I need you both to understand your abilities well." The king snapped his fingers, creating a virtual window with a log of both the skills of Sol and Alice.
"While both of you have unlocked your powers, you aren't actually capable of even harnessing a quarter of what those could really do. You know the reasons to this already. However, your passive skills are different."
"Why is that?" Alice asked.
"It's because passive skills do not require any mana. These are always active and, will be the primary source of your strength." Solomon answered.
"Right you are Sol." The king snapped his fingers, showing the data of Alice's passive.
[Ability Name: Danger Sense]
[Ability Type: Passive]
[Mana Consumption: None]
[Details: The wielder of David's Battle Sense (D.B.S.) will feel when danger enters within a 5-meter radius. Once any hostility reaches a 2-meter radius, reflexes of the (D.B.S.) wielder will enter an inhuman speed.]
"The strength of your passive goes up depending on the amount of training and effort you place into improving it. This facility already has a stage set just for that very purpose."
"Thank you my liege." King Jubilee gave a nod and, went to Solomon next. Snapping his fingers again and showing a different passive skill.
[Ability Name: Cold Blooded]
[Ability Type: Passive]
[Mana Consumption: None]
[Details: The wielder of Solomon's Wisdom (S.W.) will always place logic before anything else in decision making. Morality is irrelevant in order to gain the highest results. Duration for decision making is thus greatly reduced.]
[Note: This requirement for activating the skill has not yet been met.]
"What does this mean?"
"What it means, Sol, is that even your passive is still locked. I thought it was just a glitch at first so I didn't pay it any mind. But now that I've used my Analyze on you again, the same thing is being displayed." Sol was thinking about it and, he actually had an answer in mind. It was just that he couldn't bring himself to actually say it.
"Although you did awaken your seed, the skill has a prerequisite. That is, you yourself must kill a person without any hint of remorse nor regret. That's the only time you can unlock [Cold Blooded] and frankly speaking, without that skill, I doubt you'd have any actual chance of winning."
"But I can kill for his part as well my liege."
"Don't be a fool. You can't actually expect that every plan you come up with will work a hundred percent do you? This isn't a controlled environment anymore. The variables won't add up the way you want them to because unlike Pandora's Box and the Maze, these are real, thinking, and evolving human beings."
"So when do I start?" Sol asked, knowing that the king will have something prepared by that time.
"A bit eager aren't you Sol? Don't worry though, everything is already prepared for you." The king clapped his hands and, the sound of doors sliding open could be heard on the training grounds.
Solomon and Alice looked below them and, saw a single person; a pregnant woman at that, standing in a sort of fearful state. She was holding on to a knife and was clearly on edge. With her hair wildly lose and her eyes reflecting a nightmarish fear.
"That woman raped a nobleman boy, the same age as the two of you. She drugged him, forcing his penis to get hard even though the woman tied him up and held him at gunpoint. The child she is bearing is the fruit of that act."
Solomon and Alice looked at the lady and had different expressions. Alice on the one hand gave the vibe of easily taking care of it like a true huntress. While, Sol showed nothing of the sort. And it was this very difference in disposition that the king needed to get rid of.
"Sol…" The king tapped on the boy's shoulder before saying the command:
"Kill her."