Edward Suncrest Pov

In the state of Iowa, there were six towers that rose up higher than any skyscraper. All six of them were wizard towers.

That didn’t mean that there were no other organizations there. In the west of Iowa, an enormous graveyard had appeared, filled with zombies, ghouls and all kinds of undead. On the border in the north, there also appeared to be a small knights castle, teeming with knight.

Meanwhile, I who was receiving all this information was headed towards the largest wizard tower there. A this point in time, I was slightly regretting my decision to leave home, although my feet were resolutely marching towards my destination.

Soon, I reached the base of the Wizards tower, where thousands milled around. Approaching one of the servant looking people, I asked them how I could register and join this wizard tower.

Receiving no reply, I continued bothering them until one of them opened their mouths, only to show that he had no tongue. Having been given yet another shock (been happening a lot recently) I stood there, looking like a statue.

Having seen my predicament, one of the bystanders told me about the registration. Apparently, the Knights, Wizards and even the Undead(?) were hosting joint registration at the city plaza, since it was big enough and was a place where many congregated.

Having arrived here for no reason, I hailed another taxi and yet again went on another journey. Soon, I arrived at said plaza and got off the taxi. After paying my fares, I went into the plaza and had to squeeze through what appeared to be more than ten thousand people.

Taking a look around, I realized that the plaza was split into three major factions. First were the people dressed in robes, standing in the centre of the plaza, showing that they had the most power here.

Standing to the side, there were people dressed in shiny silver knights armour. They were glaring angrily and showing great hostility to the people in the third and final faction.

Unsurprisingly, the last faction quite literally consisted of rotting corpses. They gave off a rank odour as they stood there, unmoving.

I wasn’t particularly interested in the interests of the other two factions, but when I saw that the Wizards appeared to wield the most amount of authority here, I breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, appearances don’t count for everything, but at least it was slightly reliable.

Looking around, I found the line for the registration to be a wizard and waited for my turn.

While I was waiting, I realized that most of the people here were either young children of the age of 15 to 16 or people like me who were around their 30’s. There were barely any elderly and teens were the majority of those who were here.

Soon, there was only one person left before I was tested.

He looked to be about 17 years of age, a lanky looking teen. Should I also mention the fact that he looked like a snotty rich kid? The kind that people wanted to beat up? Anyways, since it was almost my turn, I observed his actions carefully.

The wizard in charge of him led him in front of a pedestal, on which a fragment of a crystal lay. The Wizard then told him something which led the teen to start a conversation with him, the contents of which I was not privy to. Seeming to have reached a conclusion, the teen placed his hands on the crystal, which began to glow a light shade of green.

Seeming unsatisfied, the Wizard shook his head, and said several words to the teen, presumably the teen’s talent or something was unsatisfactory. Seeming angry, the teen tried touching the orb again, causing it to give a light green glow again, only this time it was several times weaker.

Seeming to be angry, the teen shouted. “What kind of shitty thing is this! I’m definitely capable of being a Wizard, do you know who I am?”

Ahh the do you know who I am card. Seems like my initial judgement was right, he was a snotty rich brat. No wait, since it’s a fantasy world now maybe I should call him arrogant young master? But he doesn’t exactly qualify, does he?

Useless thoughts flitted through my head, interrupted only when I heard a huge crash. Ahh the kids done it now. He had used his arm to pick up and smash the judging crystal (or whatever the heck it was called) and was now stomping angrily on its remains.

“Fuck this piece of shit! You definitely messed with it, bring me another one!” he demanded.

Sighing slightly to myself, I wondered why this kind of idiot even existed. You could see these kind of people occasionally on the tv and the internet but you wouldn’t actually believe it until you see it happening right in front of you.

This idiot had smashed an obviously important thing, that belonged to WIZARDS. WIZARDS I tell you. If even half the legends were true, then this guy had gone and fucked himself. Even if the System prevented attacks, there were many other things that could be done other than just attacks.

And just like I expected, the Wizard with an expression of extreme anger, took out several materials and began chanting in a language unknown to me. Seeming to have sensed the danger, the teenager warily stepped back.

“What are you fucking doing? You better not attack me; the system and my father won’t allow it!”

Looking at him, the Wizard finished his incantation and pointed his finger at the teenager.

Immediately a purple green cloud appeared around the teen, enveloping him completely. Eventually it dissipated, revealing the results, and boy was it disturbing.

Limbs bent backwards and on all fours, the head had a set of mandibles and one eye. Not a single human feature remained, and apparently, not a single shred of personality remained either, since it started chewing on its hands. A couple of servants came over and hung… It on a stake, likely as a warning to other candidates.

Soon, another crystal fragment was procured, and the wizard with a gloomy face came to me.

“My name is Hakha, tell the system to show me your mana and mindpower stats. Don’t worry, it will only show those two stats, nothing else will be revealed.”

Following his instructions, I told the system to sow him my mana and mind power stats. A notification screen appeared between us both, showing the stats I requested for.

Looking over my stats, Hakha murmured. “Hmm mana is average but mind power is extraordinarily high for a beginner, plus…”

Looking over at me, he asked. “You, beginner! Does your skill have a multiplicative or additive effect?”

“It has a multiplicative effect of 1.1”

Hearing this, Hakha’s eyes showed a trace of excitement.

“Beginner what is your name?”

“Edward, Edward Suncrest.”

“Good. Edward Suncrest, do you wish to join the Five elements tower?”

Presumably, that was the name of that organization.

“Yes, I do.” Was my calm reply.

Finally looking excited, he asked me to test my affinity by touching the crystal.

Complying with his instructions, I touched the crystal, upon which it shone with a bright red light.

[Edward Suncrest has touched a portion of a Mana crystal, Mana increases by 5]

Woah, big benefits for just touching a broken crystal!

Stepping forward, Hakha couldn’t conceal his excitement this time.

“Hahah intermediate talent for fire, aright that’s even better!” Gesturing for me to follow, he walked into a tent, with several dozen small rooms. Bringing me to one of the larger rooms, he told me that I had to wait here until his shift was over, before he could bring me and the other candidates to the Wizard tower.

After telling me that I could ask the servants for food and refreshments, he returned to the outside and continued his job.

Sitting there calmly, I considered why he was so happy.

Perhaps it was because I my skill was a really good one, and the fact that I had intermediate talent for fire (I’m assuming that that meant I was good at using fire) was like icing on the cake.

Maybe he felt that having found me would cover up the loss of that crystal fragment?

If that was the case, I really had to thank that teenager. In the end, you were of use after all!

As I was contemplating, one of the servants, a pretty girl with rosy dimpled cheeks politely asked if I would like some food. Accepting her offer, I ended up eating some fried chicken.

So the tastes of ancient humanity didn’t differ too far from the modern generation huh.

Thanking the servant, I ate my fill before taking a short nap. As my consciousness faded away, I inadvertently thought about my only son, Ezekiel.

That little bugger would probably be in a similar situation as mine right now. I know, since I was the one who raised him.

Soon, I fell asleep, dreaming of my glorious future.

[Edward Suncrest]

Rank 1

Gender: Male

Rookie Wizard

Vitality: 12

Strength: 13

Mana: 15

Mind Power: 16 (17)

Attack: N/A Defence: N/A

Skills: Unwavering Will Lvl 1

Ezekiel Suncrest Pov

My father is a ‘Real person’. A Real person amongst many fakes. That’s why I respect him so much, he wasn’t one of those people who would wear a mask of lies and step into society. No, he stays true to himself regardless of anything.

Why did I think like this? Well, when I was 10 years old, my father sat me down on the sofa and looked at me with a serious face. I saw that look on his face, and I immediately knew where this was going. As expected, the words that came out of his mouth next were “Son, let me teach you your second lesson.”

“In life, you can only believe in yourself. Look at all your friends, do you trust them? If I were you, I wouldn’t trust them. Everyone in this world has two faces, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Even you, do you not act differently around different people? This goes for your friends as well, they have different masks on, different treatment even for different people. Then, do you know whether the face your friends show you is the real one?”

“That is why, you should only trust yourself. God knows what those other people have under their façade of friendliness. Your friend Jim, maybe beneath that happy expression, he actually wants to kill you. Teacher Jessica? Maybe she’s a child molester. You never know! This world is full of hazardous things, death lurks around every corner, and in order to stay clear of them, never believe in others! Only then, would you be able to live longer, be able to survive longer.”

Just like with the first lesson, I was shocked. My entire worldview had been flipped upside down yet again. After accepting my father’s teachings, I began taking notice of the things happening around me more clearly. And he was right! Everyone has multiple faces, multiple facades! Only they knew which one was the real them, who knows what their actual motives are! After realizing this, I became wary of everything, which allowed me to survive my school life.

It turns out that Jim I fact had an abusive father, and in the end when he died of alcohol overdose, Jim began taking his father’s role in abusing his sister. Last, I heard of him, he was in jail for killing two men.

As for teacher Jessica, I never really found out whether she was a paedophile, but one time when I was outside her office, I heard some sexy moans leak out from behind the door. That’s why I concluded that my father was probably right about her as well.

I considered myself lucky that I had Edward as my father. Even if he had killed my biological parents, I feel no grudge against him. Why? Well he took responsibility for it of course. In my parent’s stead, he had raised me into what I am now, probably better than what my biological parents could have as well.

Which brings me to the whole point of this monologue.

If other people can put on facades and plot against me, then naturally I could do the same, and kill them as well.

Which was why I was currently standing in the middle of a group of corpses, looking at what was before me.

When the System had started up, I was just as surprised as anyone else. However, I calmed down faster than anyone else in my hiking group, due to my special upbringing.

It was when the System began talking about ancient heritages being reopened that It occurred. A cave opened up right in front of my group of ‘friends’. Deciding to explore the cave, we found out that this cave was the inheritance of one of those Inspectors who had come to inspect earth.

Eventually, we realized that only one of us could receive this legacy. It took only a few words of dissatisfaction before the whole group collapsed from infighting. (They were arguing not fighting)

Looking at the imbeciles in front of me, I sighed. They were truly idiots. To think that I would have become one of them were I to not have been fostered by Edward… I really couldn’t imagine a bleak future like that.

Taking a look at my status, I had confirmed it once more. Then I used my skill, [Will of the commander]. I thoroughly dominated the wills of the pathetic group of weaklings there and completely crushedand absorbed it. It was an interesting sensation to say the least, the closest thing I could compare it to be was a battle of wills. Naturally, I won and they, even as a group lost.

Fortunately, this counted as an act of consuming rather than attacking, so I wasn’t prevented by the System. It ws a good thing the System had multiple loopholes, i would have to thoroughly exploit this while it lasts...

Stepping over their bodies, I grabbed one of their corpses before throwing it at the shining sphere. Unsurprisingly, it immediately exploded and turned into bloody water. Nodding at my ingenuity, I once again threw another corpse at it. This time, whatever forcefield was surrounding it finally broke, allowing me access to the inheritance.

Reaching out, I grabbed the crystal, whereupon a huge influx of information was transferred over to me. Slowly, I sorted through the information and understood it. It was then that I broke out in a rare smile.

[Ezekiel Suncrest has crushed and consumed the wills of 15 mortals]

[Mind power has increased by 4]

[Ezekiel Suncrest has gained inheritance of The Blood Immortal.]

[Ezekiel Suncrest]

Rank 1

Gender: Male

Blood cultivator

Cultivation technique: Longevity Blood Condensing Scroll

Vitality: 13

Strength: 13

Blood qi: 16

Mind Power: 18

Attack: N/A Defence: N/A

Skills: Will of the commander Lvl 1, Blood servant creation Lvl 1, Blood manipulation Lvl 1

Looking at my status screen, I laughed. It wasn’t one of those false laugh you can hear anywhere. This was a laugh coming from the depths of my soul, rushing out of my mouth and reverberating in the cave.

Truly, it was the perfect complement to my original skills. This must be destiny! Looking forward to my splendid future, I thought about Edward. He must be excelling as well somewhere in the pursuit of [Survival].

Smiling, I began cultivating with the surrounding corpses blood. I too wished for [Survival], and after that perhaps… [Immortality].