The Ancient Genes

Headmaster's Office, Arcane Division, Orca Academy.

"Speak…" the headmaster said as he kept his file aside.

Max nodded before explaining the situation to him.

"Sigh!"

The headmaster massaged his head after listening to him.

"So what do you plan to do now?" Max asked.

"Well, they aren't the only ones who have got people in the Noble Houses." the headmaster replied.

Max wasn't surprised. In fact, he would be if they didn't.

"Avoid that guy for now. I will try to do something about him. But we have to wait until he is out....its too risky if he doesn't come out of the mansion.

" And just to let you know, we have methods to identify people like you, the one who carries the lineage from previous eras…we can't be sure that they don't have that kind of ability."

'Just like I thought….' Max thought inwardly.

"So be sure not to make it obvious. Honestly, when it comes to you...I can't see through. Either you are just good at hiding your awakened powers or I am not good enough at it." the headmaster said with a sigh.

"I am confident at hiding myself.." Max felt he was confident at hiding himself. After all, he had never met anyone who could look through him.

The headmaster nodded.

"About the All Academy Competition this time…" Max decided to bring it up.

"Yeah, this time 5 Ancient Families are sponsoring the event."

Max froze at his response.

"What do you mean?"

"It's simple. We are taking the charge." The headmaster replied.

"Why?" Max was curious.

"Well, it's because of the space crystal you had discovered….since there is a possibility of a teleportation formation being laid out. We would want to divert people out of the Capital as much as we could. Especially the younger generation….."

"You don't mean…" Max asked with tensed brows. Was a war going to occur?

"You don't need to worry about it. The Ancient families are way stronger than they look. We will crush them if they try it...well we can't guarantee the capital's safety though."

Using the Competition was a good idea. Many people would surely move around this time for watch the competition. Especially from Capital, after all the nobles had both the wealth and reason to do so....

"Besides, it's not only that. A few of the families have become desperate. The Zatch family has found their wielder and so has the Storm Family. The others are probably using this chance to scout out some talent…"

"You mean…" Max's eyes sparkled as a smiled form in his face.

"Yes, you can get your hands on the Artifact but it's not going to be easy." The headmaster said as his face sunk.

"The old guys have planned to send the candidates through the Doors of Ancient Cemeteries. Only the one who can return will get the chance to touch the Artifact."

"There are Ancient Cemeteries under the Ancient Families' control?"

"It's not under our control but it's more like we lost control. We live in the same space as the Cemetery. Our Ancestors had controls over it. But we don't, luckily it has been fixed to one coordinate by the formation laid down by our Ancestors so we don't have to worry about drifting."

"But aren't you people asking too much? Do you know how hard it is to return from the place?" Max asked as he looked at him.

The headmaster forced a smile, "Do you think an ordinary person will be allowed near the Artifact when even the geniuses of the Ancient Families had failed…."

Max nodded. It made sense.

"That's why we are going all out. It's not as simple as the winner gets the chance. We will select people with potential. If you look at it, this time everyone has got a fair shot at it."

It was true. Everyone had an event at their hand. So they could use it to gain an advantage. Not to mention even alliances between Academies were possible.

Let's say if all the Academies joined hands and planned the event unfavorable to Orca Academy while others cooperated.

After all unlike the previous times, nothing was known and therefore we couldn't prepare beforehand.

"Anyway, I expect great work from you. Lead the Academy to Victory." The headmaster said with a smile.

"Don't be crazy. How many students do you think we have?"

"100 or so…" the headmaster replied.

"We barely have any who are at the level of competition. I can only count three people. Lear and Axel including myself."

"Why not recruit some students?" The headmaster said with a sly smile.

He was not talking about recruiting but stealing….

"I will see…..anyway. Don't expect anything with only these few people. And Wilson wanted to get back to the Academy. So you can count him as the first recruit."

"Well, I will lend you a hand. Come here, I have got some information you will need for the competition. We have to aim for the first place."

With the matter settled, Max talked with the headmaster for a while discussing in detail about what competition. He was oddly fired up this time. He had really gone through a great length to prepare details and analysis of different Academy's strengths and weaknesses.

As Max left, the headmaster smiled, "You better keep your promise old man…."

He had made a bet with his father. If they beat every other Academy, he was promised to receive the Divine Artifact.

He didn't tell Max about it because he didn't trust his father fully. That old man might go back at his words anytime, but even if there was a slight chance….it was worth it.

He knew that his father had agreed because they didn't have a chance. The competition this time wasn't about a single person. Nor was it all about strength. It was hard to determine who would come at top. But for Arcane, they were already a step behind due to their lack of numbers and quality.

….

The sun went below the horizon and soon it was dark. The moon hung in the night sky as the temperature dropped.

"I see you have arrived early as usual."

Max turned around to look at the Bahamut who had arrived with the giant man and and a woman with a seductive figure.

"Woah! This guy is huge…" Lear said in surprise as he looked at Mr. Gentle.

"He is indeed very big…" Lisa muttered in surprise as well.

"Uhmn…you can save that for later. Let's get going." Max said as he looked at them.

"So why did you ask me to bring him along?" Bahamut asked Max as he pointed at the giant behind.

"I met a Demon, a strong one. I don't think he will attack us in open. But it's still not bad to have reassurance. After all, even if I can escape, I don't think it's the same for everyone."

"Then, I won't let him interfere unless necessary then…." Bahamut said before taking a pause and continuing as glanced at Lisa, "To think you will even seduce Mge King's daughter…."

"Don't act like you don't know. Let's go…." Max nodded as they moved.

"You sure they will come after us?" Max asked.

"Well I think so. Even if they don't, I don't mind completing a few quests and catching a few criminals.….why don't we aim for a Master Tier Mage? I am sure with you and me we can definitely do it…."

Max smiled at him. He was correct not entirely though….

"Do we really need to wear these things?'' Lisa asked pointing at her disguise.

"Do you want to cause a commotion by being recognized? I already had a hard time getting you out of that place…" Max replied.

"Anyway, show me how far you can go while dealing with a real threat…."Max said with a calm tone.

"What about me?" Lear asked.

"I will have you work until you die. There is less than two week for the competition selection. Even though that doesn't have anything to do with us since we are guaranteed a spot at Arcane due to our low numbers, I willl still have you trade blows with Wilson."

"You kidding me?" Lear asked in shock. He came to know about Wilson's strength. He was a monster only second to Max.

"If you can't even do that, forget about beating your brother." Max replied with a calm voice.

"Tsk...then bring it on. I don't like something about that guy anyway. I might as well break his nose." Lear suddenly seemed fired up.

Max shook his head. These two were childhood enemies or rivals. If Lear didn't fool around, he might have been at Wilson's level too.

"Should I join too, I can get my father to transfer me, you know?" Lisa asked with a smile.

"Well, I wouldn't mind." Max said. In the back of his mind, he was thinking that it might be a good opportunity. If Axel wasn't coming forward, he would just bring Lisa in.

Truth to be told, he didn't want any of them hurt. But he wanted Axel to move forward and let his hatred go. As for Lisa whether she still loved Axel was not known. He really couldn't tell. She might have moved forward as well.

He just wanted both of them to be happy. Whether with each other or without each other…..Max knew well that carrying hatred would do no good. Especially for Axel who was using hatred as a fuel to live.

"Hey isn't that the guy…" Lear said as he looked at the photo and indeed matched the one on the wanted list.

"A high-level mage….." Bahamut muttered.

"You do it, Lisa. This area is too crowded....you know how to act, right?" Max asked as he looked at her.

She nodded nervously. Before jumping down and mixing with the crowd.

"You sure about it?" Lear asked. He could tell she was still at Mid Tier.

"Follow her and don't let her know." Max ordered and Lear immediately jumped down the roof mixing with the crowd as well.