Unlimited Power - The Arcane Path

"There you have it… I thought I would end up talking for several hours, but I was wrong." Ren said. "If I have to summarize the events of the past four years even further, I can do that in a single phrase: humanity got its ass kicked."

"I can see that…" Leon massaged his eyebrows. "I although I failed many times on that island, but I guess everyone had to face similar hardships."

"So, what are you going to do?" Ren asked.

"I have no idea… I only know that I don't want to spend four more years training." Leon said. "Do you have any idea how Ameri… how the spies of the Allied Forces of the North-America-America entered this country?"

"The higher-ups probably know, but I don't have that kind of information," Ren answered.

"Do you know what path the spies of this country use to spy us?" Leon asked.

"I have no idea… only the Emperor has that kind of knowledge." Ren answered.

It was a stupid question, but Leon decided to ask anyway, even though it was obvious he wouldn't learn that. Still, Leon thought that he would easily find a way back home after reaching the continent, but once again, he failed in his predictions. Regardless, he had no time to waste regretting or complaining. He now knew how the world was and had to make a plan of how to reach home as fast as possible.

"Why don't you rest for the day?" Ren asked. "You have to assimilate the information you just received, so I think it is not that a good idea to rush. Besides, I think you should change your clothes. I can help you if you want."

"Eh? Why would you do that?" Leon frowned.

"Because I think you would be chased out by all of our stores," Ren said. "Aren't you hungry? It is about time to have lunch."

"No… I'm asking why would you help me?" Leon asked. "I know you are already aware that I wasn't involved, but the people of my country did something bad to your country. Why would you help me?"

"I just want to prove that Japanese people still are reasonable people…" Ren looked away.

"Yeah, I already know that," Leon said. "It is reasonable that they hate me because I'm American; I'm not joking. So, what is your real reason? Spit it out."

"Ah, you are really impatient." Ren scratched the back of his head.

"I spent four years in a Godforsaken island… I don't have time to lose." Leon furrowed his eyebrows.

"Right… I wanted to get along with you and later ask for your cooperation." Ren looked away. "It is kind of shameless doing that after we all treated you and without helping you in any way, but that is my goal."

"You need my help?" Leon frowned. "You survived those four years and helped many people while recovering a place to live, why would you need my help?"

"You are right. I did all that… but only because I got lucky." Ren said. "Although I'm one of the counselors of the Emperor, I barely have any influence, and I'm only respected in this small port. I'm not strong enough to do the things I want to do."

Leon rubbed his chin and started to think. Although Ren was wearing a Japanese armor and had a katana, he was just a survivor like him. He didn't look much older than Leon, so perhaps he had a wrong image of him. Humans obtained power, but just like Leon himself, most couldn't do everything alone.

Regardless, maybe it would be a good idea to help Ren, the more the allies, the better. However, Leon couldn't afford wasting time helping others, he had already spent four years away from home, and it didn't look like by assisting Ren, he would get his hands in a means to return home faster.

"Sorry, but I have my hands full with my own problems," Leon said.

"I know, but if you help us, maybe you can find a way to return home," Ren said.

"Help your friends, not only you?… It seems you have something in mind." Leon frowned. " Unless you tell me exactly what you mean, I cannot take any chances."

"You are right… let's see..." Ren nodded. "If you help us and achieve something big, the emperor himself might reward you giving what you want."

"Really? If he discovers from where I am from, won't he cut my head?" Leon asked. "Besides, what do you mean by something big? Can a single person help him that much?"

"The emperor isn't that unreasonable…" Ren frowned. "Although he still angry due to that incident, he wouldn't execute someone who helps our country. You said you killed hundred of megalodons, right? You certainly have the power to impress him."

"… I can't imagine that." Leon said. "He must have dozens of soldiers who can do the same for him."

"Are you joking? I don't know how you obtained the power to kill such beasts, but only a few individuals can kill monsters like that." Ren explained. "It looks like you got the wrong idea of this place… to protect the port, we have to use the strength of thirty soldiers to damage a Megalodon and make it give up."

"Really? Can't you just make your soldiers learn lightning magic and toast the monsters while it is in the ocean?" Leon asked.

"… It seems you will have to learn many things." Ren sighed. "Although we can learn certain abilities by doing certain actions, things are completely different for magic. Some individuals managed to learn magic by themselves, but most people can't learn without using tomes."

"That was the same with me… I had a hard time learning, but the basics aren't that difficult." Leon said. "Controlling earth is pretty easy; you just have to transfer your mana."

"What?" Ren asked with his mouth wide open.

At that moment Leon noticed, it looked like survivors were relying too much on tomes to learn skills. That was probably why he didn't get attacked when he reached the port.