CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 666: Information-2

Malrik remained in silence, his legs crossed as he observed Asher engrossed in his thoughts. He didn’t press him; Asher had been bombarded with a significant amount of heavy information today, starting from when he awoke after his duel with Debro. It was natural that he required time to process it all.

After a period of quiet contemplation, Asher glanced at Malrik and spoke, "You may proceed, Elder Brother."

Malrik gave a nod and continued, "Throughout history, they have engaged in assassinating powerful individuals across all Empires. Personally, I fail to grasp their methods; if they possess a specific objective, why not operate from the shadows and achieve it discreetly?" Malrik shook his head as he spoke further, "However, the Wargrave family has directly encountered them on three occasions, at least that I am aware of."

'Three times? One attacked Wuthenya, so who were the other two?' Asher pondered internally, choosing not to voice his questions, as he trusted Malrik would provide the explanations.

"The first encounter involved Grandfather; he was ambushed and killed by three Sinvairas. During the confrontation, he nearly managed to eliminate all three of them. The second was the individual who assaulted Wuthenya. The third confronted Father subsequent to his duel with Valentine, the Assassin Guild Leader," Malrik stated, his voice maintaining a composed tone, as if recounting a trivial matter devoid of its true gravity.

Asher's eyes narrowed. 'Grandfather...' he mused, 'What level of power must one wield to be ambushed by three Sinvairas and still come agonizingly close to defeating them all?' He couldn't help but visualize the formidable might of Azaron's father, a figure whose strength undoubtedly bordered on the incomprehensible.

'One confronted Father...' Asher thought, yet a sense of unease settled within him. How could a single Sinvaira confront Azaron when three had ambushed Azaron's father? Though he lacked precise knowledge of each individual's strength, Asher firmly believed Azaron stood among the top five strongest within the Empire. This disparity piqued his curiosity, compelling him to inquire.

"They did not engage in combat; it was an unforeseen meeting. Valentine had been secretly communicating with the Sinvaira. Thus, upon Valentine's demise, the Sinvaira dispatched a projection to eliminate his killer, only to encounter Father. However, no fight ensued, as it was unnecessary. While their projection could suffice against other Crownstar Life Rankers, it was certainly no match for a man of Father's caliber," Malrik explained, his words delivered with a steady, unhurried cadence.

Asher found himself astonished yet again. 'Are Crownstar Life Rankers truly this frail? To be dealt with by mere projections?' The more he heard, the more the entire situation seemed to defy logic, his established understanding of power being systematically dismantled.

Asher let out a sigh, his mind working with relentless intensity. He began piecing together the fragmented information in silence, arriving at another conclusion that necessitated verification, regardless of how uncomfortable the inquiry might be.

"I can reasonably assume that you eliminated the Sinvaira who attacked Elder Sister. Therefore, my question is, how was it possible for you to defeat such a being?" He met Malrik's clear blue eyes and asked, "I am merely curious... are you concealing your true strength, Elder Brother?" His tone carried a newfound seriousness, distinct from his earlier demeanor.

Malrik had once jested that his power surpassed the Crownstar Life Rank; while never explicitly stated, the implication had been strong. Furthermore, he had mentioned that Sinvairas originated at the Crownstar Life Rank and subsequently grew stronger. However, Asher interpreted this to mean they might begin at the Dust Crownstar Life Rank, not necessarily the Radiant sub-Life Rank, which represented the pinnacle of all Life Ranks.

Malrik gazed at Asher, his expression placid. Their blue and violet eyes met, one pair searching for answers, the other seemingly reluctant to unveil the full extent of the power held within. His silence conveyed far more than any spoken words could.

"You are currently at the Swiftstar Life Rank; achieve the Crownstar Life Rank," Malrik finally spoke, a familiar smile gracing his lips, as if the answer to all his questions resided within that single directive.

'Is this fellow a regressor, or perhaps he's suppressing his power or something?' Asher couldn't help but wonder, his mind swirling with numerous possibilities, none of which he could definitively confirm.

"Does Father know that you are concealing or suppressing your strength? And also, why are you doing so?" Asher inquired. Despite Malrik's non-committal responses to his earlier questions, Asher phrased his current query as if Malrik had already implicitly admitted to his suspicions.

Malrik, however, no longer saw the need to reply. He simply remained seated, his enigmatic aura intact, as if deriving a peculiar sort of amusement from observing Asher's speculative conjectures and circular reasoning, eternally denied a concrete answer.

Asher felt a flicker of irritation, his gaze fixed on Malrik’s unyielding smile, which seemed to conceal far more than it revealed.

‘But if he attained the Crownstar Life Rank at twenty-nine and is now thirty-two, how did he advance so dramatically in just a few years? I had assumed progress became more arduous at higher Life Ranks,’ Asher pondered internally, this query being his most significant puzzle. It was precisely why he had inquired about Malrik's sub-Life Rank during their previous visit to his battlefield.

‘One final question,’ Asher uttered, releasing a breath. He recognized his own inadequacy to extract information from Malrik by force. The details he possessed about Sinvairas were acquired through trade, and the knowledge of ‘The Consumed’ organization came from confronting someone linked to one of their cells.

‘I am all ears,’ Malrik responded, his tone nonchalant yet attentive.

‘Does a rank exist above the Crownstar Life Rank?’ Asher asked, deeming it the sole plausible explanation, perhaps an answer reserved only for those who had already reached the Crownstar Life Rank.

‘Perhaps… the true question, however, is what are you prepared to give up to ascend to that level?’ Malrik inquired as he stood. With effortless grace, he turned and began walking toward the exit. Pausing at the threshold, he looked back at Asher. ‘There’s no need to dwell on questions whose answers you cannot influence, little brother. As I’ve always advised, simply reach the Crownstar Life Rank as swiftly as possible.’ He offered another smile, this one resembling the affectionate grin of an elder sibling. With a wave, he departed the room, leaving his words to hang in the air.

Asher remained seated in quiet contemplation. Malrik had once again sidestepped his inquiries, as if articulating the answers might invite some form of disaster. ‘The Crownstar Life Rank,’ Asher mused; this wasn't the first time Malrik had urged him to achieve that level, hinting that something significant awaited all who arrived there.

‘What am I willing to sacrifice…’ Malrik’s words reverberated in Asher’s mind. He couldn't grasp it; he was simply too feeble to comprehend, a mere minnow unable to navigate the same waters as the leviathans.

And so, the room descended once more into silence, punctuated only by Asher’s unceasing and restless thoughts, which stretched endlessly into the great unknown.