CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 696: Lior’s Sagely Words Of Wisdom

Finch found himself within his Astra energy dome, observing the sparring match between Asher and Williams. Initially, he had anticipated a similar method or spar to the one he, Williams, and the Rivelle siblings had previously experienced with Asher. This apprehension was precisely why he had been reluctant to participate from the start.

However, witnessing Asher provide genuine, back-to-back instructions, Finch couldn't help but watch with amazement. Asher meticulously dissected every flaw in Williams' attacks, defense, stance, and movements with a mastery that felt almost surgical.

Finch began to question whether opting out of this spar, or rather, this lesson, had been the correct decision. After all, he could clearly see Williams improving in real-time with nearly every clash; the boy's growth was palpable with each exchange.

’Who could have imagined Williams possessed such talent, or perhaps Asher’s teaching abilities are simply that exceptional?’ Finch pondered internally, his outward expression remaining unchanged, though his thoughts were far from tranquil.

To be clear, he was aware of Williams' inherent talent; he acknowledged the boy was a genius in the truest sense of the word. He simply hadn't anticipated the level of improvement that could be observed so vividly and with such astonishing speed.

“It seems I truly am the least talented in this group of friends,” he murmured to himself, a fact he had come to accept, yet was now starkly reminded of as he watched. The sound of his voice was swallowed by the sharp, metallic clash of Asher and Williams’ weapons ringing through the air.

“You still have me, though,” the bird perched on Finch’s shoulder chirped, its beady black eyes turning towards him.

Finch shook his head slightly. “While your abilities are indeed overpowered, they don’t directly enhance my talent,” he stated, his tone calm and steady, devoid of any hint of bitterness.

“For now,” Lior replied placidly, “you simply need to wait a couple of months. Who knows, with that incredible Good Luck ability you mentioned, you might just awaken some sort of talent-multiplying power,” Lior elaborated, still visibly impressed by Finch’s unique ability.

“I wonder how far ahead they will be in a couple of months,” Finch responded evenly. He felt no jealousy or envy, merely acknowledging the undeniable reality before him.

“But then again, you have no one to blame but yourself,” Lior added, his gaze shifting back to Asher and Williams, who were locked in a dynamic exchange of attacks and parries, their movements both fluid and relentless.

Finch raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?” he inquired, his tone remaining level, driven by simple curiosity rather than defensiveness.

“According to your own account, you’ve been rather lazy since childhood, content with the expectation of inheriting the Barony title and leaving the family’s history and prestige on the Whale name to your younger sister simply because she is exceptionally talented. But have you truly changed?” Lior questioned, his bird eyes still fixed on Asher. “Although your parents warned you about something significant approaching and advised you to train more diligently, the moment you were presented with an opportunity to be trained by that abnormal guy Asher, you refused. Out of what? Fear? Fear of what, precisely?” Lior probed, his expression and tone unwavering, his words sharp despite their calm delivery.

Finch remained silent, his eyes drawn to Williams. He could discern the fierce determination burning in the other boy's eyes, the unyielding will to learn and progress, and the injuries the young man simply ignored as if pain were an alien concept.

“This was your chance to improve, Finch, and you let it slip away,” Lior continued. “Right here, right now, Williams has once again widened the gap between himself and you.” Lior shook his head as he spoke. “And what was your excuse for missing such a golden opportunity? The abnormal Asher guy had no experience with chains or chained weapons; by that logic, Williams shouldn’t even be participating in this spar since Asher wields a rapier, not a saber,” Lior pointed out, then fell silent, seemingly allowing Finch to fully absorb his words.

Finch was quiet for a moment, unsure how to respond. Lior’s assertions were undeniably true, a fact he couldn’t dispute. While he had previously declared his intention to train seriously and had indeed increased his training intensity at that time, had he truly elevated it to the level Asher and Williams had? Had he pushed his body to the absolute limits they had reached?

Definitely not.

They were the most talented, yet they were also the most diligent, a combination that rendered them nearly impossible to surpass.

Those unaware of Asher and Williams might believe their current standing was achieved effortlessly, purely through innate talent rather than rigorous training. However, the reality painted a vastly different picture. Even Ryaen relentlessly pushed her limits daily, with Asher serving as her ultimate benchmark, steadfastly refusing to trail behind regardless of the path's arduous nature.

The simple truth was that Finch had indulged in a life of leisure, unburdened and carefree, with an entire Barony awaiting his inheritance. It was unrealistic for him to suddenly adopt a determined mindset and instantaneously match the training intensity of Williams and Asher.

Such a profound shift in both attitude and training regimen typically stemmed from a significant tragedy. Events like the demise of his parents or sister, or any equally devastating occurrence, would force personal growth upon an individual, whether they felt prepared or not.

"Frankly, I believe your reliance on your Good Luck talent is excessive," Lior continued, his composure unwavering, seemingly unfazed by Finch's rudimentary and low-level training intensity. "You understand how overpowered and fundamentally broken it is, almost as if the universe itself shields you." He paused briefly, his words carrying the weight of undeniable truth. "But you must ask yourself, Finch, do you truly intend to maintain your friendships with Williams and Asher?" he inquired.

The question prompted a fleeting frown from Finch before his expression returned to its usual state, though the query's impact resonated deeply within his thoughts.

"The unusually gifted Asher has departed from your team's mission group due to the stark disparity in strength between you, Williams, and himself," Lior carried on without missing a beat, as if seizing a rare opportunity to voice sentiments he had long harbored but previously found too bothersome to articulate.

"Do you not foresee Williams following suit given his escalating prowess? After all, the third member of your team is also a contender within your school's top ten rankings. Should the gulf between you and Williams widen significantly, do you imagine he would willingly involve you in every mission, thereby jeopardizing his own life?" Lior paused once more, allowing the gravity of his pronouncements to settle.

"Even if he chose to do so, your other comrade would be left with no alternative but to withdraw, unwilling to face peril due to your shortcomings. Furthermore, would you possess the audacity to permit Williams to perish on the battlefield because of your limitations, simply due to your shared childhood history?" Lior pressed on. "You must remember, Finch, the present is transient, and the future is a different landscape. Both the extraordinary Asher and Williams are undeniably destined for the Crownstar Life Rank. The pertinent question, however, is whether you will stand alongside them, or will you inevitably fade into obscurity, a consequence of your insufficient will to train?" Lior concluded definitively, his motivation to continue speaking seemingly extinguished, his words hanging heavy in the air.