CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 701: Vitality

Lior remained unmoving and silent, his gaze fixed upon Asher, as if trying to fathom how Asher had deduced everything. Asher, however, did not engage in a war of stares; he casually consumed his cherry, blinked periodically, and maintained a perfect, unruffled demeanor, his composure utterly unaffected by the subtle yet persistent tension in the atmosphere.

Truthfully, Asher possessed no concrete knowledge; his pronouncements were mere guesses, spurred by a fleeting sense of peril he detected when Lior approached. While Asher wouldn't claim absolute dominance, his previous encounter with Debro had not only been a victory but a catalyst for growth, honing his strength, instincts, and overall awareness to a finer edge than ever before.

Yet, a discernible sense of danger emanated from this Rank Five positive Emovira. This led Asher to consider two possibilities: either Lior possessed the extraordinary ability to contend with opponents several ranks above him, much like Asher himself, or the being's true rank far surpassed what was initially perceived, a chilling notion that began to fester in his mind.

And if there was one thing Asher held as absolute truth, it was his own senses—a conviction forged in the crucible of countless battles and harrowing near-death ordeals, a source of unwavering reliance.

Lior finally exhaled, rising to his feet. He seemed disinclined to entertain further inquiries from this peculiar individual. With that, he dissolved into a soul form and vanished, reintegrating with Finch's soul, perhaps recognizing that prolonging his conversation with Asher would inevitably betray more than he intended.

As Lior disappeared, Asher displayed no outward reaction; the entire encounter left him impassive. The earlier iteration of Asher might have shown a flicker of surprise or concern, but he had cultivated an ability to remain detached from circumstances beyond his influence, embracing uncertainty with quiet resignation.

'So, Lior evidently knows something about the Emovirae of Old,' Asher mused internally, 'but whether they persist in existence, or if his knowledge is confined to mere secrets surrounding their past, remains unknown.' His mind raced, assembling disjointed fragments of possibility into a coherent picture.

'And he's not Rank Five... could he be Rank Eight?' Asher pondered, his eyes narrowing slightly at the contemplation. 'Or perhaps even Rank Ten.' Although the perceived danger was minimal, it did not equate to parity in strength between himself and Lior; it simply indicated that Lior possessed sufficient power to constitute a genuine threat.

The precise extent of this danger, however, remained an unanswered question, shrouded in ambiguity.

Asher's thoughts turned to Finch's earlier explanation regarding his soul-bond with Lior. He recalled Finch mentioning Lior's injury and the supposed impending death within two days. Asher found himself questioning the veracity of Finch's account. Would Finch's demise truly spell Lior's end, or was this merely a fabricated narrative, a convenient deception designed to mask a more profound truth?

Yet... Lior had no discernible motive for bonding with Finch, at least none that presented itself immediately, further deepening the enigma.

'What if Lior is feigning ignorance regarding the world's history and lore?' Asher speculated, his thoughts spiraling, constructing and deconstructing potential scenarios with equal fervor.

'Well... at the very least, he is confirmed to be a positive Emovira; that much is certain,' Asher concluded, shaking his head slightly and anchoring himself with the scant certainty available.

However, Lior's classification as a positive Emovira did not preclude him from acts of violence or eradication. Positive Emovirae, while generally serene beings who favored solitude and shunned conflict, possessed the capacity for destruction as formidable as their negative counterparts when provoked.

They were paragons of peace, not embodiments of weakness or naivety.

A critical distinction existed between the two, one that could not be overlooked.

'Why does it feel as though every path I take leads to yet another hidden secret or revelation?' Asher lamented inwardly, a sigh escaping him. The world seemed replete with secrets, and Finch's return had only added another layer to the ever-expanding tapestry of mysteries.

'The difficulty of this world is akin to 'Hell Mode',' Asher mused. 'Why couldn't I have been reincarnated into a simpler existence? Perhaps becoming a Hunter, delving into dungeons, battling monsters, collecting their cores, selling them to guilds, and then, the ultimate goal: marriage, a brood of gifted or untalented beautiful children, and a peaceful demise in my own bed,' he reflected, viewing this tranquil scenario as the quintessential ideal of reincarnation or transmigration.

'I sincerely hope there isn't a centralized headquarters for transmigration or reincarnation services; otherwise, I'll be lodging a formal complaint regarding this exorbitant difficulty level,' Asher thought, shaking his head, his internal monologue laced with a touch of dry wit.

His gaze then fell upon William and Finch, two individuals seemingly lost in their own worlds, utterly oblivious. But could he truly fault them? Absolutely not. Even if they were privy to the same insights he possessed, what recourse would they have against such overwhelming and confounding uncertainties?

’Ignorance sure is bliss,’ Asher mused to himself as his thoughts continued to spin. ’Well, as my older brother said, I just have to get to the Crownstar Life Rank,’ he concluded to himself, anchoring his thoughts to a clear and tangible goal.

But at the same time, Asher understood something; he could simply be overthinking the whole situation. Yes, Lior might be hiding something, but it might be nothing evil or dangerous. The Emovira could simply have something personal and didn’t want to share. Maybe the being simply wanted to know what it was like to be around humans, hence the soul-bonding.

Lior could just be a chill, cool guy who didn’t have some mysterious agenda, and maybe he was indeed injured at the time, making Finch his last resort.

’There should be a few positive Emovirae back at home,’ Asher thought to himself, tempted to teleport back and ask around, curiosity quietly nudging him.

’Hey, system, as you can see, Lior might be a Rank Ten being, a level one hundred final boss. Shouldn’t you give me something I can use to protect myself against such a calamity?’ Asher spoke mentally, his thoughts directed toward the system.

[The system acknowledges the Host’s request]

The system replied as though it understood Asher’s situation and plight, its response immediate and precise.

Asher sat dumbfounded, as though he couldn’t believe what he had just read... the system was about to help.

[The System has given the Host a lot of free stuff; the Host should pay up this time, and the Host will receive an insane boost in Life Rank and ability control, and also awaken a new ability]

Asher sat in silence, wondering what the payment was all about, but still, he wanted to know. An all-round boost together with a new ability was highly welcomed, especially in a world filled with uncertainty.

’What do you need, system?’ Asher asked, eager to know, as he was ready to pay whatever the price was. If he could jump directly to the Crownstar Life Rank, that would be even better, an opportunity too valuable to ignore.

[The system demands ninety percent of the Host’s vitality]