CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 707: Seven Months-2

Seven months had elapsed since Asher embarked on his second solo mission. During this period, he undertook numerous assignments, some pitting him against adversaries nearly matching Debro's might. This consistently made Asher question the overall strength and capabilities of the third-year students. After all, if even a fraction of these missions involved Wavestar Life Ranker enemies, surely the third years should have been annihilated by now...

Upon reflection, Asher simply concluded that encountering foes on Debro's level was a rare occurrence. The third-year students' survival hinged primarily on their swift and efficient deployment of Star Academy teleportation scrolls during critical moments.

Furthermore, over these past seven months, Asher sequestered himself within the Star Academy's Training Facilities Building. He trained relentlessly, with only occasional four to five-day respites between cycles. Unsurprisingly, his progress was staggering in every conceivable measure and aspect.

He honed various skills within his existing elements while simultaneously refining, polishing, and significantly enhancing his older abilities. However, this was not his primary focus. His main objective was his Star Energy. Asher managed to devise several skills utilizing Star Energy and, remarkably, crafted a new Rapier Technique Stanza, the Star Stanza, which he seamlessly integrated into his Song Of Virelass technique.

The creation of such a Stanza was anything but simple for Asher. In fact, it represented one of the most arduous and mentally demanding feats he accomplished during his training over these preceding months. Beyond that, he developed new series for his other Stanza affinities, all while simultaneously upgrading and bolstering the strength, precision, and execution of his existing series. Naturally, he couldn't merely elevate his Life Rank without a corresponding advancement in his skills, techniques, and overall combat capabilities.

What brought Asher the most satisfaction during these past seven months was his new affinity... Indeed, Asher had finally awakened a new affinity, a derivative of the Star affinity. Seven months prior, he sensed he was on the cusp of awakening a new elemental connection, and during his second solo mission, he achieved this awakening amidst a fierce battle. However, this breakthrough introduced another challenge... more training.

Asher was not the type to neglect his other elements. He did not favor one element over another; his preference was to train them concurrently, ensuring balance and maximum efficiency. This meant he had to push this new affinity from its nascent stages to match the destructive power, control, refinement, and finesse of his established elements. Consequently, it required dedicated training from the ground up.

Additionally, within these recent months, Finch and William received various tutelage from him. Finch, ever the astute merchant, exchanged twenty-five thousand academy points over seven months for five intensive training sessions from Asher. Each session pushed him beyond his perceived limits, continuously refining him and transforming him into a far superior warrior. William, on the other hand, could only afford three additional training lessons, yet even these alone significantly elevated his combat prowess.

Their advancements were truly remarkable.

Throughout these seven months, students engaged in relentless challenges against each other, with many ascending the ranks through sheer determination while others faltered after defeats. It was evident to all that a significant event was on the horizon, an occurence that demanded heightened preparation. Parents had already implored their children to intensify their training and ready themselves. The news that the Logistics and Missions Operations Hall was temporarily suspended only spurred everyone to undertake even more perilous and demanding missions.

Consequently, Finch surged in the rankings. At this moment, our portly merchant, fueled by newfound resolve, a sharpened intellect, and Asher's training, now comfortably resides within the top fifty first-years. This progress is nothing short of astonishing. He, who hadn't even secured a spot among the initial two hundred selected by the Star Academy, has now surpassed over one hundred and fifty students in a remarkably short timeframe.

Frankly, this progress caused Asher to harbor a slight suspicion about Finch. He wondered if Finch possessed far greater latent talent than he let on, or perhaps Finch and Lior's talents had somehow merged after their fusion. After all, Finch had leaped several Life Ranks following his integration with the Positive Emovira; even a slight increase in his innate talent wasn't an unreasonable assumption.

Regarding the top ten rankings, a significant shift had not really occurred. William Canestane, however, managed to secure the third position. This was achieved through his relentless persistence, outranking the Royal Twins. As expected, they immediately challenged him for the spot. He lost it, then reclaimed it, only to lose it again in a continuous cycle of fierce rivalry.

The trio engaged in a back-and-forth struggle for supremacy, but for the time being, William maintained his third-rank status quite firmly.

As for Ryaen, any challenger who faced her quickly understood why she bore the title of Bone Queen among the first-year students. Her prowess became so astonishing that she often forewent her Bone Manipulation Bloodline abilities, concluding fights with just her bare hands, overpowering opponents purely through immense physical strength.

Her skill was simply exceptional. If William and the Royal Twins represented the zenith of genius in the eyes of the world, Ryaen stood a notch above, a veritable monster in her own right. Yet, even among monsters, a different, unparalleled caliber existed—one that unquestionably reigned supreme above all others.

And that monstrous figure was none other than Asher.

While a select few within the top ten, and even some audacious individuals from the top twenty, had dared to confront Ryaen Silvershade, Asher remained entirely unchallenged. This wasn't due to his undefeated record; rather, it was because no one had dared to issue a challenge. Nobody even contemplated it. They merely observed his name on the rankings and accepted it as an immutable truth. The memory of the Prince being reduced to charcoal-like form was still vivid.

Furthermore, news had spread that his strength was so overwhelming he no longer undertook missions suitable for first-year students. Someone of that caliber was not someone they were willing to even meet the gaze of, let alone confront directly.

Thus, while others reveled in their youth, engaging in passionate, exciting, and competitive duels, Asher could only observe from the periphery. Even Ryaen had not challenged him, as she herself perceived she was not yet sufficiently powerful to face him.

However, Asher remained indifferent to all of this. His entire existence revolved around his established routine: completing missions, accumulating points, accessing the Training Facilities, expending those points through rigorous training, and then returning to the Logistics and Missions Operations Hall. His life had essentially become a perpetual cycle, an unbroken loop for the past seven months, without any deviation.

Yet, on his designated rest days, he would still attend classes occasionally. This served primarily as a way to pass the time and maintain a semblance of normalcy. But even in those academic settings, without fail, he consistently reminded everyone present exactly why he was known as Asher Wargrave.