Endless Debt Chapter 1005 - 88: Dark Clouds

Due to the unique nature of the Origin School, for a long time, Yas not only served as the leader but also held positions such as instructor and teacher.

Within the Sixth Group, many members learned their Ethereal Skills from Yas. When these members become veterans, they then teach the new members. Hart is the most typical example; he was taught by Yas, and later Hart taught Kemp and Shelley.

It can be said that each operation group has distinct cultures and characteristics based on their duties and composition.

The Sixth Group is just like this. More than being colleagues, they resemble a strange mentor-student community.

"Ethereal Amplification? A simple and brutal force, it does suit you well."

Yas leaned back, momentarily escaping the busy workload due to Bologue’s interruption, enjoying a brief calm and letting his mind rest.

"Come to think of it, I now understand why only those who reach the Negative Power User status are qualified to become a leader," Yas suddenly brought up a side topic.

Bologue asked in confusion, "Why?"

"Because Negative Power Users can undergo Etherealization. No matter how much you mess around, you won’t die, allowing you to handle these deadly tasks day and night."

Yas grumbled quietly and then curiously asked, "Bologue, you’ve also become a leader, haven’t you?"

"Yes."

Bologue nodded, as only during mission execution did he remember he held a leader position due to the temporary nature of the action group; otherwise, he felt he was just an ordinary member of the Special Operations Group.

"Why don’t you have all these endless tasks?" Yas said, lifting a thick pile of documents.

"Perhaps because I’ve just finished executing a task and am on a vacation period," Bologue added, "And also due to the special nature of the temporary action group."

Yas sighed repeatedly, envying Bologue’s leisure workload without saying much more.

"Let’s go."

Yas suddenly stood up, grabbing his coat and putting it on, "We better hurry, I still have lots of work to handle."

Bologue asked, "Where to?"

"To the battle room. You don’t intend to use Ethereal Amplification here, do you?" Yas rarely joked, "Even though the Cultivation Room is self-healing, you’ll still get money deducted for damaging public property."

A hint of delight appeared on Bologue’s face. He nodded and followed closely behind Yas.

Despite Bologue being a Negative Power User like Yas, Bologue held immense respect for Yas. He’s a learner who never lacks humility towards those who can teach him.

Yas’s view of Bologue was somewhat complex. Back when Bologue was just released, Yas strongly opposed Bologue, considering him a dangerous element.

The Devil’s Debtor, from any perspective, Bologue was filled with uncontrollability, but in the days that followed, Bologue earned Yas’s trust through his actions.

Sometimes, Yas almost forgot how he initially viewed Bologue in such a manner.

Upon reaching the battle room, Bologue commanded a series of stone pillars as targets. Yas glanced over and said, "Give a demonstration."

Bologue nodded, facing the stone pillars with a serious demeanor, gathering power before throwing a heavy punch.

After a booming explosion, airflow surged, dense cracks covered the stone pillars as rubble fell, and simultaneously, a massive fissure split along the pillar’s middle, causing it to collapse down.

Compared to the morning, Bologue’s attack was far more fierce, yet it still lacked the strength to achieve his goal of obliterating the stone pillar in one strike.

As the Sixth Group’s mentor, Yas pinpointed Bologue’s issues instantly.

With arms crossed, he walked over to Bologue, "You seem very familiar with this Ethereal Skill. Under my perception, your ether flow is highly efficient, with minimal waste while operating within the Alchemy Matrix."

Bologue nodded, recalling how he has been exploring on his own since becoming a Condenser, having rarely sought others’ guidance. This marked the first lesson in his Path of Transcendence, albeit happening at the Negative Power Tier.

"Ethereal Skill is the precise use of ether, which not only flows within your body but also requires control when overflowing externally; otherwise, it only adds waste."

Recalling the knowledge from books, Yas understood writing educational materials on extraordinary knowledge wasn’t easy given various restrictions. To this day, Condensers’ educational system remains an ancient apprenticeship rather than modern comprehensive education.

"What is your inclination?" Yas asked.

"Narrow and Sharp, extremely Narrow and Sharp."

"So when ether spreads outside your body, don’t abandon its control. Don’t swing it out like cannonballs; envision them as a sharp blade, with the body attached by Ethereal Amplification being the handle. You must wield this sword and decapitate the enemy."

Yas explained the key to the skills to Bologue. "Even with ether detached from the body, continue to control it. For someone from the Commanding School like you, this shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

"Not only that, but you must try to compress the impact brought by the force to reduce unnecessary wastage... like this."

Yas clenched his fist; ether’s luminescence attached to his knuckles, stepping forward and punching the stone pillar ahead.

Unlike Bologue’s violent offensive, Yas’s strike was subdued: merely a dull thud, slight breezy agitation, with even no dust stirred up.

Ether’s power was tightly restrained, not leaking a bit, all infused within the stone pillar, like scattering currents, breaking the pillar’s internal structure, causing the pillar to crumble completely the next moment.

Yas shook his hand, "Did you see? Every step consumes ether, concentrate ether to achieve maximum lethality."

He added, "What I’m skilled in isn’t Ethereal Amplification."

Bologue understood this; Yas specialized more in Silence and Prohibition, which are the signature skills of the Origin School and his killing move to suppress enemies.

Yas said, "You should consult the minister."

"Minister Nisanel?"

In Bologue’s memory, the only person Yas referred to as the minister should be he.

Yas nodded affirmatively, "The minister’s mastery of Ethereal Amplification should have reached the Extreme Realm. Have you seen him kill an enemy?"

Before Bologue could respond, Yas continued, "I had the fortune to witness it once, but that was during a secret war period."

Bologue’s thoughts were sparked by Yas’s words, drawing him into memories. He recalled Nisanel’s stance when striking in the sealed building, taking out the Silent Ones.

It was at that moment Bologue directly realized the terrifying power of the Seeker of Glory. A Defender like the Silent Ones was casually killed.

Combining Yas’s words, Bologue suddenly realized one thing: this might not be an intimidating gap between tiers, but rather stemming from Nisanel’s precise mastery over ether.

"I saw how the minister kills enemies. He merely hit the opponent, and they crumbled like ashes, scattered into powder."

Regarding the majestic Power of Annihilation, Yas was filled with awe.

"Others might not understand, but I do. Under the enhancement of Ethereal Amplification, torrent-like ether burrowed into the opponent’s body, pulverizing his flesh inch by inch, eventually turning into the dust of blood mist."

The scene of the Silent Ones’ death replayed in front of Bologue’s eyes; under Nisanel’s strike, the soldiers in Black Armor vanished as dust, aside from the glaring blood stains splattered on the ground, as if they never existed.

"The secret war greatly impacted the minister," said Yas, caught in nostalgia, "The minister was once similar to you."

Bologue found it incredible, "Like me?"

"Yes, an excellent employee who loves work, serious with a touch of humor, not extremely dedicated, yet should the need arise, he would be reasonable... he was practically a natural-born leader."

Yas sighed, "The secret war changed him."

He then glanced at Bologue, "That war almost changed everyone."

Post secret war, Lebius was injured, confined to offices. Geoffrey was transferred to the Logistics Department, contemplating retirement life. Nisanel turned into a parasite squandering department funds, lacking any of his former charisma.

All because of the secret war.

The secret war held an exceptionally significant meaning for these war returnees. The more aware of this, the more inexplicable fear crept upon Bologue.

Suppose... just suppose...

Suppose they knew this painful secret war was merely a trick by the Devil?

Suppose they realized their fighting was in vain, all just to pass this cursed Alchemy Matrix onto themselves?

An inexplicable guilt loomed over Bologue’s heart, lingering persistently.