Cultivation Through Artifacts

"I... Need to kill my opponents? What?" the emotion that was currently present on Khal's face was indescribable; such complexion with so many different emotions, this was the first!

Shock, confusion, fear, horror, anger, and anxiety. So many various feelings appeared at once that Khal's mind was in extreme turmoil while his heart throbbed wildly like war drums; right at the moment, he had so many questions that it was uncountable but didn't know which one he should ask.

And that is why the only thing he could utter out after several minutes of voiceless pondering was...

"Why?" in Khal's eyes was an unmistakable sorrow that no words could describe; he didn't understand why or instead how could such a cruel system such as this exist at all.

He had no problem with the one-on-one fight part or where winners and losers got different amounts of merit, but the part where Logan told him that not only him but every participant would need to kill their opponents to win... This was brutal beyond belief!

But Logan's next sentence not only calmed him down but also slapped him back to reality... Into the harsh reality on that...

"No matter how brutal it seems to be or how unforgivable this system appears, don't forget that you are a Cultivator and in this world, nothing comes easy. Your opponents never will be creatures all the time and there will be moments where you need to face Cultivators just like you or even with people on higher Stages. If that occurs, then what you need to decide is..."

"To kill or be killed."

Khal remained so silent that the leaves shuddering above Logan's head could be clearly heard even if he would have been almost deaf. But the current silence didn't carry shock nor awe but thoughts that weight heavier than mountains.

It was because right at this moment Khal realized that what Logan said was true. Just like how it already happened twice, not only the Beasts were the sole threat for him but other Cultivators too. And because he was a Cultivator, he must have one thing that he didn't have to have in his previous life...

The ambition to kill without hesitation. 

If you were in a fight against a powerful opponent and discovered an opportunity to end the fight once and for all, then you must grab it no matter what! If not, then it could be the very last chance for you to see the daylight ever again!

But still, this situation was completely different. Here, they needed to fight against others because they needed to and were forced to fight and kill, hence they had no choice at all! Fighting to the point of life and death because they forced you or because life meant it to were two entirely different things!

As Khal reached this point of thought his face turned ice cold and with a complexion as tranquil as water gazed at Logan, "And did you not want to say this to me way before you have given me this uniform? Then I-"

"Then you would have never accepted it, I know." nodded Logan calmly as he clearly understood Khal's source of anger.

"Then? Then why me? Why did you give it to me?" asked Khal, now a bit of bitterness visible in his tone and his face turning that of an angered one.

But instead of answering instantly, Logan simply looked at Khal waiting for him to calm down; with people who were incited talking was akin to speaking toward the wall itself. There was no point at all.

Khal naturally understood this too and that is why after seeing Logan not replying even after an entire minute but simply stared at him with steady eyes, he inhaled a mouthful of fresh air and exhaled deeply; at that moment it fel like he exhaled all of his frustration with only that single breathe.

After repeating this two more times, he finally became calm once again.

"So? Why me?" asked Khal, this time his tone didn't carry a bit of emotion while his face was extremely serious.

Logan seeing this only smiled and after sitting up with his entire back leaning against the tree's trunk he began to talk, "Maybe I truly did not talk about it which for I am extremely apologetic and hope you can forgive me, but I had no choice."

"Had no choice?"

Logan upon hearing the confused question from Khal nodded and began to explain, "About three years ago, the principal, Jas, formulated a tournament where we experts, Moon Academy's teachers, had to fight against each other and the winner got the right to decide who he or she gives the Moon Robe. Once one won that right, none of the others can oppose that decision no matter what."

"And because I am quite picky and only choose the best that I seem the most promising in my eyes, I chose you and gave you the Moon Robe."

"But this still didn't answer why you didn't tell me the weight behind this robe sooner," said Khal, his complexion still indifferent.

"I didn't because I didn't have to. I would have only made you anxious for no reason, but now that we are reaching the tournament, we need to make an announcement a week later about you."

"About me? Why?"

"Because this tournament will be held after a bit more than a month from now, a week later your Moon Robe's reason will be revealed to all students in Moon Academy and if anyone else wants it, you can give it to them. But if no one wishes for it, you can pass it over to others at will or you have the right to pass it onto no one and take it off too. But if that happens, unfortunately, Moon academy will suffer a great deal of harm."

"This is not a threat though..."

As Khal listened to this, the only thought that appeared in his mind was, "Did they fucking go insane or what?"

He can pass it to others at will but can also decide to take it off without giving it to others? But if he chooses the latter one then the Academy will receive hard consequences? This literally meant whatever he decided to do except keeping it to himself, he will be the very source of every harm! If he gives others everyone will hate him while if he decides to take it off then Moon Academy will hate him and also becomes the center of mockery and despise of all!

An individual who feared death so decided not to fight! Can such a person call themselves as Cultivators even after that?!

Was this a fool joke that the heavens tried to play on him or what? No matter what he will try to choose, the only outcome will be his demise let it be in reputation or physically!

"#%&-!"

After the loud curse, silence descended upon the two while the air somehow slowly became heavy with each breath for Khal. For him, all this stuff was a complete and ridiculous joke!

Logan knew just how Khal was currently feeling and thinking so stood up and said, "Let's take a break for now. It's not only you who feel this way but everyone else in the entirety of the Federation who will participate in the tournament."

Khal raised his gaze at Logan and after nodding his head mildly stood up too, "If you excuse me."

Logan watched Khal's departing figure and when his shadow finally vanished behind a sole building in the distance an old man with a white uniform slowly walked next to him.

"His reaction was surprisingly steady. Even though he realized the harsh facts that came with the Moon Robe he didn't start a tantrum like some of the Cultivators I knew." Jas who stared at the spot where Khal sat a second ago touched his chin which was covered with a small white beard and hummed slightly.

"When people realize they are forced to kill the innocent just to achive merit some react way worse than him. Some even go crazy while others don't even care about it in the slightest," exclaimed Logan as nonchalantly as ever but the next second his mouth curved into a smile.

"What is so funny?" Jas naturally noticed this change on Logan's face and tilted his gaze at him with a lightly raised brow.

But Logan simply continued to smile while even a chuckle escaped from his mouth, "Haha, it is nothing. I just can't wait to see his expression when he realizes that in truth no one actually..." but instead of finishing his sentence, Logan just shook his head and turned around.

Jas knew what Logan meant and hummed, "A great Cultivator needs not only solid foundation, powerful skills, and years of blood sweating practice, but also a strong mental strength and unshakable willpower. If he lets this influence his mind and makes him give up, then this only meant he wasn't born to rise onto greater heights."

As Jas said that, he waved his sleeve and like he wasn't even there a second ago, vanished into thin air.