The Messenger of Death

['You didn't have to be mean about it.'] Al mumbled as he fell back into silence, Alex was quite satisfied with Al's reaction, making him smirk.

"Why are you smirking?" Camron asked impatiently. "Ah, nothing. I can teach it to you, but it is not as easy as you think…"

"Yes! thank you, Alex." He interrupted and slapped the slice of bread in Alex's hand in excitement.

'You freaking retard, didn't your parents teach you not to waste food? Billions of people in the Galaxy kill for just a slice of bread like that.' Alex picked the bread up and kept it back on his plate intending to eat it.

"You didn't let me finish. I will teach you only when I have the energy and time. And I don't think that would be anytime soon. I need to get stronger quickly."

"Oh, I don't care how long, just don't go back on your words when you have the free time and energy." He still had a happy expression present on his face.

'It's not easy to sink your boat is it?' Alex thought as he shook his head.

"I'm not one that takes pleasure in lying to others. You have my word." He looked at the time interface on his skin crawler.

"The time is 8:15. I think it's time we go out. "

"True…" He raised his head and looked at the wall-clock that was hung behind where Alex was seating.

"Wait, how could you tell the time without checking a pocket watch or clock?"

['They know how to make clocks and pocket watches but not wristwatches. Don't they know about the word convenience?']

"Don't tell me it's another complex technique."

"You think too much Camron. I'm just that calculative."

"Indeed you are." He said skeptically and narrowed his eyelids while glaring at Alex.

Alex got up and walked towards the door, Camron followed behind him. The two of them walked down the same halls they walk through last night on their way to the suite.

They passed by the reception and the same receptionist of last night was seated on her chair staring into the distance. She noticed the two of them coming, she also felt like something was weird – the receptionist couldn't hear the sound of Alex's legs hitting the ground.

'This kid gets weirder the more I see him.'

"Good morning." She greeted first.

"Good morning." Camron and Alex chorused at the same time.

"Is the suite to your satisfaction? Is there anything that you would like to suggest?" Her questions were directed at Alex.

"No, it's satisfactory." He answered sincerely.

"There's someone that has been waiting for you." She referred to Camron this time. He turned his head and looked at Alex. All he got from Alex was a shrug.

They left the reception and headed towards the exit. As soon as they stepped out, an unfamiliar individual in a black robe and a muslin cloth masking his appearance – appeared right in front of them.

"Camron Avanti?" The individual said.

"That would be me." Camron stepped forward. "Follow me." That was all the individual said.

Alex raised his brows at the individual. 'Does this guy think we are easy to manipulate or control?' He snickered.

"Okay." He heard his friend agree. "Are you crazy? Haven't you ever had about stranger danger?" Alex exclaimed.

Camron chuckled and said.

"Don't worry Alex, I was told yesterday that someone will be coming to give me directives and that I should follow them." He reassured.

"I'm not worried about you. Just wondering how I am going to find the venue where we are going to be orientated."

"Oh," Camron muttered feeling a bit hurt that Alex wasn't showing concern for him.

"Just head north of here, don't stop till you see an arena." The individual in robe directed.

"Alright." He left without expressing his gratitude.

"Sorry about his rude behavior, he woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Camron apologized in his friend's stead. "He always wakes up on the wrong side of the bed." He whispered to himself.

The individual didn't seem to be bothered by it, he didn't give Camron a response. The individual started to walk and Camron followed behind him.

************

Camron had been walking behind the individual for the past 20 minutes. Not long after they exited the forest. Standing in front of them are a two-story wooden building and a little but noticeable sign planted by side.

"Staff office."

He read what was written on the sign. The individual in robe continued walking and entered the building while Camron followed behind, he took him to the second floor and stopped in front of the last door at the end of the hall, on the second floor.

The man in the robe knocked on the door lightly.

-Rat-a-tat!

"Come in." He heard the voice of an old man permit from the other side of the door.

The man opened it and gave a short bow. "I have brought the young man to meet you, sir."

"Thank you. You can take your leave now." An old man in a white-traditional Chinese scholarly robe and a straw hat on his head – standing in front of a window; with his back facing them, said. It was the same man that permitted them to enter.

The individual in the dark robe left the room without saying another word, he closed the door as he left. Camron was feeling nervous, the old man in front of him made his feel like he should be conscious of his actions and words.

"Take a sit young friend." The old man politely said, but to Camron, it sounded like a command that he couldn't refuse. He quickly took his seat.

"You don't need to be nervous or scared, I only want to speak to you and ask for a favor."

'A favor, I am not capable of anything he can't do.'

"I am the principal and head of the Severance academy." The old man introduced.

"The principal!?" He exclaimed.

'It is said that 90% of the people haven't seen the principal of the academy nor do they know his name, he has a habit of traveling the world and looking for a way to increase his cultivation realm.'

"It is an honor to be in your presence, sir." He got up and bowed at the old man. "Hahaha, enough with that, just call me grandpa if it's alright with you." The principal smiled and removed his straw hat, his long-neat grey hair fell to his chest.

"Okay, sir I mean grandpa." He was very excited at the moment. The old man in front of him is a renowned cultivator on the western continent, although he didn't have any bloodline class he is strong enough to put fear in a hearts of a class-3 ancient bloodline family. They would prefer not to offend him.

'Rumor has it that he is already at the first-rank of the spirit condensing realm.'

"Let's get right into the main thing. Do you know about the competition that takes place every 5 years?"

"Yes, the continental competition." This continental competition takes place every five years, where participants from other continents – except the central continent, come to take part, and its host is always picked at random. It is the most sort-out competition by the younger generation, all because of the benefits that come with winning.

"Good, that will save me a lot of time. The date of the next competition is in 10 months and us, the Severance academy will be the host of the upcoming competition."

"That's amazing." He exclaimed. "Yes it is, but what's not amazing is the fact that we haven't made into the top 3 winners of the competition in the last 30 years." The principal popped Camron's bubbles.

"Oh…" He resigned dejectedly.

"Now to the favor, I want to ask for. I want you to participate in the competition in 10 months and showcase your darkness elemental abilities."

"Huh? I don't think that would be possible, I didn't even know that I could use the dark element until yesterday, I know nothing about it." Camron stated.

"Don't worry about it, as long as you are willing to participate and do your best the academy will use her resources to help you cultivate you. And you don't have to win in whatever you participate in, all you have to do is to show them the kind of element you use.

The Academies from other continents do not have a darkness elemental user, but they do have the lightning and light elemental users and they have been showing off all these years."

'Oh, he just wants to show me off, but still.' Camron still wasn't sure if he should agree to do such, he wasn't confident in his strength.

"You are still feeling conflicted? If you agree to this I will give you a tier-4 darkness elemental martial skill book.' The principal said with a smirk, knowing that his bait will work on Camron.

"A tier-4 martial skill, and a darkness elemental one at that, I accept." He wasted no time in biting the bait.