After many questions, Naro had explained to all details what happened in his fight against Paro and the aftermath.

  Each of the demigod candidate's reactions differed.

  Astor didn't let it show, but he was saddened by the description of Paro's appearance. All understandably of course, Astor was the oldest in the room. He had seen Paro as the Gentle Giant of Kresha when he was young, but what Naro described was a terrifying fiend that only seemed to know one person's name and act on pure destructive instinct.

  As much as he didn't want to believe it... The proof was in front of him. Naro had cut one of the demigod's arms, then used his newfound Authority to displace the stone while keeping the arm's shape.

  Astor smiled at that.

  'Fantastical work for someone who's Authority level is actually weaker than ours.'

  He had met Naro three years ago when he first arrived in Almati, the kid seemed difficult to approach, since he had always wore a serious face at the time.

  But Astor knew, he knew that beneath that, Naro was a very kind and easy-going kid.

  It was actually the opposite of a certain demigod candidate who resembled him.

  The one sitting next to Naro— Khiel, seemed easy to talk to on the surface but he was actually someone that was quite serious and hard to talk to.

  In his case at least.

  'I'm still grateful for his help, his Authority ability is very handy!'

  Soaring Blades put swords near the walls on the outside of Almati, those swords if they detected something dangerous, immediately attacked the target. Or simply halted it so mundane guards, magic users or anything that could fight really— could take care of it.

  Naro spoke at that moment "So that's where those stragglers went! They ran towards Almati with all they got and the moment they were near the walls, you killed them on the spot? That's cold, man."

  Khiel sipped his drink with a frown "If you had done your job properly, none of this would have happened."

  He put his drink down. "Though I can't blame you truly, you guys needed rest after all this."

  Naro nodded with a smile "Yeah."

  Yidra let out a long exhale "I wish I could've seen it, your moment on the first days were so cute!"

  "Please don't say anything about those !" Naro said, panicked.

  Agir perked up. "You mentioned the sub-effects of the runes on the sword, don't they mean you closed the gap between you and us by a little ?"

  Naro a pensive expression "I thought so too, but I don't have much variety on my attacks."

  He counted on his fingers. "One, currently I have no way to attack from a truly far distance. With Storm Strike only extending the blade by some meters. Two, my Authority output is weaker than you guys so there's a lot of things I can't do. Third, my constitution is still weaker due to my Authority level. I'm tougher than before but I'm still not as physically tough as you guys."

  "And fourth, I can't use magic, something you guys already know. It has not changed since."

  Agir's excitement dimmed "That is true..."

  Astor finally said "You still have ways to grow stronger, quite directly compared to us at least."

  Khiel nodded. "There are still some rune pillars around all Gaon, and your goal is still to slay all the three remaining Guardians. The former will give you more skills, and thus 'sub-skills' as you call it, that could give you more options when fighting. And the latter directly increases your Authority."

  "And also how your sword looks for some reason, tch." He added bitterly.

  'That's what ticks you off ??!!' They all thought.

  Yidra smiled "Besides, in terms of true fighting power, you already outclass me and Agir. Isn't that something ?"

  Naro frowned "You guys have mostly supportive abilities, that's a low bar !"

  Both demigod candidates seemed to have taken emotional damage and seemed to have been struck in the heart "Gah ?!" "Geh ?!"

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  He looked down "...My bad." Naro said quietly with regret written on his face.

  Astor sighed "Powerscaling aside, I believe you showed us the arm for other reasons than to get a reaction out of us ?"

  'Is it finally time ?' Naro stood up.

  "Yeah ! Actually, Agir... Could you attach it where my left arm was ?"

  The orange-haired demigod frowned. "Asking me this after saying those words to me... you really don't have any shame, huh Naro ?"

  "I'm sorry !" He gestured a prayer with his remaining hand.

  He scoffed "Whatever... Yidra, hold him for me."

  "Huh ?" Just then Naro felt slender but strong arms wrapped around him and soft flesh pressed up against his back.

  "Oh wow, you're actually well built beneath those clothes. No wonder Rami likes you." She smiled.

  "What are you guys doing ???? If Rami finds out about this, you guys are dead !" Naro said in a panicked voice.

  Khiel gave Agir one of his swords and applied a rune that seemed to make the object hotter.

  "I'm gonna need to reopen your wound in order to do what you asked, so brace for it !" He said with a dangerous smile. "You moving would make it worse, so I asked someone to hold you still."

  Naro spoke with a calm voice with a smile "Okay, I understand that." Then went back into a panicked state "BUT WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE HER THOUGH ???"

  "I want to hear you scream." She whispered in his ear

  Naro went cold 'Dangerous... everything that has to do with Spike is dangerous !"

  Two pincers made of orange light appeared on Agir's shoulders. "I'll show you what 'Low bar' can do."

  Naro breathed deeply 'Okay, I got dealt much more painful blows... surely this won't hurt, right ? Right ??'

  Sadly for him, his screams resonated throughout the city of Almati. Making people think there was a ghoul haunting the streets.

  ———————————————————————————————

  "There, all done ! Was that so hard ?" Agir asked with a cheerful smile

  Naro was currently sprawled on the chair with an expression that would even make the dead pity him.

  "I... hate you... both of you..."

  The two demigod candidates laughed at his misery.

  "Still, how are you feeling ? I added some runes that should make movements nicer." Agir asked with a smile.

  The volcanic limb was attached cleanly at Naro's shoulder, the stone seamlessly meeting flesh. The magma veins were dim and glowed faintly like embers under ash.

  Naro flexed his fingers... well, claws now and counted up to five, then did the same in reverse. He made a tight fist.

  He smiled brightly "This is amazing ! It still feels weird but..."

  He made more complex movements with the arm, doing a mock punch, flailing it around and more. "It's so flexible ! Sure, it'll take some time for me to get used to it, but thank you !"

  Agir put his hands on his hips with a proud expression and dismissed the pincers. "Hm hm, praise me more ! This is probably my best work yet !"

  Realizing the work might not be free, Naro's smile dimmed a bit.

  "How much should I pay you ?" He asked with the face of an "innocent" swindler that could demand a discount at any point.

  The orange-haired demigod candidate gestured with an open palm "It's on the house. Besides I couldn't really keep one of our powerhouses injured, that would ruin my reputation!"

  Khiel raised an eyebrow "What reputation? You're a hermit that stays cooped up in his room to do guardians-know-what."

  "Hey! I still have a reputation as an Ascendant !" Agir said with a frown.

  Naro gave him a confused look. "A...scendant ?"

  Yidra face palmed. "It's a name he came up with for demigod candidates, he said it's shorter and better to say than just two words."

  Astor chuckled, "The kids are already throwing it around, well any young-in for that matter."

  Naro frowned a little 'You're in your fifties Astor, you're not that old ! And how the hell did Agir manage to spread that word when he's an hermit ??'

  Still, the demi... The orange-haired Ascendant was right, it rolled off the tongue much easier and was much easier to remember.

  He looked back at Agir with a smile. "That being said, I approve ! How about Magus for magic users, then ?"

  Agir perked up "I knew I could count on you, Naro !"

  Khiel and Yidra winced.

  The knight raised an eyebrow and shrugged "What ? It's a good idea ! Khiel and Astor have titles so it's not like it changes anything."

  Silently, he also wondered why Yidra and Agir did not have titles.

  'Was it because it was too cringey or something ?'

  He looked up at the ceiling.

  'Hm. Who cares? The only time I'll involve myself with Spike is to kill him anyways.'

  Before, Naro was quite hesitant in actually fighting the demigods or killing them. This has changed significantly after he fought Paro. He now knew there was no hope in bringing them back to what they once were? and that what remained of them were just bodies without minds.

  Empty vessels that only exist to endanger Gaon and its inhabitants.

  Or at least he thought so.

  Unaware of his thoughts, Earth-Shifter spoke. "Well I'm glad you all got a laugh, including me, of course," He smirked at Naro then continued "but I didn't call all of you only because Naro had things to explain to us nor to fix his arm up."

  Everyone in the room except Yidra looked at him with focused expressions.

  Astor spared a glance at the blind folded woman"Yidra, if you may."

  She sipped her drink, settled it on the table calmly, then spoke with an even voice "I had a vision yesterday,"The Ascendant removed her blue blind fold, revealing her beautiful and glowing golden eyes that were surrounded by grey sclera, "a shade of the Devourer will attack Almati, countless sharp weapons and spells of all kind will rain on it. Blood will pool, screams and shouts will deafen the ears of many. And a small beast that feels like the kin of that being will carry a blackened sword and fight alongside us."

  Her shimmering eyes landed on Naro. "I can see you truly now, you are that beast. Naro."