[MA] 266. Distinctive (Patreon)

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[A/N: Sorry for the delay. Stuff happened. Things are okay now.

Chapters this week: 3/3

Next release: Tuesday]

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Demonstration #3, 1st Stage, C-rank, 3rd Round

Matching C-ranks with at least one C- stat against each other.

Those who already fought will be limited to C- standardized equipment and C- stats.

New fighters can use anything they want. Auras and domains are considered non-standard equipment.

Each party's tutor will be able to see the fight.

Other mentors will be teleported to their charges while they await the round's conclusion.

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Liya was teleported away, and someone took her place.

"Heart Sage!" Luthdel half-yelled as soon as he materialized. "You really reached C-rank! Congratulations!" The half-elf was wearing grey plate armor. A huge grey sword rested comfortably on his shoulder.

Shen smiled. "Thank you." He widened his arms. "So, we have one hour. What did you do with the other C-rank participant?"

Luthdel rolled his eyes. "The abalu just meditated, gave up when the battle started, then meditated again. He did it twice."

The banquet had had three C-rank participants: Luthdel, the water elemental, and the abalu. Abalus looked like hairless four-armed monkeys. Shen knew nothing about them.

Shen asked, "Any idea why he did it?"

Luthdel shrugged. "Abalus aren't the most social of beings, are they?"

"I don't know?"

"Well, that's what I heard. Anyway, I'll depend on you, Heart Sage."

Shen smiled sourly. He had been willing to ignore the elf mentioning his "title" at the greeting, but if it kept going... "I'm not a sage, much less one that knows about the heart."

"Ha! Nonsense! Heart Sage, haven't you saved me from endless misery?! I shall forever follow and serve you!"

Shen didn't try to hide from his face how moronic he thought the man was being. Romance drama wasn't fun, but it was a far cry from endless misery. "I did not. I saved you from some mild discomfort at best."

"Humble to a fault, such is the Heart Sage. I shall spread your heartfelt wisdom throughout the lands, master!"

"Ah, yes, the heartfelt wisdom of common sense," Shen replied acidly.

He knew networking was important and partly the reason behind this demonstration. He also wouldn't say no to a C-rank follower in most situations. Luthdel's personality was... unique, but he didn't seem like a bad person. However, the man's mentor was watching. Shen did not want to be blamed for this misunderstanding.

"A heartfelt common sense that no one ever introduced me to," Luthdel replied in stride. "I'm C-rank, master. I'm not a complete moron, only ignorant of some matters." Despite the seriousness of his words, he sounded as clueless as ever. How he did that was the greatest mystery. "When I say you saved me from endless misery, I'm not talking about facing Yraphyria's tears. I'm talking about living the rest of my life without anyone caring about me. About who I am, not only what I am."

Shen frowned. "Are you serious?"

Luthdel chuckled. "Oh, Heart Sage. Think of the second demonstration. You have no idea how important it was to most of us. Being told we're more than our talent was unexpected. It was... distinctive. No one thinks I'll live long enough to make it worth teaching me some things; not even I do. I'm allowed to keep to my antics out of pity and get slapped with an iron fist when I go over the line. I'm a weapon that becomes extra sharp in potentially lethal situations. I'll die sooner rather than later, and every word spent on me will go to waste. I'm treated as such."

Shen's frown deepened. That was very close to what the water elemental had said. "By that logic, this demonstration is also special for you, right?"

Luthdel nodded. "I'm from an A-rank force. I was allowed to listen to lectures and learn forbidden techniques but was never taught personally. Never things particular to me. My mentor paid more attention to me in my last two hours with him than in my third Standard years of life—and only because it would humiliate the high elves to be ranked too low! He doesn't care about the pointers I'll receive because it's a wasted effort. You? You cared about me at our first meeting. That's what you did for me, Heart Sage, and you did it for free, out of the goodness of your heart. At least partly for my benefit, too, I'm sure. You're a good man. I'm yours to command."

Shen shook his head. "I don't think your mentor will approve of it."

The high elf shrugged. "Who cares?"

Shen rolled his eyes and sighed. "Let me rephrase it: I don't think your mentor will allow me to live if I accept being your 'master.' Just the fact that we're having this conversation might offend him. I was told high elves are a proud race."

Luthdel's eyes widened. "You think he'd attack you?"

Shen nodded. "You said so yourself: your mentor doesn't want the high elves to be humiliated by a bad placing. What will he think of a C-rank high elf following someone who barely reached C-rank? Someone from a weaker race, too; I'm drow, so by following me, you're following someone from a B-rank race. I think the only reason I might survive is that the drow and high elves are allies."

Luthdel put his sword down by piercing the ground with it. He crossed his arms and nodded. "I see."

"Also, while you're calling me sage, let me say this: it's not very wise to swear fealty to the first person who shows you kindness. It's a very easy way to be taken advantage of."

The high elf placed one hand on his chin and nodded again. "Makes sense."

Shen squinted his eyes. Luthdel didn't look like he got it. It felt like he wasn't even paying attention, only going through the motions.

"Does it make sense to you?" Shen asked.

Luthdel smiled. "Heart Sage, I just said I'm not stupid. The inner workings of interpersonal relationships don't come easy to me, but when you put it in such simple terms, I can easily understand it. I was simply never taught anything like this."

Shen relaxed. "Well, first, call me Shen. Second, sorry to break it to you, but I'm not well-versed in such matters, either."

The high elf looked surprised. "Why, Heart Sage, haven't you chanced death in pursuit of love? It's the talk of the Summit!"

The cultivator's face twisted. "Liya and I never did anything, nor do we have a relationship."

Luthdel shook his head. "No, no. The almacore was very clear! Her smell was in your hand, and she didn't even control her romantic hormones when she was holding you!"

Shen said in a dead-serious voice, "Luthdel, let me repeat it, and pay attention to my words and tone. Liya and I never did anything. Liya and I are not in a relationship. Do you understand me?"

The high elf looked a little lost, then his eyes widened in realization. "You're afraid again! Of the consequences of such a rumor! Heart Sage, to be always thinking of ways to die... I feel your life is more pitiful than mine. I don't need to care because I'll die either way."

Shen snorted. "I suppose it can be seen as a sort of twisted training for a first-class talent. The more times you offend someone, the more potentially lethal situations you'll get involved with. But not understanding or caring about the consequences of your actions will only make you die earlier. It's almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy."

Luthdel smiled. "You really believe you can live, don't you? That we all can live. I heard terrible rumors about the drow, but if a first-class talent drow doesn't believe they'll die... Does it mean you don't expect to be treated as a weapon when it's most convenient to your people?"

And at those words, Shen was back to frowning. "Luthdel, what's your learning ability tier?"

"Classified," the man replied in stride.

Shen really didn't want to get into a conflict with the high elves, but this was important to him. His Path was Truly Boundlessness, yet he felt that man's life was being limited for more reasons than one. Also, he convinced himself to say his next words by guessing Liya might want to hear this answer, too. "If you answer me, I might consider taking you as master."

Luthdel's eyes widened in surprise, and he smiled like a crippled child who was told he would get a special medicine that would let them live two extra years. "Master! My learning ability is at F-rank! I have good martial aptitude, and growing stronger is more important than learning useless things."

Aptitude or affinity was how predisposed someone was to learning specific matters. Shen was sure he was also predisposed to the spear and fighting instead of social skills.

That answer irked Shen. He had no right to impose his beliefs on an alien race. For all he knew, a high elf had only reached A-rank because their cultural custom was to keep their younglings dumb. Heavens, maybe the learning ability upgrade was a hidden trap or something.

Yet, he was his Path. When he interacted with everyone, both parties' Paths interacted, be it in battle or a conversation. And Shen simply could not see someone kept with a less logical mind based on a lie.

"Luthdel, listen well to me. Learning ability can also help with your aptitudes. It can help a lot. So, think hard and tell me if there's any reason at all that you were given not to purchase at least the E-tier upgrade."

The high elf was still smiling as he shook his head. "None!"

Shen sighed. His internal fight about whether to voice his suspicions didn't take long; he would tell the man the truth. Maybe this was even another reason behind this demonstration, especially in this initial hour before fighting a new person: having them share experiences and learn how much they were treated as slaves.

The cultivator felt Liya was using him, which made him feel bittersweet. Bitter that she was treating him as a charge again. Sweet because it would serve to further remove doubts about them and keep them safer. His ignorance on the matter was also important in case they were ever questioned.

"Luthdel, you said no one cares to teach you anything because you'll die anyway. I disagree with doing things that way, but it makes some sense. But you're C-rank, and the E-tier learning ability upgrade is only five million AP, about the same as a C- stat. I'm almost sure it's much more useful than saving for the C stat at ten million AP. It would see you improving in many areas, including your fighting ability. I'll risk my life to tell you this—"

The high elf's eyes widened in a panic this time, and he yelled. "Don't!"

Shen ignored him and continued, "—but I suspect most races fear first-class talents growing too powerful."

Luthdel became agitated. "Heart Sage! You said my mentor might take offense!"

Shen still ignored the high elf. "Didn't this demonstration's description say we talents leave our peers behind? Our talent lets us take logic or understanding leaps in the right direction. Seeing it as logic jumps, maybe learning ability upgrades would be wasted AP, but they are jumps, not sprouts. They don't happen from nothing. No big revelation is born from nothing. Logic jumps benefit from having all sorts of knowledge beforehand. The more you know, the safer you are when your talent must be used, and you learn things more easily with the upgrade. I was never in a chat that might decide whether I live, but I'm sure my talent would also be useful then, so being taught how to socialize would also benefit you. Until D-rank, I suppose you are too weak, and your words wouldn't implicate your entire race. They might even be ignored as a stupid weakling's ramblings. It might be a waste of time to teach you how to socialize instead of how to fight. But at C-rank, what you say carries weight."

Luthdel's panic turned into silent contemplation.

The cultivator took a deep breath again. "Luthdel, I suspect your people are purposefully keeping you ignorant to limit your growth. They don't want you to reach A-rank, maybe not even B-rank. I don't know the rules of the Summit, but we were lacking B-rank participants, weren't we? Still, I'll give the high elves the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they have a good reason, like first-class talents growing too arrogant because of their speed and bringing more trouble than they are worth. However, I am sure they are at least lying to you about why they are limiting you. You should talk to your mentor about it. Wasn't that the point of the first demonstration? A first-class talent who is being lied to might focus on the wrong thing, and their talent will be useless. If they have to blame anyone, let them blame the infinity-edgers for caring about us talents. Also, right now, I suggest you pinpoint the following weaknesses: low-tier learning ability and lack of common sense."

Luthdel's clueless face slowly changed into a serious countenance for the first time since Shen met the elf. He kept silent for a while, looking at nothing, then closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

When he opened his eyes, he was tearing up. "I know. I always knew. But I wanted to pretend I didn't. It was... easier. Less painful." He smiled sadly, and a tear fell down. "Your big heart's worries and care shattered the chains I placed on mine. If you aren't the Heart Sage, what are you?"

Shen smiled guiltily. "My Path wouldn't accept a chained man when I could do something about it."

Luthdel chuckled. "Still humble." He used mana to get rid of his tears and took a deep breath. "I have low learning ability and lack common sense." Then, he grabbed his massive sword. "I don't feel comfortable continuing with that subject. Master, can we display our abilities before we fight so we can pinpoint each other martial issues instead?"

Displaying your abilities beforehand was a great way of losing the fight. Yet, after Sheen's recent training, he felt losing the fight might be worth it if he learned something useful.

"I'm not your master," Shen said. "And it sounds good. You wanna go first?"

Luthdel nodded and turned sideways. "This is my ultimate move. It uses my entire Path: The Law of Heat from the Laws of Fire, the Law of Strength from the Laws of Life, and the Law of Cutting from the Laws of the Sword."

He filled his sword with mana and swung it at peak C- speed. A flaming white blade left it and cut ahead. It was powerful. It was also hot, searing the area's floor and vaporizing all seawater within a hundred yards as it moved on. It exploded in the distance, creating a ten-mile sphere of raging flames that consumed everything.

Shen nodded. He could see a few possible weaknesses. "First question, did you decide it would explode there?"

"Yes. There was no target in sight."

"Alright. Second question, if I attacked the string of mana connecting you to your attack, could you have moved the string to dodge my strike?"

Shen had recently learned a qi construct to disconnect qi attacks from him. He hadn't added it to his skills yet for lack of time, but Liya had said mana had no equivalent. There was always mana connecting a Guardian to anything they did with the energy.

Luthdel frowned. "No?"

"Looks like you never thought about that. That's a foundation martial weakness. Learn how to move your linking string. Third question: have you ever thought an enemy could do that?"

"No."

"Another weakness. You would've gotten surprised. You need to better study how Guardians counter each other. You might also lack situational awareness, but I'll judge that when we fight. Fourth question: can you prevent your flames from releasing heat as they move on?"

Luthdel smiled at that. "Of course! But they look cooler that way, don't they?!"

"They also let your enemy estimate their strength. That's another weakness. Keep the heat contained unless it's meant as a warning shot. Fifth question: can you hide your flames? Don't tell me you make them visible to look cool."

The high elf smiled proudly. "I do!" For all of the man's failings, he at least didn't mind getting corrected. He sounded smug about having something for Shen to fix.

Well, he was a verbal masochist, wasn't he? Recalling that made Shen feel positively awkward about this conversation. But he wouldn't stop now that he had started.

Who knows, maybe helping the high elf gain enough points would ease the rage the guy's mentor might be feeling now.

"Yet another weakness. Unless you're in a chaotic battle where you might strike a distracted ally by mistake, you want your attacks to be as stealthy as possible. Sixth question: do you need to swing your sword to create that attack?"

Luthdel frowned again. "I... think so? I never tried it another way."

"Guess what? It's another weakness. If that's your ultimate attack, you should figure out multiple ways of using it. I know little about the Law of Cutting, but by the name, I guess the motion might be required. You're leveraging your physical weapon to use it. My suggestion would be to carry a smaller, sneaky sword to use the attack with a smaller and faster motion if needed. Seventh question: can you split your attack into multiple ones after it leaves your blade?"

"Probably?"

"This weakness is linked to the previous one: you're not trying to diversity your attacks. You weren't lying; no one ever taught you personally, did they? My teacher is one of the best among the drow, but if even I can figure out these issues, other people could, too. Also, this is not a problem with your Path or foundations but your attack: it's single-targeted but slow. I could've dodged that on that distance even if it had homed on me. Splitting it into multiple blades, especially less conspicuous ones, might make it harder on your enemies. You can still bring them together for the same damage later, right?"

Luthdel nodded. "So I should only aim for nearby enemies?"

"Only if you can resist the explosion," Shen pointed the obvious.

"What? Did you look at that?! Can anyone resist that?"

Shen chuckled. "That would be my next question: can you control the explosion range?"

"Not after I sent the attack."

"Then it's another potential weakness, not yours, of the attack. I bet the explosion's size indicates the attack's power?"

Luthdel nodded.

Shen smiled apologetically. "So, your ultimate attack is useless in close quarters. Since it's also slow, it's useless in the long range. Your ultimate attack is useless unless you use it against a slow or constrained enemy. Or against multiple enemies, I suppose, but only if there's no ally nearby. It's very situational. You need a better ultimate attack to face strong opponents of similar stats."

"Well, I sound like an idiot, don't I?" Luthdel smiled widely.

Shen almost wondered if people had tried to help the elf before but couldn't deal with his verbal masochism. It certainly wasn't pleasant to know Luthdel was taking more out of this talk than wisdom.

Which begot the question: had anyone ever talked to the man about this?

"Luthdel, people usually don't like to know those they are uninterested in, romantically speaking, are getting off of non-sexual exchanges with them. I feel dirtied and even slightly offended. I'm sure some would get very offended. You should hide it."

The high elf didn't look surprised. "Sorry, sorry, I forgot." He put on a serious face. "Is this better, master?"

Shen sighed. "I'm not your master."

He guessed the man had no control over his personality, but it still felt bizarre. He steeled his heart and continued analyzing Luthdel's martial abilities. Not for Luthdel—this was very uncomfortable—but to hopefully appease the elf's mentor.

[A/N: For those wondering, the small foreshadowing was this sentence: "You're new to the Alliance and don't fully understand the tyranny of rank." Shen also don't fully understand what being a first-class talent means.

The first time this was foreshadowed was when he first talked to Luthdel and the water elemental. Then, when the asaan died instead of giving up in the second demonstration.

The drow are periodically portrayed as good or evil according to our modern sensitivities, but they do care about their own more than most other races shown to date.]

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