HBWnovel Chapter 18: Next time
Chapter 18: Next time
"Thayer Argent," Jael said flatly. So this is the dude that Litha said tried to recruit them into his team because he want to form a strong team. "Step away from him, I've not yet decided what I want to do with him."
Thayer's mouth tilted in amusement. "I'm sorry but I can't let you kill him. Or beat him too hard because of the test next week. I apologize for causing all this.
"But take it as an invitation and acknowledgment from one strong Awakened to the other," he stretched his hand in invitation. "How about it? Join me to climb the Tower and I will promise you riches."
Jael had seen a lot of rich brats, but this guy seemed to be the most shameless. "You sent someone to attack me, and now you want me to join you? In your dreams. Now get away from there or I will be forced to move you." He followed his words by lifting his hand, shifting his flesh until the fangs pointed outward.
Thayer maintained his smile. A good smile, his father often tells him will solve matters faster than any other thing. And while he didn't truly believe that, he knew a smile could smooth things over. "What do you want? This is the Tower. I can give you anything you want if you join me."
Jael was genuinely surprised. "You are right. This is the dungeon; anything I want, then I will take."
Thayer lowered his hand, a small frown marred his face. "But that's not always possible. Of the Climbers of each set, only about five percent will become Ascendant. And even smaller will become High-rank Ascendants.
"I am rich. My father richer still. Name what you want."
"You are boasting with your father's money." Jael was just seeing more and more of this Thayer. He's like a small child in the playground who boastss that his father can get him the most expensive toy and try to make others play with him.
"Of course, I boast with my father's wealth. I didn't ask to be born with rich parents, but I am, and I will take full advantage of it. You are destined to get a powerful Codex, will you take advantage of it or not? Millions are born with a common Codex.
"Life is not fair, and we all have a starting point. In the end, it all depends on what you do with the time you have before the race is over. Well? Do you want to join my team?"
Jael...was shocked. He thought this would be the usual throwing of weight around but Thayer made sense.
Litha nodded and smirked at the look on Temur's face. Then she gestured at Mopi who was looking at them all with a small smile on his face.
***
Arkin came down from the 94 floor, where he was overseeing the building of a new temple; he came down here to the 102 floor because he was told that all preparations were ready.
And what did he find? Dead bodies! And his devourer gone! He spent a lot of resources to put it together. He had to bribe a lot of guilds to look away from his side. All that for nothing!
And what will his sponsor think of this?
He shook with rage, and his hands trembled as he picked a bloody knife from his worktable; he sliced a bit in his hand and then sighed in relief.
The small communication crystal on the table glowed and illuminated the dark room. Arkin flinched from the light. His workshop is a mess of bodies and drawn pentagrams; everything is touched by red.
The small crystal vibrated then a voice came out. "High Priest. I have located the Devourer."
Arkin stiffened and his body calmed instantly.
The voice continued. "But...it might be a bit difficult to extract and...."
"Summon the Dark paladin in the area. It will take a while before my squad come from the upper floors. I think I want to see this."
"As you wish, High Priest. Hail Chaos."
"Hail Chaos."