Ossian's lips curled into a victorious smile after healing Adam. Swiftly, he sent a part of his soul inside the ghost's soul sea to brand his mark. After all, ghosts blessed by mana were a rarity. Even if he valued the boy's unique energy more, Adam would be a fine addition to his ranks before Julius came to beg him to release his brother.
At that time, trying to save each other, they'll both fall into his grip.
A moment later, he found himself inside Adam's well-organised apartment room. "Found you," he said, his eyes glowing like two torches as he stepped towards his bed. Yet, he momentarily halted, his brows furrowing after glancing at the table.
'What are those grimoires?' he thought, attracted by their centuries-old covers and a faint sensation of familiarity. His curiosity piqued, he continued, planning to ask the ghost after enslaving him, not entertaining the thought they were genuine. After all, soul seas were ethereal. Only representations of meaningful items and people could exist in them.
His smile widening, he reached the bed and placed his hand above Adam's body. Yet, now that he was closer, he frowned. "Why do you have a physical body in your soul sea?" He muttered, confusion flashing in his eyes. Usually, people's representations mirrored their looks. So, why wasn't he a ghost here, too?
'I'll take my time to discover all your secrets in those one thousand years,' he thought, excitement bubbling in him as soul energy condensed on his fingers.
However, the sudden sound of the door creaking open attracted his attention. Alarmed, he swiftly turned, his guard raised and his eyes widening.
"What is happening?" He asked, gazing at another Adam in confusion. He was sure the one sleeping was his genuine soul. So, who was the identical man, and why did he possess a soul, too?
"I won't ask twice. Remove your hand," the man said, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Or what?" Ossian answered, a playful smile tugging at his lips and wondering who that fool might be. Threatening a ghost king was a grave mistake not even arcanists dared to make.
"Or the boy will end you in the future," answered the man, smiling ominously. Then he added, "His talent is much more terrifying than you can imagine and directly counters ghosts. So, if you want to make him your enemy, please enslave his brother."
"The boy? Hahaha," Osian exploded into laughter after hearing the joke. He had assessed Julius carefully and knew he could reach the sixth tier. But so, what? He was a ghost king. An existence that could take on multiple arcanists without losing ground.
His self-confidence was so high that he even believed he could survive long enough against an archmage to escape.
"He can reach the seventh tier," the man revealed, smiling playfully at the overconfident ghost king.
The echoing laughter instantaneously stopped as black lines etched themselves on Ossian's forehead. Was the copy bluffing? Unlikely. Under his scrutinising eyes, no one could lie. "Is it related to his talent?" He asked, remembering the boy's unique energy.
"It is. Those fools don't realise how lucky they were for the boy to develop such a strong dan tian," the man responded, Julius' interface flashing before his eyes.
Talent: Sun-Grade: Xīngchéng Dāntián Wújī (Forming the Dan Tian Limitlessly)
A menacing smirk crept on his lips as he gazed fearlessly at Ossian, asserting dominance in their exchange as the king's eyes narrowed.
"You are just giving me more reasons to enslave the both of them," he said, his hand glowing with soul energy to proceed with his mark branding.
"I said I wouldn't ask twice," the man said, his voice ominous and his features emotionless as he continued, "Atomic blade."
Echoing his words, a torrent of shimmering blue energy coalesced into a floating razor-sharp blade of pure light. Scalding sparks danced along its edges as the air trembled and cracked under the spell's appearance.
As the dangerous hum of the blade filled the room, accompanied by the metallic scent of oxygen being split apart, the ghost king trembled in fear.
'A tier seven spell!' he screamed inwardly, feeling the power radiated by the blade. Swiftly, he retrieved his hand and stood as straight as a pole. 'Why is an archmage in the ghost's soul sea?' he thought, gulping in anticipation and hoping not to lose a part of his soul.
"Good. Now that you realise who's the strongest in the room, we may negotiate like civilised people," the man said, his voice oozing sarcasm. Then he continued, "For saving the fool, I'll grant you one request. So, choose carefully."
"Anything? Can I ask you to conquer the Bellorian kingdom for me?" Asked Ossian with shimmering eyes. He wasn't amassing soul reapers without purpose. One of his long dreams was to leave this canyon and establish his own country. Sadly, the mages would never let him achieve it.
"No, ask something related to mana. It can be anything," the man replied, dismissing the atomic blade to return the room to its peaceful state.
However, Ossian's mind was anything but calm. 'Anything? Can he do THAT?!' he thought, remembering the crazy dream he had in his early days as a ghost. If he could truly, he would become the strongest ghost of their era, surpassing the nine other eternal sovereigns by a large margin.
His eyes narrowed in focus as he asked, "Can you grant me functional mana circuits?" Despite his long life, he only met a few ghosts possessing mediocre mana circuits. Yet, he knew this elusive organ was the answer he sought to reach the seventh tier.
As he waited in anticipation, sweat matting his forehead and hope rising in his heart, the mysterious man's smile widened to reach his ears.
With gradual steps, he approached the towering ghost king. Then, with a deep voice, he answered, "I can."
AN: I have a challenge for you, my dear friends:
I'll release an extra chapter If the book gets 20 new unique reviews (past chapter 100) before June 15th.