Ability Wielders - Chapter 147 Back to Forias

Hayden got to the gate of the Presidential Complex first, of course. Midway, Hayden was intercepted by Likoria, who was now in a miniskirt and a white blouse. She exuded absolute exotic beauty.

“What now?” Hayden raised his eyebrow in annoyance. “You came to find me to trouble me again?”

“No.” Likoria shook her head. “Jeez, soften up. I came to thank you for last night.”

“You shouldn’t.” Hayden didn’t think twice before rejecting Likoria’s appreciativeness. “Fixing your mindset was collateral. I did that so as to not fully compromise our relatively safe position to those two serial killers.”

“I see.” Likoria closed her eyes and smiled. She half-expected Hayden to say something along those lines. “I also came to you for another reason.”

Likoria observed Hayden’s reaction, which was indifference. She continued, “I’ve been granted special permission to go in a Tiroga. I’ve been assigned to go to the Philippines. I’d like-”

“I won’t teach you Filipino, Likoria.” Hayden’s face darkened. “Also, you cannot use Abilities during your Tiroga. It’s a bad idea to associate with me during the Tiroga.”

“No.” Likoria shook her head. She was getting increasingly irked by Hayden. “It’s a special permission given by the Yorixia. He says that it’ll be better for me to accompany you as you can teach me things.”

“That Starakt…” The image of Starakt’s mischievously smiling face rose in Hayden’s mind. He sighed, sternly accepting this reality as it was futile for not doing so. Anyhow, Likoria was a powerful wielder, with a little nurturing, she’ll be a trustworthy ally. “First, you don’t need me for teaching you Filipino. There’s the Language Archives for that. Second, answer this honestly. You’re a Level 3 dual wielder, aren’t you?”

Likoria’s eyes widened ever so slightly. This didn’t escape Hayden’s observation as his Divine Perception was activated. Hayden snorted in derision. “If you’re going to be hiding your status as a dual wielder, you should learn how to control your expressions more. Is that how you tailed me?”

“Y-yes.” Likoria stammered. She had no choice but to admit it at this point. Hayden was too sharp. “How did you deduce I’m a dual wielder?”

“Your power level in my Danger Sense is that of a Level 4’s.” Hayden explained, walking up to her. “There’s three most likely possibilities. First is that you have a powerful Ability. You have a powerful Ability, sure, but it has a downside. It is an equipment type. An equipment type, no matter how strong, cannot surpass a transformation type unless it is special in some form that it augments your physical abilities. Hence, this first possibility can be scratched.”

“The second possibility is that you have a contracted cognizant that hides somewhere near you.” Hayden let Shadow come out of his shadow. This surprised Likoria to an extreme extent. “The chance of this is lessened by you being a member of the Toritius that is Thorian. Members of the Thorian family are known for blacksmithing and spending time with all sorts of weapons and training martial arts. Based on your age, which is 18, no matter how prodigious you are, you cannot possibly have spent much time with cognizants. Thus, we can remove this second possibility.”

“That leaves the third possibility.” Likoria muttered. “Me being a dual wielder. How can you say this is the sole possibility?”

“I’m not.” Hayden shook his head. “I’m stating that it is the event with the highest probability amongst others. In truth, I’m not sure at all if you’re a dual wielder. It’s a mere suspicion. You simply admitted to it. It’s standard deception and interrogation tactics.”

“You…” Likoria gaped at Hayden. She was offended and disgusted of how sly he was. “You’re a detestable person.”

“I’ve always been a detestable person.” Hayden shrugged impassively. “In the world outside, if you don’t act detestable, you wouldn’t survive.”

Likoria couldn’t get the meaning of Hayden’s words, yet, somehow, she couldn’t doubt it. It sounded too wise for her to doubt it.

At that moment, a shout came from behind Hayden. It was Daniel. “Hayden! Oy, Hayden! Why would you want to meet me here?”

“Come here faster.” Hayden shouted back.

Daniel shifted the color of his eyes into peach and teleported beside Hayden. He scrutinized Likoria with a curious eye. “Who is this? And why are we in front of the Presidential Complex? Isn’t this illegal?”

“Don’t ask questions.” Hayden grasped that it’d be a better explanation if he lets Daniel see Foriast for himself. “As for this woman, don’t get close. She bites.”

“I will seriously bite you if you keep this up.” Likoria blinked. Hayden was becoming more annoying as time passed. “I’m Likoria.”

“And this is Daniel.” Hayden pointed. He then clutched Daniel’s sleeves and tugged him to the gate of the Presidential Complex. “Enough of the introductions. There’s much to do in the next eight hours.”

Hayden, Likoria, and Daniel entered the Presidential Complex. Daniel was going to inquire how Hayden had access to the Presidential Complex but stopped himself. If Hayden didn’t answer his question earlier, he would not answer his question now.

The trio entered the Presidential Complex. Daniel was astonished at the huge surroundings of the Presidential Complex. Daniel was led to an elevator. The elevator stared to descend.

“You have a lot of questions.” Hayden said. “That’ll be all answered by the lady that will pop up in front of you in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…”

The Source Heart appeared in their view and there was Gaia. Likoria immediately knelt and reverently greeted Gaia, “Thiria Wefira.”

“Stand up, Likoria my child.” Gaia gently talked. “As for you, Daniel. Welcome. Hayden has requested to bring you here as he informed me of your Ability. Hayden himself has declared that you will be a valuable ally in the near future.”

“Uh…” Daniel was put in a daze. “What is happening?”

“You see that big sphere?” Hayden pointed at the direction of the Source Heart. “That is called the Source Heart. It can be described as the Origin Crystal of the Earth. Gaia here is the corporeal form of the Source Heart’s consciousness.”

“The Earth has an Origin Crystal?” Daniel was baffled of all these things. “Am I dreaming or something?”

“This is all true.” Hayden solemnly spoke. He released his divine king aura, oppressing Likoria and Daniel. “This is something that Gaia has unlocked within me. It is an Innate Gift. Additionally, Likoria here is part of the Overseers. The native people of World Government Island, or in their mother tongue, Jilabins (Yi-la-bins). As their name suggests, they oversee the Source Heart, ensuring that it is protected.”

“Wow, this is all a lot to take in.” Daniel felt dizzy from all these events. “I… Are you an Overseer?”

“What? No?” Hayden exclaimed. He retracted divine king. “I’m a purebred Filipino. Though there are people out there who are under Tiroga, Overseers that came out to the world not only for reconnaissance, but for experience as well.”

Daniel gulped. “When did you discover this place?”

“It’s a long story.” Hayden chose to tell nothing. “What you have to keep in mind is that they are here to help.”

“That’s rich, coming from someone like Hayden.” Gaia tittered with surprise. “Isn’t that right, Daniel?”

“That is true.” Daniel sounded shocked of Hayden’s statement. “You trust them this much? No, wait… You’re indebted to them, aren’t you?”

“That’s my boy.” Hayden chuckled. “I am beholden due to the leader letting me take these three from their vault.”

Halichi, Shabilo, and Rilias actualized with a single telepathic order from Hayden. Halichi bowed. “Good morning, Sir Daniel.”

“‘sup?” Shabilo was his usual edgy teenager attitude.

“Nice to meet you, Daniel.” Rilias expressionlessly curtsied at Daniel.

“Uh…” Daniel was befuddled to the extent of unable to speak words. “What am I looking at here?”

“These are the corporeal forms of Xirixian…” Likoria beat Hayden to explaining. She gawked at Halichi, Shabilo, and Rilias. “The Yorixia let you take three!? No, that’s wrong. Two of the Ashikza, plus another Xirxian, acknowledged you and allowed you to establish a contract with them?”

“That is the case.” Hayden said with apathy, ordering his three Xirixian to dematerialize. “Anyhow, as Likoria have mentioned, these are Xirixian. Singular, Xirxian.”

Hayden proceeded to expound to Hayden the matter of Xirixian. Daniel couldn’t help being impressed by it. “And you tamed two of the considered-strongest Xirixian in the vault? What’s more, typically, Xirixian wouldn’t acknowledge a master with a contracted Xirxian? Dude, you’re insane.”

“Oh, I’m sure that you will at least be able to get two.” Hayden shrugged the compliment of Daniel habitually. He noticed that Gaia’s consciousness was gone.

“I’m getting a Xirxian?” Daniel blinked. He was getting increasingly confused by the minute. It was taking a long time for him to process everything. It shows on his face.

“You’ll get used to it, bud.” Hayden patted Daniel on the shoulder and walked out of the elevator. Getting off the elevator, Hayden was met by Gafar, Jin, and Ysa. He whispered to Daniel, “Oh yes, I have to catch you up to speed on things. I’m a dual wielder.”

This revelation caused Daniel to nearly lose his marbles. Hayden was a dual wielder? He caught up to Hayden who was walking to Gafar, Jin, and Ysa. He pulled Hayden and asked with insanity in his eyes. “When was this?”

“Calm down, you idiot.” Hayden gave Daniel a dry smile. However, Hayden’s eyes contained clear hostility, implying for Daniel to back off. “It’s like you don’t know me at all.”

“Fine, fine, so secretive.” Daniel drew back. He took a breather. “So, dual wielder. What’s your second Ability?”

“It’s a physique-enhancement one.” Hayden didn’t hide this. “You wonder why I’m indefatigable? It’s the passive of my second Ability. As for its name, I can’t possibly reveal that here, can I? Now, we have seven hours and fifty minutes. We have things to do.”

Hayden left Daniel with Likoria and advanced to Jin, Gafar, and Ysa. “Hello, guys. Where were you the past few days?”

“We were rewarded and was training under the Rixeus.” Ysa responded honestly. “It was for discovering and bringing you. We got our own Xirxian now.”

“That’s nice” Hayden was happy for the three. Hayden switched to Roshist. “Anyway, got to run. I still have much to do. Take care of my best friend for me, will you? He’s that clueless person over there. His name is Daniel.”

The trio weren’t surprised about Hayden speaking in Roshist. Although Roshist had a million words, all with vastly different meanings, and the alphabet being complex, it wasn’t strange for a wielder to learn it in less than a week. After all, one just need to have knowledge of the common vocabulary to be able to converse with Forish.

The three turned their gaze over to Daniel, who was eyeing the Seven Pathways Room with curiosity in his eyes. He appeared like a lost boy, looking for his mother. It was strangely cute.

“Uh…” Daniel stared at Likoria awkwardly. “Where am I supposed to go?”

“They’ll take care of you.” Likoria pointed to the three. “I bid goodbye to you. It was nice meeting the best friend of that eccentric person.”

Daniel wryly smiled. Eccentric person? That was a fucking understatement. That guy is a freak of nature. Akin to the loch ness monster. Which was actually a real organism, a cognizant.

“Ro-Daniel.” The three all greeted Daniel using Roshist. Ysa articulated in English, “It is an honor meeting the closest friend of the great Hayden. Let us introduce ourselves. I am Ysa of the Kilch family. This here is Gafar of the Tybius family. This is Jin of the Varongar family.”

“Mhm… Ro-Ysa. Ro-Gafar. Ro-Jin.” Daniel easily picked up the cultural idiosyncrasy of the Roshist language. It was a talent of his. “Am I doing it right?”

“Yes.” Ysa nodded. “Moving on. I take it that you have been called upon by Thiria Wefira?”

“Say yes.” A disembodied voice whispered to Daniel. “And inform them that you’re here to meet with the Yorixia.”

“Yep.” Daniel nodded. “I am here to meet with the Yorixia.”

“We’ll lead you there.” Ysa offered. “This way, please.”

Daniel took the offer. Not like he had a choice. There was nothing for him to do here. Whilst walking in the excruciatingly long path of the southern entrance, Daniel socialized with the group of friends.

It was undemanding for him to fit right in with his extroverted, easygoing, and amusing personality. The three warmed up to Daniel faster than with Hayden as well. They couldn’t help discern that Hayden and Daniel had two contradictory personalities.

When they got to Foriast, Daniel admired the picturesque scenery. His expression was that of a baby’s: Innocent curiosity. Ysa kindly explained the dynamics and the layout of the city to Daniel.

Unlike when they were with Hayden, the group descended the Overseeing Cliff’s staircase at a relaxed pace. This resulted in them taking thirty minutes walking it down.

At the main entrance…

“You guys are still here?” Hayden smacked his lips and furrowed his brows. In his right hand, a Liqiri was clutched. “It’s been thirty minutes. I have cleaned up the public library to borrow all the Liqiri I can carry and you’ve just arrived?”

“You should take it easy sometime.” Daniel shrugged.

“I’m near Level 3, Daniel.” Hayden shook his head. “By the end of this Annual Youth Pride, I would have stepped at the third Level. There’s always time for taking it easy. This is a rare opportunity I’ve presented to you. It’s like I’ve taught you nothing.”

Daniel was taken aback by Hayden’s declaration of him approaching the third Level. “Are you really?”

“Yes.” Hayden waved his hands. “I got to run. I have to go fully absorb my second Origin Crystal. If you may excuse me.”

Hayden activated his Indestructible Devil, Empyrean Power, and Shabilo. Consequently, Hayden literally disappeared in the eyes of everyone.

“That guy doesn’t rest, doesn’t he?” Jin commented. “How hardworking is that guy?”

“Hayden is the most studious person you will ever encounter.” Daniel scratched his temple. “In the six months he rose to fame, he mastered ten martial arts, all kinds of impossible basketball maneuvers, 23 languages, and innumerous skills, such as, but is not limited to, drawing, editing, gaming, dancing, and singing. That person is an absolute beast. Oh yes, his cooking is nothing short of godly.”

Jin, Gafar, and Ysa couldn’t wrap their minds around everything Daniel cited. They were hundreds of years old, and yet, they haven’t learned all those skills. Sure, they had a lot of skills from the Tiroga they’ve experienced. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t compare to the amount of skills Hayden possessed in his arsenal.

“He also gained a lot of confidence the past six months and hasn’t backed down from any challenge presented to him.” Daniel’s tone contained slight jealousy. “That’s what people like about him. Aside from his described-to-be-tantalizing physical appearance and latent charisma, of course.”

“Yeah, where does he get that amount of charisma?” Gafar shared his sentiments, sounding jealous. “Tell me, is it easy for him to get girls?”

“He has two girlfriends.” Daniel turned to Gafar with a wry countenance. “Both are considered as two of the most beautiful women on Earth.”

“A womanizer…” Ysa sounded repulsed by Hayden. “Are polygamous relationships getting that pervasive in the outside world?”

“Yes.” Daniel bobbed his head. The group started to walk again. “It is common. One of my friends grew up in a polyandrous family.”

The topic shifted into the outside world. Without any form of shyness, the four conversed of the outside world. They discussed matters pertaining to various cultures and the experiences of the three Forish in the group.

In due course, the quartet arrived at the entrance of the centermost building, Tizik. The two people who greeted Hayden when he first came received Daniel. “I guess this is where we bid goodbyes.”

“Oh, we’ll see a whole lot of each other.” Jin said. “That, I assure. Hayden is tied with us, after all.”

Daniel walked forward and was going to enter the Tizik with the two Rixeus members when he remembered something. He rotated his body and pointed at Jin. “You’re… You’re Keaton Rivera, right?”

“I was.” Jin didn’t hide that fact. “I was too famous. It’s a mistake that I strived to become a celebrity.”

“Interesting…” Daniel touched his lips, redirecting his eyes to the ground. “Okay, goodbye to the three of you. I had a pleasant time.”

Daniel entered the Tizik with the two Rixeus members without uttering another word to the three people.

“That pair of best friends are bizarre.” Ysa whispered. “Their largely conflicting personalities are rather fitting of each other. Two puzzle pieces. Two peas in a pod.”

“Stop with the metaphors.” Jin smacked his lips. “We can all agree that the two will become a powerful helper in the near future.”

“I share the same opinion.” Gafar bit his thumb pensively. “Those two… They’re strong. Did you observe the glint in Daniel’s eyes?”

“Underlying determination and confidence.” Ysa answered. “It’s beautiful. And he’s much more kindhearted than Hayden. Someone with high a kind heart who desires to help. And his charisma is much better than Hayden… Though I hate to admit that Hayden is too cool, magnetizing all people to him without effort. Daniel’s charisma is more of…”

“Harmonizing.” Jin and Gafar completed the sentence simultaneously. “He can harmonize with people as easy as drinking and eating. It’s a powerful skill that is inborn. It is an Innate Gift in of itself.”

The trio left, anticipating what kind of events and changes will the duo that surfaced out of nowhere bring to Foriast and the world.

…..

Meanwhile, inside the Tizik, Daniel was led into the elevator. Daniel couldn’t believe the technology of Foriast, which was miles away from the tech outside. A few seconds later, the elevator reached the floor of where the Reza Hixaria’s room was in.

A bridge made of light materialized. Daniel pranced into the archway. He was transported into where the Reza Hixaria was. Daniel reveled at the sight of the majestic Rexa Hixaria and its surroundings.

“Ro-Daniel.” A voice originated behind him. Daniel saw Starakt in his king outfit. He greeted Daniel in Roshist. “I will give you benefits and everything, but first…”

Starakt removed his robes, his aura skyrocketing upwards, intimidating Daniel. “Let’s fight first, shall we?”