Devoured Eccentric - 37 Natural Selection V

–

Nova was playing on risky grounds.

There may come many benefits from all this drama, but a single mistake or a wrench, like the Queen, thrown into the mix would assuredly result in chaos.

To continue living and training in isolation AND achieve deterring the Aristocrats, the existence of a non-existent higher being’s protection was explained.

To keep his disguise as a normal child, Nero chose to use his second self-created technique…

Mana Domino.

The main principle that this technique used was the fact that refined mana from Nero with his aura could affect the surrounding unrefined mana in a certain way, like relaying commands from afar.

Instead of refining mana to command it, Nero meticulously used a small part of his aura, his own refined mana, to react with the surrounding unrefined pure mana to act as he wanted.

In effect, not only did Nero’s little aura not get noticed by the surrounding slayers, in view, it also made it seem as if somebody else’s mana had gathered at Nero’s Shoulder Ribbons.

Again, this was only possible for people Nero who had Nova, for, without her, the meticulous precision wouldn’t be possible, resulting in either getting his mortal cover blown or the unrefined mana not acting his way.

Nova could send Nero 3D visualised modules, making communication of information and attributes of an object or scene or any materialised idea incredibly easy to understand.

–

An odd sense of fear and thrill blossomed in Nero’s mind, like walking on the edge of a cliff, knowing everything could end with a single step but relishing the feeling of such odds.

Except, it was way more complicated here, a single issue could potentially endanger Nero’s life.

He understood that people with experience could subconsciously doubt even the most honest of facades.

The sense of thrill was like a forbidden one like Nero was relishing from the idea of something taboo. He both wanted it more and wanted it gone, he felt free but also claustrophobic.

There was quite a jumble, a mess in his head.

Nova, sensing that, reassured him.

‘Trust me.’ was all she softly said.

But that was all it took for Nero to become tranquil once more, a sliver of hope to calm his senses and make him begin subconsciously meditating.

‘… Alright, let’s continue with the plan.’

. . .

“Who is this Master Oogway?” The King suddenly rose up, becoming completely of his surroundings.

He’d checked for a trace that led back to the origin of the Adept Mana but there was nothing, an act like this completely made him sure that the Slayer that backed the boy in front of him was an entity more powerful than he.

‘Is it one of the old fogeys?’ he wondered whether this man was one of those recluses who isolated themselves for years.

After all, he himself had been taught by one! How could he not know of the power they accumulated over that time seeing as his master, even though only a Basic Slayer, could easily wipe the floor with a dozen of him, he was also a Basic Slayer!

the difference in their manipulative skill felt completely impossible to reach.

“I cannot tell you more I’m afraid.” Nova calmly bowed, still putting up an unwavering smile.

“I see…”

“Yes, I’m also afraid I have to restrain from rejoicing with my mother, or any family member for that matter…” Nova added.

This was to assure that a blood test wouldn’t be taken secretly, Nova didn’t exactly trust people randomly and Princess Diane was no exception.

“Do not worry my child, I understand completely…” the King face very slightly contorted, as an impulsive memory had jumped at him filled with emotions.

He smiled through the memory.

“AHEM” a loud cough came from Killian.

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“Ah yes, we do need to get on with the selection… please express my honour to your master for me.”

“I shall.” Nova bowed once again, going to the stand with the other candidates who will take part in the next part of the selection.

The formal meeting between the child and the King had internally shaken the experienced audience, it was something simply never seen before!

At the stand, all the previously chosen candidates had made way whenever Nova neared them, an unspoken hierarchy established in a matter of minutes.

In the end, out of the total of 220 candidates, only 48 had the required aptitude to get chosen for the second round.

Nero, who was the only one with the potential for becoming a Demon, did not get an upper hand of any sort in the selection process.

This was due to the King.

Normally, a Demon level potential would actually, in the end, get a pass on killing the convict, but the King, knowing the nature of the so-called ‘recluses’, chose to put Nero through everything.

It was a test after all.

An hour and a half had passed since the opening of the palace gates when the second round commenced.

All of the chosen candidates had been given a weapon and a weapon manual, each different from the other.

both Long-ranged weapons and melee weapons were mixed together and the participant got to choose whether they preferred a long-ranged or melee weapon.

In this aspect, the candidates had an advantage compared to Nero, they had been training with many different types of weapons, increasing their starting proficiency with a new weapon would be higher.

That was, if Nero didn’t have Nova.

…

Nero, based on his choice to use a melee weapon, received a pair of weapons eerily similar to Katars used in India in the 1800s.

For his nimble figure, the daggers were quite a match. For an ordinary child of his age, the daggers’ weight might have hindered their performance, but for Nero, this was not a problem.

the manual had drawings and detailed descriptions explaining how to hold and handle the weapon.

To get a basic grasp, Nero skimmed through, mostly memorising the stances and motions of the weapon.

The manual lacked explanation about defence, however.

For that, Nero simply had to ask Nova.

As a result, he received 3 modules. One that showed how to efficiently parry, one to counter and one that surprised Nero.

That is, to throw the daggers.