CHAPTER 89: SHOCKING REVELATION

AN: 💀 New Character Image 💀

Screeeeech... Clack...

I finally created artwork for one of the common undead, the failed warrior variant type.

⚠️ Be warned: It's genuinely creepy and not for the faint of heart.

If you're curious to see the nightmare Kael and the others faces, and want to understand more why Rachel would rather betray a fellow human than face one of those horrors, it's now available on my Patreon! Here's the link below:

/cw/ThePrimordialConduit

*****

The setting sun bled across the horizon, painting the skies in shades of crimson, gold, and violet. Long shadows stretched across the ruined campus as daylight slowly surrendered to dusk.

The group remained alert, the tension in the air wrapping around them like a tightening noose.

Just like that, another hour passed, the pale light of the moon illuminating the night and revealing their nervous expressions.

When the appointed time arrived, the sound of gulping filled the area.

One second passed.

Two seconds passed.

Another breath.

Then...

"Hahaha!"

It wasn't clear who laughed first, but it was like a spark that started a fire.

Sounds of laughter filled with relief spread through the area. The survivors celebrated as much as they could that they wouldn't have to face those abominations tonight.

Once the fear had been filtered out of their systems, each group retreated to their quarters.

It was time for the trials.

Kael and his team retreated back in the direction of their room, oblivious to the malevolent gazes Daniel, Ben, and Logan were sending him.

---

Kael watched the few humans and one beast before him, with Natalie and Nathaniel by his sides.

"Come back safe!"

Alice and the rest nodded, with Rose flashing her brother a wink.

"Wait for me!"

She didn't wait for a response as she sent her intentions to the system. She had already performed the arduous task the system had given. Luckily, she had been able to take a powerful beast like the Ruinsteed with Natalie's help. With the beast by her side, defeating a level 40 creature had not been too difficult.

Of course, that was because her target was a Common Zombie, and Max, despite being level 33, was of the Rare Rank. Still, that showed how immensely difficult the system task to enter the trial was. It made one wonder how high the bar would be for Mythical and Primordial Ranks, especially after considering each rank had ten tiers.

She summoned the message she had been ignoring.

[Would you like to start your trial?]

With a thought, she chose "Yes."

Just like that, four figures disappeared silently from the room, leaving the area strangely empty.

"Come back safe!" Natalie prayed from the side, prompting Kael to pat her on the shoulder.

But when he felt a glare coming from the side, he laughed ruefully before speaking.

"I will be right outside. I need some fresh air."

"Hmm."

The girl nodded, her face still showing some worry.

Kael secretly gave the rugged-looking Nathaniel a thumbs-up before leaving the room.

'To think even middle schoolers are searching for love, while old me is still single. My life is so sad...'

[Chirp!]

The side of his lip twitched.

'You are a bird and I am a human. Have some propriety, Py!'

[Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!]

'Yeah, yeah, I meant Phoenix, my bad. Jeez.

Still, the small mental interaction alleviated the anxiousness in his heart.

With a small jump, he sat on the concrete railing, his eyes lifting to gaze at the pale moon surrounded by shining stars.

"Am I the only one, or is the night beautiful tonight?"

Yet, the reply came from someone Kael hadn't expected.

"It certainly is."

A somewhat deep yet gentle voice came from the side.

Kael swiftly looked over, his eyes widening slightly.

"Principal? You didn't enter the trials?"

At the same time, he spread his perception outward at full power.

Wouldn't it be pathetic if someone silently crept from behind and pushed him off the railing? He wouldn't have tears to shed then.

The old man didn't answer but instead replied with another question.

"Can I join you?"

"Please."

Kael respectfully gestured to his side.

"Young ones are indeed fearless."

The old man replied as he leaned against the railing at his side.

Kael rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. He had simply wanted to enjoy the sensation of swinging his legs.

The principal looked at the night sky, his wizened eyes glowing with a dim light.

"To answer your previous question..." He paused before continuing, "if I should leave now, who would protect the others?"

He turned to Kael and flashed a smile that wasn't a smile.

A realization dawned on Kael.

With the Epic Ranks gone, indeed most of those left behind were weak. And with the presence of the Ruinsteed gone too, who was to say they wouldn't face an attack?

But Kael soon realized that might not be the full picture.

'Maybe the undead are not the ones to look out for.'

Kael couldn't help but think of Logan and Ben.

Especially the former.

This previous classmate of his was the one with the current highest level among them, now sitting at level 30.

Just the power he had displayed at the end of the last night event made Kael realize the Epic Ranks might not currently be the strongest.

That was just how big the power-up breaking into the First Order gave.

Seeing Kael remain silent, a knowing smile appeared on the principal's face.

"Quiet people like you love to overthink."

"Huh?"

It took him a moment to realize what the principal meant, but once he did, a slight blush appeared on his face.

"Hahaha!"

Kael shook his head at the old man's hearty laughter.

The principal's presence felt so warm and gentle, and the slight resistance he had raised up crumbled quietly at that moment.

"But are they worth it? To take such a risk for people not close to you?"

Martin's laughter died down, his head shifting upward to gaze back at the skies.

He lingered for a moment before speaking, his voice so low it could be mistaken for a whisper.

"Who said they aren't close to me? Every student in this academy is another child of mine."

Kael almost scoffed at the ridiculous words he had just heard.

At that moment, he lost the mind to ask the other questions in his heart.

As if sensing the change, the principal turned to him once more.

"Why? Won't you help others if the time comes?"

The reply came with no hesitation.

"Only if it won't be a detriment to me or my loved ones."

Now it was the principal's turn to be surprised.

This wasn't the image Claire had described to him.

Thinking of something, the old man asked,

"And Rachel?"

Kael froze for a moment, a sour expression soon marring his face.

Seeing this, the principal sighed.

"Kael, I don't know what little Rachel did to you. But could you find it in your heart to forgive her? That girl has suffered enough as is."

"We have all gone through painful experiences since this accursed apocalypse descended."

"Even before that."

Kael raised an eyebrow, and this time he wasn't able to stop the scoff in time.

"Whose person's life is all roses and sunshine?"

"Before the apocalypse, living had not been easy. I can proudly raise my head and claim that I have the best, most loving parents. But, it took all they could provide to send us here. Most times, my sister and I ate only twice a day, and that includes the cafeteria food we ate in school. In fact, sometimes, we might only eat once."

Kael couldn't help but remember his past struggles that now felt like ages ago with all he had faced these past few days.

His mother was the breadwinner of the family, and his father merely did odd jobs to provide once in a while. And what he contributed was so little.

Yet Kael had never seen his mother look down on his father in his life.

If anything, she always looked so proud, like she had won the lottery jackpot.

Thinking of how his mother would twerk as she mocked and teased his father, "This big pretty young ass swooned you off your feet, haha!", Kael couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

The point was, life had also not been easy.

It wasn't for nothing that he had such a gaunt frame before the system's blessing descended.

Of course, he would never mention this to an outsider, the old man included.

'I can't reveal my old man's weakness! Haha!'

Despite all he said, he had had a memorable childhood.

To the point that he and his sister would wait for their parents to return home before switching on the TV so they could watch together.

That was how close their bond was.

Martin nodded at Kael's words.

Despite what Kael said, he could pick out the longing from the latter's words.

'Seems he worries for his parents. What a filial child,' he thought silently, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

'I wonder if my little dumpling is doing well too.'

The image of his granddaughter popped into his mind, but he shook his head.

He wasn't worried for her well-being at all.

After all, with that noble family, there was nothing to fear.

"Do you know Valemont Jonathan?"

Kael had been expecting the old principal to rebuke him with his own words, but what he least expected was to be asked such a question.

"The late Head Governor?" he asked back.

Thinking of that legendary figure, a feeling of respect couldn't help but well up in his heart.

That was the man who had single-handedly risen and taken control of the chaos after the Great War.

The principal nodded before unfazedly dropping a bomb.

"He is Rachel's father."

"What?!"

Kael almost jumped off the railing, luckily catching himself in time.

The old man ignored his reaction, the deep wrinkles on his face seeming to become more pronounced, as a suffocating aura of sorrow hung around him.

With a whisper, he spoke.

"I think it would be more apt to say... he was Rachel's father."