?It took Haylee a whole minute to digest Alec's words. He gazed at the human from head to toe again and again. At first, Kyle's presence itself was an anomaly for him, and now Alec as well.
"How the hell do you know about Odiak?"
Alec jolted when Haylee's sharp eyes narrowed at him.
"I .."
He opened his mouth but was at a loss for how to explain himself. His eyes flashed with conflicted emotions as he looked back and forth between the glowing screen and Haylee's face.
Inside his mind, Alec cursed at the system, but it remained eerily silent. However, fortunately, before he could have a mental breakdown under Haylee's sharp eyes. The system screen flashed again.
Alec's eyes widened when the system asked him to tell the boar about its presence.
Opposite him, Haylee's eyes flashed with skepticism as he observed Alec's strange behavior. For some reason, the human was just staring into the air.
Alec sucked in a deep breath and spilled everything. He began by recounting the time when he first received the system and how it started assigning him missions.
He didn't go into many details, but while he was talking, Haylee fell silent. The boar listened attentively from start to finish.
Once Alec finished, Haylee let out a big sigh. He moved his paw and massaged his head. From Alec's explanation, he immediately understood the origin of Odiak aura within the human body.
It was Soul, the first and last divine artifact constructed by Odiak.
'So, from the start Odiak consciousness chose Alec?'
Haylee's mind wandered as he processed the information. He knew that Odiak had left a part of his consciousness behind, but he never expected the dwarf to also leave behind the divine artifact. After all, divine artifacts, just as their name suggests, are incredibly precious and rare. Not many have the ability to create them.
Suddenly, Haylee thought about the time he told Kyle about James and Odiak, and a dry smile appeared on his face.
'Seems like I made a mistake. It was Alec who was supposed to know that knowledge, not Kyle.'
Haylee gazed at Alec and tapped the place beside himself.
"Let's sit, we have a lot to talk about."
Alec gingerly sat down beside Haylee as the boar repeated the same things he had told Kyle. However, unlike Kyle, Alec asked a lot of questions, and Haylee had to painfully admit that explaining to Kyle was much easier than to Alec.
In the end, the boar first told Alec about the ranks above (SSS+)-Rank. Unbeknownst to him, Alec's expression grew paler as he heard Haylee's explanation.
Once Haylee finished, Alec asked some of the same questions as Kyle. First, he asked if the planet was safe now or if Odiak and James had perished out there.
Unfortunately, Haylee could only shake his head in response. He knew nothing about what had happened in the outside world.
However, Alec's final question left Haylee speechless.
"Can you tell me who took the divine essence? I believe if the system is asking me to get it, it's important for my growth."
The corner of Alec's lips trickled upward into and barely visible evil smile. Finally, he could know about the culprit who claimed the rewards of all his missions. But his smile stiffened when he heard a familiar name from the boar's mouth.
Alec wiped his imaginary tears and hurriedly tossed his grief at the back of his head. Forget about revenge, with his current strength he could not even fight an equal battle with Kyle!
"I remember Kyle was flying before he turned into a kid.. What's his rank? I know it's higher than (S-)-Rank but how much?"
Alec paused for a second.
"Also, for some reason, the system's appraisal skill didn't work on Kyle."
Haylee blinked, seemingly thinking about Kyle's rank.
"I sensed his rank while he was fighting with Emion, and it's still (S-)-Rank. It's strange with the amount of treasures he is consuming he should have broken through to the next rank but for some reason, his body needs double the amount of what is needed by an ordinary person."
Alec nodded.
"I can not believe Kyle consumed the divine essence and a whole enchanted hot spring and he is still in (S-)-Rank."
Haylee let out a chuckle.
"Consuming the divine essence is not an easy task. I believe there is something special within his body."
Alec's eyes narrowed in contemplation. He remembered when he discovered Kyle's talent in the tower, but now he wasn't so sure. If Kyle could consume the divine essence, did that mean his talent was even greater than Alec had imagined?
'Ah... what am I thinking? Does talent even matter now? I believe I have more important things to focus on.'
He gazed at the clear sky. The weight on his shoulder increased. At first, he wanted to save the innocent people from the destruction he witnessed through the system but now what? With the new knowledge Haylee shared, he realized things were not as simple as they seemed.
If Odiak and James were truly successful in defeating the Shadow General then why haven't they returned? And why would the system choose him if the planet is already safe?
While Alec was lost in his thoughts, Haylee spread out his wings with a faint smile.
"I'll come see you later. I should go check on Kyle. Maybe he's cursing me right now?"
Alec watched as Haylee soared into the sky and disappeared from his sight. With a sigh, Alec gazed at the sword hanging on his waist.
He clutched it tightly with a sigh.
"I wonder if I am really the one...? Everything is so confusing."
He shook his head and jumped on his feet. With a last glance at the system status window, Alec ran off toward the nearest treasure island. After all, he needs to get stronger. So, much so that he could fight against the danger lurking outside the planet.
A faint smile appeared on his face when he thought about his friends.
"I believe I won't be alone."
But after he climbed the stairway and stood opposite the castle gate, his smile stiffened.
Alec's eyes twitched as he scanned the castle gate, where a prominent and unmistakable warning was displayed.
"Caution; Don't enter the little phoenix took everything."
