GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

What can the success in a family-established Academy compare to the success above millions of Vitality core refiners from various prestigious families all over the plane? He knew the answer to that question without needing to hear the tales of Soverick's exploits. People were singing Soverick's praise and telling stories about how awesome he is. 

Ghaster's ears almost popped off thanks to Kayla's energetic vocal rendition of a scene where Soverick dropped down from the sky upon some enemies and then he slaughtered them. It was all he could hear for a time. Everyone was singing Soverick's praise even their mother joined in on the trend. 

What's worse is that the thing he was happy to see Soverick leave the academy for came back stronger than ever. Soverick's pompous attitude didn't get better due to the achievement but it didn't increase either. Soverick remained the same condescending battle sage monkey with the same indifferent look. He above all else, did not toot his horn or boast about his exploits. Then again, he didn't need to.

Soverick was the star of the plane while he was among the top 10 in an academy. He wasn't even the 1st. So Ghaster became ashamed of his own achievement. But there was still a chance to catch up. Soverick was still a mana entity back then so there was a chance of catching up to him. It was a possibility he was looking forward to and working very hard to achieve. Then he became a mana entity and was planning to challenge Soverick when the Calamity of the Child of the plane occurred. Thousands of transcendents died that day. Even kings of law were injured.

So he thought it best to become a transcendent before he challenged Soverick. He returned to school and finished the tertiary stage of training with honors too. Then he came running here immediately after he became a transcendent. His aim was to injure Soverick and only that. Was that too much to ask? Apparently, it is. 

Soverick didn't even give him any attention and when he did, he didn't give him the honor to be beaten up by the child of the plane. He simply captured him and tortured him. Then he beat their mother up too. 

Apparently, he wasn't worthy enough to be beaten up but like their mother was. Even he is not so thick-headed. Now he knows that he needs to be a titan of law for him to be trashed by Soverick. A transcendent is not a worthy enough appetizer for him. This whole experience is enough for Ghastar to know when to give up on his childish dreams.

Mihila patted his head. "Soverick has always been special but you're special in your own way. You are a good boy and your training has been excellent. You can't give up till you become eternal. Soverick still has the huddle of being a titan of law to overcome and trust me, it will not be easy. I should know how difficult it is. Soverick is very talented but his immense talents have come to bite him. He will have to give some of it up if he wants any hope of becoming a titan of law and becoming a Sovereign of law. That means he won't be special anymore. He might even die trying to become a titan of law."

She tried her best to console her son even if she has to say that her other son might die. Ghaster has always been her favorite so it pains her to see him like this. She is willing to use Soverick's possible death to encourage him and cheer him up. But Ghaster is not convinced.

He shook his head and said, "He became a king of law in less than 10,000 years mother. And he is as powerful as a Titan already. Maybe even more. Soverick is not normal. There is nothing normal about him."

Her words are reasonable, Soverick's possible death included, but it is Soverick that they are talking about. He became a king of law in less than 10,000 years and even beat his mother as a king of law. Clearly, he can't be judged with common sense. Nothing about Soverick is reasonable. To expect his death, no matter how reasonable, is to dream of rainbows in the dry season. In fact, it is more probable for a rainbow to form without water at all than it is to expect Soverick to die. He has broken the usual conventions again and again. What says he can't do it again?

Mihila tried another approach. "Alright, how about this? There's a competition coming up soon. It is being hosted by the racial council. The competition is said to create a unified ranking for skill across all power levels from transcendents to kings of law. It has just been announced that Soverick will attend."

Ghaster didn't understand how that was supposed to cheer him up. "Yeah, so what? He is still too strong. He will beat me again and this time, he will do it in front of a larger audience."

He may be stubborn but he is not a masochist and he definitely doesn't like public humiliation. So getting trashed by Soverick in front of the whole plane is not on his wish list.

Mihila had to sign. She thought to herself, 'I love him, but he can be dense sometimes.'

"No, he won't beat you because everyone that participates will be suppressed to the level of transcendents. That means you will all compete with only skill."

Ghaster became excited immediately. "Really? Will he be really supressed down to my level?" He asked.

"Yes really. You have the same age. He just has a faster cultivation because of his title as the child of the plane. That doesn't mean he is better than you in skills. Skills cannot be rushed and need time. Besides, you have ancestral memories and he doesn't. You have an edge over him."

Mihila's words gave him hope and the competition gave him the opportunity. Now, Ghaster believes that he has come across the chance to defeat Soverick.