The Mech Lord

"Where am I?" Leo muttered, feeling a strange feeling all over his body. It was as if something heavy was weighing down on him. He couldn't even move an inch of his body. 

"You don't have much time. The Will that was supposed to help you ascend to the throne has been used. The path ahead will be further difficult…"

A mysterious and profound voice suddenly sounded in Leo's ears. It definitely belonged to a man. But, he couldn't tell anything else about it.

"Who is this? Who is talking?'' Leo tried to open his eyes, but it wasn't working. He couldn't even lift his eyelids.

'Grow up fast as the time is running out my successor….'

The voice began to fade away as the heavy sensation around Leo's body began to disappear along with it too.

"Wait! Are you the man behind the legacy?!!'' Leo screamed, but it was no use. The voice was no longer returning.

…

Dean's Office.

Valen sat on his chair and seemed to be in deep thought. After all, something very strange happened today.

"I clearly felt two Will's today. One belonged to the Zest. And, the other was…"

There were only two people in that room. It should have been obvious whom that Will belonged to.

"How can a kid of such an age, have a terrifying Will like that?"

"Not to mention, he is a Yellow Rank Skill holder…"

The Dean frowned. 

A Will was a concept that was way above the level of the students in the Academy. It was to the point that it wasn't even discussed.

Why?

Well, because most of the teachers weren't even capable of teaching about it.

"This year, I wonder what is going to happen…." Valen shook his head.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to claim this year as the Golden year for all the Major Academies around the Universe.

There have been more High-Rank Skill users than ever. And, now even this…

People like Leo who had such strong Wills that they didn't even need to reach the required level and age to manifest it were very rare. 

People like them appear only once between 50 to 100 years. Yet, this year Leo was actually the third person on that list.

Only God knew what was going on.

...

Jack sat on a stool between the bed of Leo and Harry.

His thoughts were lingering on the same track as Dean.

'To think he killed that undying creature with one hit. Even if it had been kept locked for decades, that thing still used to be extremely strong. How is this Kid's Will so strong?'

At this moment, Leo finally opened his eyes and once again saw the familiar ceiling of the Infirmary above.

"You are awake?" Jack looked at him, a bit relieved.

Leo suddenly had a sense of deja vu. It felt like this had happened once before.

"Where is Harry?" He asked while trying to get up.

"He is fine, right beside you," Jack replied as he helped Leo to sit down.

Leo turned his head and saw Harry on the bed beside him. He was still sleeping as the doctor had given him sedatives before operating on his arm. It was really in bad condition after that thing drilled a hole into it.

But, an arm injury is not much of a problem these days with cutting-edge technology. Even Leo could have his arm fixed if could have gotten the treatment in time.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen.

At this moment, Harry too opened his eyes. Actually, he was awake to begin with, and just didn't want to talk with Jack. Hence, he was pretending to be asleep.

"My arm hurts.." He let out a painful grunt.

"I am sorry for dragging you into it," Leo sighed, feeling guilty about it.

"It's fine it was not your fault. I shouldn't have unlocked the door." Harry shook his head. He felt a bit guilty for unlocking the door even with Leo's continuous refusal.

Not to mention, he was the one who had broken the jar letting that thing out.

"But, why was that thing there?" Harry asked with a frown. 

"I want to know it as well," Leo said, looking at Jack with those sharp piercing eyes of his.

"It's my fault, I kept it there for my personal interest." Jack stood up and apologized to them, "I put your lives in danger, and I am extremely regretful for it."

"Is that it?" Leo asked him in anger. "We literally died back there!"

"It's fine, " Harry said as he waves his hand, "I gave up my life the very day I chose the path of shinobi.''

Jack and Leo looked at him.

Just what in hell was this guy going about?

''Are you crazy?! We ought to complain about him and get him fired." Leo tried to convince Harry. But, he seemed to be fine with it.

"People like him shouldn't exist, I can't believe there is such an irresponsible teacher in this Universe.'' This was pretty harsh coming from Leo as he usually didn't talk in this manner.

Jack's face twitched a bit, he had been thinking of taking the responsibility and leaving quietly. But not anymore.

"F*ck...I am really not good at this pretending game…"

His attitude suddenly made a 360-degree change. And, it left Leo and Harry in shock.

"What in hell are you guys whining for? During our era, every day was tougher than this! Do you know what it is to be born during the war?"

"This is nothing compared to what students had to go to previously. Peh! You guys make me feel disgusted, Golden age my ass. You're just nothing but a bunch of pampered kids."

Leo and Harry stared at him. This was the first time they had heard a teacher curse.

"You are getting fired, aren't you?" Leo asked, looking at him.

It was pretty obvious since the guy had let all of his frustration out.

Jack's face twitched a bit. He was initially being kind, then he decided to let his frustration out before leaving as he was indeed feeling guilty. But now this kid had pissed him off and he had changed his plan. He wasn't leaving anymore.

To hell with guilt!!

"Kiddo, threats are looming all over, and you guys training to become a soldier dare to complain about being in danger? Is this a joke?!"

"If yes, then just leave, this profession isn't for you!''

It immediately left Leo and Harry in silence.

"And, it was my fault to begin with. I admit it. But you guys aren't clean as well." Jack looked at the two of them with a smirk on his face, "Breaking through Academy's security locks, can get you expelled in the worst-case scenario."

Leo's face twitched as he turned to look at Harry. He didn't have any plans to break any locks so he didn't need to check the rules, but this guy should have known about it if he was an expert at it.

Harry forced a smile on his face. He actually had thought that the two would just get the things in and out. The door would be locked again, and he would erase any signs of hacking.

Who would have thought that they would be meeting that thing inside?

"I am going to be fired, but I will make sure to take you two out with me." Jack let out a laugh before further continuing, "Or, we can discuss this thing further..."