Bastards Ascension: A Playground of Gods
Chapter 26: joining a faction

Chapter 26: joining a faction

"My name is Jacob Harris. I’m from the Blue Fang faction."

He threw out an arm for Kieran.

Kieran looked at him for a second before stretching out his hand to take the handshake.

Nelyx, who watched their exchange, scoffed.

"You destroyed the school property. You do know that your faction would have to pay for the destruction caused to the academy’s barrier?"

Jacob threw her a glance, a small smile forming at the side of his face.

"Sure, there’s no problem there, so far as we get what we came for." Jacob glanced toward Kieran from the side of his eye.

An SSS-ranked talent holder—it was an asset that would completely change the fate of his faction.

"Tch... The young man is having a hard time deciding. I know he’ll definitely make a good decision. Give him some time," Nelyx said, giving him a subtle glance.

Kieran could tell that she was merely trying to buy more time so she could try getting him for her faction.

"She’s really in for the business," Alexa commented.

’Yes, but I’m definitely not working with her,’ Kieran replied sternly, his steel gaze locking with Nelyx’s.

She could tell from his gaze.

’I hope he’s not trying to...’

"I’ve already decided. I’m working with any faction that helps me deal with the Nelkon family."

Right before she could complete her thoughts, Kieran’s words cut through the tense air.

She felt like facepalming.

’Declaring a main family an enemy so openly? Who gave this boy his brains!’

She could understand his sentiment, and she honestly wished she could help him. But she herself knew how powerful each main family was!

They were the Origin Families—the first few who had received their blessings after Orion’s departure, and also the ones who taught the others the way to potentially awaken.

Jacob turned to the young boy, stunned.

A sudden burst of laughter filled the infirmary.

Jacob’s laughter tore through the tense atmosphere.

"The captain laughed."

Anita looked at Jacob’s face. His laughter made her cheeks turn pink.

She hugged the tablet tightly to her chest, shifting her gaze to observe Kieran’s features.

The blush on her face increased all the more as she saw him.

She had been so fixated on the captain that she had failed to see the figure in front of him.

Kieran’s sleek black hair had a small sheen under the bright light of the room.

His deep, dark eyes seemed endless—almost like an abyss.

His pale white skin and his lanky frame were a testament to the amount of blood he had lost and his poorly treated body.

Yet, somehow, he still maintained a beauty that made her face flush.

Kieran felt her lingering gaze and turned to look at her. As their gazes met, she moved back slightly, hiding behind the teacher who was chasing after Jacob.

Kieran’s attention was soon drawn back as Jacob’s laughter paused.

"Boy, you’ve got guts to say such a thing out in the open... Do you have any idea the power that the Nelkon family has?" Jacob asked, looking at the young boy in front of him.

He didn’t know what had happened, like Nelyx said, but from the looks of things, it appeared the boy was injured, and something bad had happened to him.

However, his pale skin showed that he wasn’t in the best state.

’To say something like that while in this state...’ Jacob thought to himself, a small smile forming on his face as he remembered himself in the past.

"Power? Power that they use to oppress the weak, and you all do nothing? If you won’t help me achieve what I want, then I’m not joining your faction either." Kieran stared firmly.

The flames of rage in his heart burned wildly.

He had never once been the type to forget, and he wasn’t going to rest easy knowing that those who had tried to kill him were still alive and walking free.

Jacob paused, his smile fading, now replaced by a deep frown.

Kieran’s words hit.

He could tell so himself, and he, too, felt powerless when faced against an Origin Family.

Kieran’s words were correct. They had always let the Origin Families get away with whatever they did.

Most especially the Nelkon family.

They were the worst of all the Origin Families, always holding their heads high.

All the factions had issues with them, but none had mustered enough courage to go against them.

The fear of the main head ever coming out from the family’s main settlement sent shivers through all of them.

A man known as the God of Flames.

He was a major force during the War of Realms after Orion’s departure.

His flames reduced many realms to ashes, and his strength was ground-shaking.

’The Nelkon family...’ Jacob thought momentarily, then turned his gaze to Kieran.

"I can promise to help you take down the Nelkon family if you join my faction," Jacob said, his eyes shining with determination.

’I can convince him to grow stronger and support the faction with his strength, and he’ll most likely forget his grudge along the way... I hope he does.’

Nelyx stood up from the chair, her eyes wide with shock.

Kieran even looked stunned himself. He never expected any support from any faction.

In truth, he himself was also afraid of the family. Their strength was no joke.

But if there was something he wanted more than that, it was to put an end to the constant oppression they caused.

He realized—it wasn’t only Frank.

The entire Nelkon family. Their arrogance and the way they treated people in the academy...

Their behavior came from the root.

And he wanted to put a stop to it.

"Captain!" Anita blurted before sharply covering her mouth.

Nelyx drew a long breath.

"When did the Blue Fang become so desperate to have an SSS-ranked talent holder?"

"Tch," Jacob scoffed. "Says the same person who locked us out just to get extra time to try convincing the same SSS-ranked talent holder," he replied sharply.

"Do you know the depth of the promise you’re making? Are you sure you can keep such a promise?" Nelyx asked with a mischievous smile.

She found the situation funny herself.

’This boy, suddenly waking up to take down an Origin Family? And then, the Blue Fangs opting to support him... I know the Nelkon family has been a pain in everyone’s ass, but this is new,’ she thought to herself, a small smile forming on her face.

"It depends on him... If he wishes to continue with his plans in the future, then I’ll support him. That said, I want to make it clear to him right now—I will not help him now. I’ll only help after he has become strong enough to obtain a captain position in my faction," Jacob said firmly.

Looking at Kieran reminded him a lot of himself.

His ambitious nature.

Although their goals didn’t align, he could see himself in the boy.

"What do you say?" he asked, stretching out a hand to him.

"The two of them are weak. They won’t be of help in training you... It’s best you conquer realms alone," Alexa advised, drawing a lazy breath.

Kieran paused for a moment, assessing his situation.

Although Alexa was right, he wasn’t going to choose her option outrightly.

’I have nothing. If I don’t become a hunter right after the academy, then I won’t even have money for a meal. The only way to survive now is by sticking to a faction. If I throw out this opportunity, then I won’t be able to eat, let alone get to Frank and his other lackeys,’ he explained his thoughts to Alexa.

"True," she muttered, entering her thoughts again.

She had a lot on her mind as well, but she didn’t want to ask anything.

She only kept quiet to let him decide.

Kieran thought on the matter a bit more.

’Getting to a captain level in the faction? If I can get that strong, then I’ll be able to do much more than just defeating the Nelkon family... I can become stronger and stop all the others who think they can act however they want.’

He clenched his fist tightly.

"I’ll join your faction," Kieran said.

Jacob turned, a small smile forming on his face.

Anita shifted slightly out of the way as Nellyx walked past her.

The teacher also followed quickly behind Nellyx.

"Are you not going to report the case to the Nelkon family" the teacher asked with a mischievous smile.

"No, I won’t" her instant reply made his smile crumble.

"Let’s see what the boy can do..."

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