Beyond The System
Chapter 119: Knight’s Revenge

It didn’t take me long to reach the Tanks Guild. I walked straight in and headed to the front desk. “I need Commander Griffith Ironscribe.”

The clerk held out a hand. “Orb?”

Hmm. “Tell him it’s Peter?” I offered.

He glanced up with not exactly contempt, but definitely leaning into disinterested civil servant. “Peter?”

I nodded.

Sigh. “One moment.” Then got up and disappeared toward the room I remembered as Ironscribe’s office.

Knock. Knock.

No waiting. He walked right in, exchanged a few words, then turned and waved me in.

I walked past him with Bristle trotting behind me, sniffing around like he owned the place. I’d never had a dog before, but I guess it made sense. New environment and smells led to unfiltered curiosity.

At least no one had tried to attack him yet. Though... they’d regret it if they did.

I closed the door behind me and saw Griffith sitting on a couch, large by my standards, probably regular-sized for him. The man was still built like a boulder.

'Luna, anything weird in here?'

'The building, yes. This room, no,' she replied.

I stayed cautious anyway. “The Fifth Prince ordered me here, sir. I lost my orb and—”

He held up a hand. “Relax, Peter.”

I took a breath. Let it out. “It’s good to see you.”

He nodded. “Likewise… sit down.”

I did, settling into the opposite couch. “I guess I need a new orb.”

“Mmm. Yes, you may.” He rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “Your discoveries have stirred up some trouble. My mistake really, pushing you into that guild idea. I apologize.”

I shook my head. “I was, still am, too naive.”

Griffith reached into his coat and pulled out a white orb. “This one’s yours. Modified. Rumors about a Bloodless are floating around and we can’t have that spreading further.” He smirked.

“Sir, I’ve got some new ideas I could run by you. Maybe even ask for some advice?”

He sighed. “I don’t have the funds I used to, Peter.”

Right, the points system. I checked the orb. 50 points, glowing green.

“I don’t care about that. You give advice, I give information.”

He chuckled. “Still too naive.” Then stood, the couch creaking under his shifting weight, and reached down to pet Bristle with a hand big enough to cover the pup’s entire head twice over. “Don’t fight with him. You’re a brawler, not a tamer.”

I nodded and stood as well.

I still couldn’t fully read Griffith, but I could tell one thing: he wanted to help. He was the rare kind of man who taught because he believed in people.

And right then, an idea took root.

I hated this place. Hated how they trained kids. How murder was overlooked. How potential was ignored, buried instead of sharpened. Marcus was right.

Elric was the perfect example. Even without cultivation, that guy would figure something out himself eventually. I'm sure of it, but he was pushed down and ostracized despite being a true genius.

“Could I buy your services?” I asked.

He blinked. “Mine? For what?”

I stepped toward the door. “Two things. I need a good tank, and an even better teacher.”

He gave me a strange look as I opened the door. “I’ll let you know later,” I added, then stepped out with Bristle following behind.

I started jogging back toward the inn, and Wyrem finally asked, ‘What did you want that man for?’

‘You said I should find a quiet place, right?’ I offered.

'I grow more hungry over time, and your channel is still leaking. So yes, find somewhere and cultivate,” Wyrem half-ordered.

'Does it have to be quiet?' I asked.

'What?'

I didn’t answer. Instead, I opened the inn’s door, reaching the building already, and ran inside.

Marcus was still there... and I had clearly interrupted something. “Uhh… you guys knew I was coming back, right?”

Helen had him pinned against a wall. Nothing unscrupulous had started, but I’d definitely killed the mood. Marcus let out a grunt, equal parts annoyed and resigned.

“They went to the arena. Head over, at least thirty—”

Miss Star whispered something to him I couldn’t quite catch, her voice hidden. Probably something she’d picked up from her charming son-in-law.

Marcus corrected himself. “One hour.”

I didn’t argue, instead just running out again.

I’m not gonna repeat it. I’m fast. I got there fast. Saw Lyra and Sia near the desk, waiting for Elric, Thea, or both.

“Hey!” I called out.

They turned. One smiled, happy to see me, while the other eyed my right arm like it was a fire starter.

Ahem. “Sooo, how’d it go?”

Lyra grinned. “A lot easier once we explained she’s the focus.”

Surprising.

“I’m fighting you after Elric,” Sia growled.

“That’s fair. But you called me a freak,” I said, mock-offended.

“You called me subhuman,” she shot back, clearly not letting that one go from so long ago.

“No, I called all of you subhuman.” I corrected, but I saw that she was already starting to smile. Neither of us was actually mad.

“Sure, Tinder. Just be careful, I could always use some firewood.”

Lyra laughed, and I couldn’t help joining in.

It was good, this. Teasing each other, and feeling normal again. “I guess I should sign up too,” I said, lifting my orb. “Got a new one, so…”

They didn’t argue, so I went to the desk, followed the usual routine. My progress was reset, not that it mattered. I was already totally unconcerned with it, the new plan sprouting more and more disinterest as time passed.

Bristle stayed behind, curling up near Lyra and Sia after I raised my hand to stop him.

Before I could speak with the two more, my name was called, and I stepped into the gate.

#

When the gate opened, another trainee around my age was revealed. A thin guy holding a staff.

Good. Maybe this one would resign quick—

Icicles began forming above his head in a half-moon arc. Stealing that.

They launched at me with half-decent speed, but I slipped past them easily and closed the distance in a blink. “Forfeit man.”

He stared at me, pale. “I—I can’t. How did you move so fast?”

Crap, did he really have no points?

'What’s the problem? You’ve won,' Wyrem said, irritated.

[“Continue the battle.”] The announcement echoed through the arena.

I didn’t want trouble. Not now. Not with everything happening.

'Continue?' Luna asked. 'Are you supposed to kill him? That seems unnecessary.'

I threw a soft punch. “Take a fall.” It landed gently, but the genius Mage did absolutely nothing.

Seriously? Did he want to get beaten?

[“Final warning.”]

'Is this what got that man so upset?' Wyrem asked. 'How does anyone train with weaklings? Just knock him out. Or choke him until he passes out.'

That felt… wrong. I mean, honestly it was good advice, but wrapping my arms around him, suffocating until he turned blue, yeah, no thanks.

“I forfeit,” I said aloud.

There was no announcement of loss. No gates opened. Just a flash of relief across the mage’s face.

Then it vanished with the next announcement. [“You have a history of problems. Follow orders and complete the match.”]

That voice… felt familiar, but it didn’t matter. This was going to be Drake’s mess to clean up.

I'm already too sick of these guys to do nothing.

“Eat me, jerk!” I shouted.

Right on cue, the elevator doors opened and out stepped a knight. Nearly fully armored, fully pissed, and looking very ready. “No surprise attacks this time, you insubordinate little—”

“OHHH!” I grinned as it hit me. “You’re okay! Thank goodness. I thought I caved your skull in.” He wasn’t wearing a helmet this time, so I could see the fierce look in his eyes, the clenched jaw.

I think he remembered the feeling of plate armor welded to his face, and he held a grudge. “You brat!"

'I think he’s upset with you,' Luna deadpanned.

He charged.

I used to think these guys were fast, but after watching Asmund and the rest of the army moving, matching my top speed, this guy? He looked like he was running underwater.

He came at me with a short sword, swinging with real killing intent. I dodged easily since I didn’t want to grab the blade. Revealing my gauntlets didn’t feel like the smartest move.

'Just touch him. I’ve absorbed plenty of your blood,' Luna offered sweetly, as if she was offering chocolate rather than assassination.

'That’s my student,' Wyrem added proudly. If energy worms could cry, I bet he’d be wiping away tears judging from the tone.

“ARRHHH!” the guard roared, launching a wild flurry of slashes and stabs. The poor mage from earlier had already retreated into a corner, trapped, the elevator had closed behind the knight.

“Want to call it?” I asked, hopping back mid-dodge.

“You think the Prince will save you this time?” he bellowed. “I shut off the surveillance. No one is coming!”

Yeah… There are idiots in every world, I guess, but only Dain and Rorik had hit that special level of stupid so far. “Oh. Alright then.”

I poured energy into my fist, not enough to be lethal, but definitely enough for pain, and drove it into his gut.

He turned green, froze, looked down… and emptied every last bit of his breakfast onto the floor.

I placed a hand on his back and gently took his sword with the other. “There, there. We all make poor life choices. I chose to sign up for this again, after all.”

He gasped for air like a beached fish, then lunged, tackling me to the ground. He landed on top of me, but as he raised both fists, I jabbed him in the ribs.

He crumpled on top of me.

“You alive?”

“Ughhh…”

Good. “Listen, last time—”

He groaned again, rolled off me, and sprawled out on the floor. I let him. “Last time was my bad. I get it, but I don’t think that’s a reason to try and murder me.”

I'd usually be more angry. Really, I would, but he was a non-threat. And these actions just solidified the ideas swimming in my head even more.

The corruption, the level of it from a soldier, a guard, an enforcer meant to guard the rules of this sick place.

Clarity was setting in.

I was just done. If this place didn’t want me, or my friends, or their families… Then I’d leave.

No more ambushes from bandits recruits. No more training that punishes you for exhibiting reason. No more waiting for someone else to decide what matters.

I'm not going to let this world drag me wherever it wants. I’m done reacting and adapting to situations as they are handed to me.

And with my friends, with my family, I’d be fine.

I would leave.

To The Shattered Expanse.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.