15 An Opportunity

EC is the number one city on the entire Earth when it comes to security and neatness.

But who made it possible?

The highest thanks would have to go to the five powers that were ruling the city also known as the five great counsellors.

And one of these counselors is Atherston Corey. The Patriarch of the Abyssal Core Guild.

With one look at the mansion and reputation and the symbol, Khan immediately determined this man beside him was no ordinary man and could tell he was deeply connected to this city flourishes as it is and he seemed he wasn't wrong.

"The price you have to pay to make this hold is something I can't comprehend..." Khan said genuinely surprised as Atherston directed his attention towards him.

This young lad was beginning to pique his curiosity. Talking to him felt like talking to another counselor and it filled him with surprise.

"What makes you say that?"

"I've seen the wild! I've been part of it, witnessing its growth and witnessing its terror! To me, no city is absolutely safe! Sooner or later, humanity be history! For you to make a group of more than three billion to think otherwise, then the price for that is something I can't imagine" Khan said looking into the bustling city in the distance.

"You're right and you're also wrong..." Atherston said as his eyes flashed with a stubborn look.

"Oh, might you enlighten me, Sir..." Khan asked, but he didn't care much either, it had nothing to do with him.

"You're right, what you say about the wild. And it seems you have strangely grown very conversant with it. Something I find very strange since no ordinary mortal or low-level cultivators are even allowed outside the barriers but I won't delve into your matters..." Atherston said causing Khan to raise an eyebrow.

"You're right when you say no city is absolutely safe, we the Higher-ups know that, and a few major people in the world. Even this peace is due to strange reasons but it won't last. The wild is truly terrific. But you're wrong when you say, Humanity will be history, HUMANITY WILL SURVIVE!!!" Atherston said, raising his voice higher and Khan watched as his eyes flashed an intense purple light and his hair started floating in the air as if suddenly escaping the grasp of gravity.

Immediately, his mind shook, not due to the strength compressed in those simple words but due to the conviction. It was a mad conviction rooted in his very being.

And Khan knew well of people with this mad conviction. They are all people with great wills!

Atherston finally got a hold of himself as he retracted back in his aura causing the purple light in his eyes to fade away and his hair to fall back down on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, it seemed I got a little lost in it..." Atherston apologized with a smile.

"It's okay..." Khan replied as they both turned back, looking into the distance.

"Judging from what Aurelia said, I'm guessing you can't go back to Suicides City, at least not for now..." Atherston said as he looked at him.

"Yes..." Khan replied curtly.

"So you're going to start a new life right? And if there's a certain place to start a new life, then EC will be the dream of many..." Atherston said causing a nod from him.

"Yes..."

"You know, young men your age actually go there..." Atherston said pointing to an especially large structure in the distance.

"What's that?"

"It's Starlight Academy. The founder is a counselor just like me, and also a good friend of mine. They are an academy training young awakeners like you. All their graduates, even the laziest, are all at the Meteor rank stage while their exceptional ones even reach the Cosmic Rank stage before graduating..." Atherston said causing a flash of surprise in Khan's eyes.

Of course, he was well aware of the cultivation stages, the first was the Star rank stage, after that the Meteor rank stage then the Cosmic Rank stage, and lastly the Galaxy Rank Stage, each possessing 9 grades.

Although he never cared much about it since he couldn't cultivate it, at least he knew their levels and also knew the higher levels possess strength beyond human imagination!

"So it's a type of Mana school?" Khan asked just to be sure.

"Yes. So you want to go there too. My two daughters also go there..." Atherston replied but his smile faded away on looking at Khan's blank faces.

"If it's a Mana school, it's useless for me..." Khan replied as he removed his gaze away from the large structure and back at the city.

"I can still sense you're an ordinary mortal but perhaps you'll be able to awaken..." Atherston tried convincing but his eyes suddenly narrowed as they flashed an intense purple and immediately his face changed.

"You...You don't possess Mana at all. Not even a single bit?" Atherston asked, the shock in his voice unconcealed.

This was the first time he'd be seeing a person without Mana at all. Looking at Khan, he could tell he was truly different. When he looked at others with his eyes, they were colors! Some are red, green, blue, and yellow. There had to be some color, but when he looked at Khan, there was nothing! It was like looking into a dark void that possessed not even the slightest light at all.

'But that's impossible, the Mana in us is the embodiment of our being, including emotions and behaviors. How can he not possess any of that, he's like a hollow person, like a great emptiness covered by human skin...'

"I'm sorry for your defect..." Atherston said as Khan slowly turned his gaze towards him.

"Is not possessing Mana a defect? It's not to me..." Khan said as he clenched the iron bar in his hands and exerted strength.

In front of Atherston's shocked eyes, the iron bar was immediately bent and twisted, and judging from Khan's blank face, he could tell he wasn't even placing much effort.

"I might not possess Mana, but I do possess my ways..." Khan replied bending the iron back to normal.

"Wow, that's incredible..." Atherston said as his eyes displayed shock when suddenly a thought popped into his head.

"Since the Mana school is a waste of time, why don't you work for me, for my Abyssal Core Guild? I believe you're the perfect talent for me and the perfect place for you..." Atherston said with a smile.

"Oh? How so?" Khan asked raising an eyebrow although in his mind...

'Finally got him where I want...'