Chapter 435: The Broken Valve [2]
Feeling everyone’s gaze on her, Talia smiled.
"What?" She stared back at them. "Why are you guys acting surprised? You should have known that this was coming soon, heck I would have done it since".
"I just didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye you know," she looked at Leon and grimaced. "Since you were in a coma and all that," she hesitated slightly then she added. "In case I didn’t come back".
Leon grimaced slightly, then he forced a smile. "What’s there to be scared about? It’s just a D Rank Ascended Trial".
He grinned. "If I can do it, then you can do it too!"
Talia looked at him dubiously and shook her head. "Wrong comparison," she scoffed. "Using yourself as a comparison to any other Ascended is just unfair, nobody can compare with a daredevil like you".
Leon chuckled. "Well, I survived".
"You did". She said with a smile, then she sighed. "I intend to survive too".
"You already told me I’m ready before we went for Operation Killing Joe. After all that I did during the operation, I became truly confident in myself that I’m ready but still I didn’t want to rush it".
"Since then it’s been 5 months already and in all that time, I’ve not been idle". Her eyes gleamed. "I believe I’m ready".
The others stared at her somberly.
She shrugged. "Well, if anything happens, you guys can share all my assets among yourselves".
She chuckled. "I don’t have any family alive, so..." she grinned.
Seeing no one answer or say a word for a few seconds, she felt uncomfortable then she looked at Daren and asked. "What of you?"
Daren sighed. "I’m kind of a cowardly person you know. I don’t like taking crazy risks if I have a choice, but alas," he sighed resentfully. "I don’t think I have much of a choice".
He looked at his comrades with a grave look on his face, then he sighed again. "A few months ago, if anyone told me I’ll take a decision like this after just a few months of surviving my E Rank Trial, I’d call him a mad man".
He laughed. "But here I am, making the decision".
Talia’s eyes widened. "You want to attempt the D Rank Trial too?"
Daren shrugged. "Why not?"
He raised his half-filled bottle of Beer and drank a mouthful, then he continued. "I mean, it’s not like we don’t know what’s coming. After what happened 5 months ago, it’s clear that the Federation is agitating for a full-blown Civil War with us".
"Like I said, I’m a bit of a coward but this time, attempting a Trial is the more cowardly option for me because facing that war as an E Rank Ascended will reduce my chances of survival to less than 50% unless I want to hug Leon’s thighs throughout". He chuckled.
"Well, it’s not really a difficult choice".
"Between facing the incoming war as an E Rank Cyber Gladiator and attempting the D Rank Trial, I’ll rather attempt the D Rank Trial".
"At least, the incentives are more for me with that option".
For a few seconds, his comrades just stared at him as they slowly realized that just like Talia, it was clear that there was no stopping Daren.
Leon wanted to tell his friend that it was too early, afterall, he no longer had the ChronoSystem to confirm Daren’s preparation through his Ascended Counter, but then he himself took far lesser time after his E Rank promotion before he attempted the D Rank Trial.
’I’m not really the best candidate to try to persuade him’. He sighed.
Silence reigned in their table for a few seconds as they each dealt with their inner thoughts, then Tyla broke the silence.
She smiled brightly, looking directly at Leon. "I’ve been thinking for some time now. Since you want to leave me again to take another risk, why not do the same?"
Leon’s eyes widened. "What? W-what do you mean? Don’t tell me..."
She grinned, smiling like she was enjoying the look on his face. "What do you think? I intend to attempt my first Ascended Trial of course".
"But you’re not ready!" Leon blurted.
"Says who?" She rolled her eyes. "That was 5 months ago, and that was even before Operation Killing Joe".
"In that time, though I spent a lot of time with you, I’ve not been idle".
"I’ve been quietly working at my own pace too, and I believe that I’m ready". She looked Leon in the eyes. "I’m confident".
Leon stared into her brown eyes for a few seconds, and what he saw made him want to shake his head. ’Dammit!’
He palmed his face. ’I think I’ve infected them with my madness!’
’Brick is the only sane person remaining in this crew!’
Well, at that point, Leon knew that she already made up her mind and there was nothing that he could do to stop her so he didn’t even try.
He just sighed and drank more beer.
After that, the group of friends discussed even more topics. They discussed about the past, they discussed Operation Killing Joe, and then they discussed the Civil War.
They debated about the true reason why Director-Prime Epsilon was pushing for a Civil War, since they were sure losing an Earl was not enough to warrant such a decision.
Most of them had clues to the true reason, but they weren’t sure.
Throughout as they discussed this, Leon didn’t say a single word as he mostly listened and kept to himself.
They stayed till midnight.
Only after then did they leave to their various destinations.
...
The next day, the crew gathered again and this time, Leon drove a military truck as they escorted Talia and Daren to the Data Center where they intended to attempt their D Rank Trial.
As he drove, Leon could not help but experience a feeling of déjà vu.
In certain ways, today reminded him of about 9 months ago when he met the crew for the first time when Talia pleaded for him to help protect her during her Trial.
’How time flies,’ he thought with a smile.
After a few minutes, Talia and Daren were led to a VIP room in the Data Center where they were laid to bed in a special vitality pod.
Talia and Daren said their goodbyes to their friends, then they left the room, leaving the duo to start their Trial.
Bzzz!
A few minutes later, a fluctuation of ADE behind the door told them that Talia and Daren already started.
Leon’s black eyes gleamed. ’It’s already starting’.
...
[Special Appreciation to Yametekudastop, ImperialJadeDragon, ForgottenSign, and thatotherguy008 for the Golden Tickets! Thanks for the support!]
