novelCondensation Point
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"Sister Xuan is in seclusion training that has been ordered by the Matron. She cannot respond right now, but you don't need to bother, I know her answer. All sect members are forbidden from divulging any details regarding training techniques to outsiders. Any details. So, she can't help you in breaking through to become a Warrior. Goodbye."
Hearing this response in a slightly harsh tone from Mulan, Daneel wondered how he had pissed that taciturn woman off.
His first thought after becoming stymied due to the Condensation Point had been to contact everyone he knew who had already passed the threshold to become a Warrior.
The first one that had come to his mind had been Sister Xuan, and if she was able to help, he might also get the best possible way from her, as after all, she was someone from the Big 4.
Now, that route had been closed off with this reply from Mulan.
His next option would have been that useless disciple Percy, but Daneel knew that it would be a waste of time as all sects in the Big 4 most probably had similar rules.
This left the top assassins and the previous sect leader in the Hidden Kill Sect, but he wasn't very optimistic there either.
He knew the training techniques that they all practiced-after all, he had gone through all the archives of the sect thoroughly. The source behind the system quoting the situations regarding the Condensation Point had definitely come from there.
Still, he decided to give it a try.
First, taking out the communication trinket that he had given Luther, he contacted him.
"How is everything? Have you settled into the sect? Is anyone giving you any trouble?"
It had been two months, and he was eager to know whether everything was well there.
"It's good, Your Majesty. The tournament is to be credited for that. After seeing my performance, there have been few dissidents, and I've handled those using classic techniques from my time in the military. Of course, the top assassins are all angry at you due to the bet, and they glower whenever they are in my presence. Still, they haven't given me any trouble. Skkrag has been a big help, he has become close to me, and he insists on learning from me. We have resumed accepting contracts, but like you asked, I'm sending over a secret log to Eloise. In cases where our interests could be hurt, your instructions will be followed-either we can warn the target, or we can give an urgent contract to kill the contractor first."
Hearing this answer, Daneel nodded satisfactorily.
His estimate about the Hidden Kill Sect which had been drawn after his interaction with them after the incident with Axelor where he had been saluted was right: they respected skill.
One other thing which delighted Daneel was that Luther was no longer that reticent man who barely spoke a word.
It seemed that resolving old problems really did have an effect on people's personality, as evidenced in both the cases of Luther and Faxul.
"That's great, Luther. Anyway, listen. I need you to do something for me. I'm at the peak of the Human level, and I've hit a wall. I need to speak with Warrior level individuals regarding how they stepped past the threshold. Tell them that the Basilisk Rider asked them to impart their experiences to me, the Basilisk Rider's disciple, as he is too busy to do so. Also, I'm in a hurry, so this needs to be done as soon as possible."
After Daneel got to the point behind him contacting Luther, there was silence from the other end.
After a few seconds, Luther hesitantly replied, "Er...My King, I don't think that would be wise. Right now, they are really angry at your other identity for 'swindling' them of their savings. They will definitely not respond well to this, and I doubt that experiences imparted in that way will be useful. I have spent time with these people, and I think I understand them more now. Could you let me try something, My Lord? I will go with your plan if that doesn't work out."
Daneel sheepishly rubbed his nose on hearing this, as what Luther said did make sense.
He had heard their curses before he left, so he knew that they were definitely very, very angry at Master Novrain.
Hence, they would definitely not be favorable towards his disciple.
Daneel was curious regarding what his ex-commander's plan might be, but he decided to ask later. So, he just said, "Carry on!"
This was the last lead he had regarding the Warrior level, so he really hoped that it would work.
Leaning back on his chair, he waved to Eloise who was standing in the balcony while looking at him.
They were in a small meeting room, and she had brought up to speed regarding everything that had been going on in the Kingdom.
Daneel had gotten some new ideas regarding how he could bring over his experiences from Earth to Angaria, but he put them on the backburner for now.
He needed to get to the Warrior level ASAP to stop that Ashahell. If not, all of it would be futile.
A few minutes later, the communication trinket in his pocket vibrated with a short message from Luther, "My King, they wish for you to come here."
.....
Reaching the foot of the Hidden Kill Sect, Daneel put on an odd expression on his face, as this was supposed to be his first time coming here.
He was wearing a hood to cover his identity, as it wouldn't be very wise for others to know that the King of Lanthanor had visited the Hidden Kill Sect.
According to his spies, already, whispers had begun which called the King of Lanthanor a mastermind who was planning the unification of multiple Kingdoms. Thankfully, they were just whispers, as none of the watching forces had any actionable intel to base their suspicions on.
After all, it was a coincidence that a long lost son of a Top Assassin had made his way to Lanthanor, right before a fleeing prince also chose this Kingdom as his destination.
Yes, it could be a coincidence, but Daneel realized how flimsy it sounded when he thought about it in his head.
It really was a coincidence!
Hell, even he couldn't believe himself.
Putting this matter aside for now, Daneel stepped back with mock shock when a reptilian appeared right in front of him, as if he had been there all along.
Disguise was one of the key skills of an assassin, and there were many mage techniques in the archives which allowed assassins to hide themselves in plain sight if they could stay unmoving for long periods of time. It was a simple, but effective method, and to any layman, it would seem quite shocking, as there would be no evidence of movements of elementary particles after it was cast once.
Of course, the system had spotted him ages ago.
"Welcome to the Hidden Kill Sect, King Daneel of Lanthanor. Please follow me. The reputable assassins of our sect await you."
Nodding, Daneel followed the reptilian and was led to that same teleportation door, after which he had to once again act startled when he saw the beautiful scenery of the sect headquarters.
However, here, there was something which made him feel genuine surprise.
5 individuals were standing in front of the pedestal which was the exit of the teleportation door with impatient expressions on their faces.
Daneel, of course, recognized them to be the 4 top assassins excluding Agmar and the previous Sect leader.
As soon as he appeared along with the reptilian guide, they rushed toward them.
"Sir, I was going to bring him to you-"
"SHUT THE [email protected]@K UP! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! FOLLOW ME!"
As Jaggrv shouted these words, the reptilian was shoved aside.
Bewildered, Daneel could only watch as Stefan and Jaggrv caught one hand each and started to drag him towards a location.
The other three were on the lookout, as if they were afraid that someone would come interrupt them.
Daneel could barely keep his jaw from dropping. What the [email protected]@k was going? What had Luther done?
Were they possibly...so angry that they wanted to kill him, the disciple of the man who had cheated them?
No, it couldn't be possible.
In front of 5 Warriors, he was powerless, so he could only be dragged along like a plaything to a remote location on the mountain which was surrounded by a forest.
Here, there was a stump of a tree on which Daneel was seated. Or, shoved onto.
As panic really started to set in, Daneel was about to contact Luther or ask the system to activate the formation to save him, but he stopped when he saw all 5 assassins stare at him with manic eyes before each of them burst out with statements which shocked him so much that he almost fell off.
"You're in luck, kid!"
"We will make you a Warrior even if it's the last thing we do!"
"[email protected]@k that cheating sect leader! Either you become a Warrior, or you die trying!"
"We have 5 different types of advice to get through the Condensation Point! There's no way you can fail!"
"HAHAHA, I can't wait to see his face after we are done!"
Wait...really, was he going mad?
So they were all impatient to help him get through the threshold?
What exactly had Luther done?
Unable to take it anymore, Daneel asked this question through the oathstone, and the answer really did make his jaw fall to the floor.
"Oh, it was nothing, Your Majesty. I...might have hinted that the sect leader, your other identity, is jealous of you for progressing so fast, and that he doesn't want you to break through so soon for petty reasons. So, I told them that he asked them not to tell you about their experiences properly. Also...I might have made it clear that you breaking through quickly before the sect leader returns will really piss him off greatly."
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