The SSS-Rank System: From Outcast To Overlord
Chapter 32: Resolutions.

Chapter 32: Resolutions.

SLAP!

"First, you get into a fight at school, and now talk about joining the army?"

Lena hid her burning cheek behind her palm, trying to stifle whatever tears dared to flow out. No, she wasn’t going to give him the win. Not tonight.

She frowned. "I’m going to join the army." she repeated, staring deep into her father’s scowl.

Not that he different face expression. That was all she’d ever gotten to live with since her mother died. Back then, she’d only been three. And even then, she’d hadn’t cried so much.

Her father— Mr Saetell— had turned bitter towards her eversince. Maybe it was because he blamed Lena for his wife’s death, but he took in another wife, constantly trying to avoid his own daughter’s presence.

Like it was a curse.

But then again, wasn’t it?

"Persistent, I see." Mr Saetell replied, clenching his fists. "So even after all thee these years, you still haven’t learned a lesson huh?"

"If this is about mom, I don’t want to talk about it."

"Of course you don’t! How can you after you killed her?!" The man yelled. "Get out of here, and don’t you ever speak of joining the army. Ever!"

Lena had turned away from him, but abruptly, she stopped. "Tell me, what happened to mom?"

With a groan, her father replied. "I’d rather not talk about it."

"Well, you’ve obviously spent fifteen years of your life hating me for something I know nothing of."

"I don’t hate you, Lena."

She turned with a strong frown, but her eyes still teared.

"Then why this life?! Why did you choose to deprive me of everything?! I did all you asked. I broke up with Reyy because you asked me to. I stopped smiling because you thought there was nothing to be happy about—"

"I’m only trying to protect you—"

"And look at where that got me. I can’t even make friends properly without making it seem like I ’betrayed’ them. My life is a proper mess while you’re there with that woman, thinking you’re the only one who’s gotta suffer from mom’s death!*

"Go to your room." The man replied coldly, although there was a wry of sadness in his face.

With that, Lena stormed off, wiping tears off her cheek.

She’d lost to him, afterall.

* * *

"Is there a reason why we’re using real swords today?" Reyy flexed his wrist around the sword hilt, it’s blade, three foot long, silver, forged by mighty hands.

Unlike his usual wooden sword, he wasn’t used to the weight.

While he spoke, his father— Mathers— was still busily sharpening his blade. When he raised it in the air, a bright light gleamed from it, reflecting against his utterly villainous face.

The man didn’t seem to care that his son had been battery injured and bandaged from school, he just looked ready to give him a good beating.

"The recruiting program into the army." Mathers started. "Whats your resolve?"

"How did you–?" Reyy’s eyes widened, but they lowered immediately after he figured that the school must’ve informed every parents. "I intend to join. Do you have a problem with that?"

"Oh I don’t, infact, that is very good news." Mathers turned to him with an evil grin. "Now let’s talk about how you let a damn F-rank student beat you up."

Reyy scowled when the image of Michael with eery six wings flooded his memory. "He’s no F-rank–"

Before he could finish, his father struck at him. Reyy raised a sword in defensive instincts, but it could barely protect him. Instead, the spiraling force threw him a few metres backwards, sending him spiraling to the floor.

"Always on the floor, heh?" His father didn’t waste a second, he leaped into the air, the tip of the blade cracking the floor where Reyy had once been.

"Listen to me, dad!" Reyy yelled in sheer panic. His fist gripping harder unto his sword.

Maybe it was the fear that his father was going to kill him, or maybe it was just the sword that suddenly became lighter. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

"No, I won’t listen to a child who has failed me." Mathers swing angrily at him, but Reyy dodged. "I made you strong. Practically invincible. And you let a weakling take you down? No, tell me you were only holding back."

Their swords clashed, and a bright light hustled from it.

"I wish I could agree to that, but he could see through all of my attacks!"

"And then you just let him beat you? Nonsense!" Mathers threw his son off with a kick to his gut.

Reyy winced, but this time, he wouldn’t let himself be thrown to the ground. He feet skiddadled against the floor as he forced them to sustain his balance.

Furious, he activated his barriers and charged at his father with fiery eyes. When he swung, a wild arch of fire traveled. Fast. Unexpected.

But Mathers dodged.

"Oh, so that’s how it is." Mathers chuckled, and then multiple rings of fire began to appear behind him, about fifty. The man clicked his fingers and the rings transformed into arrows.

They all shot at Reyy, like they had their own minds. He could barely deflect them. While the sword shielded his head and torso, he felt multiple piercing burn in his legs and feet.

He didn’t register when his legs gave up on him. He just knelt, looking at his father with bloodshot eyes, his clothes tattered and smoky.

"You see son, this is what happens when you hold back." Mathers started to walk towards him. "You become the weakling."

"You don’t understand dad— Michael Alastair— He used to be nothing. Just a total weakling. But somehow, under my watch, he grew insanely confident and unstoppable."

"Michael Alastair?" Mathers interrupted, creasing his chin thoughtfully. "Isn’t that—?"

"What?" Reyy looked at him.

"I must be mistaken. That last name just reminded me of a man named Lucas Alastair."

"Who’s that?"

"Oh, he’s the legendary ’last horseman’ the one who walked into the black gate and never returned." Mathers shook his head as if trying to discard his thoughts. "Anyways, what matters is that you let your guard down back there."

". . ." Reyy was silent, his father squatted before him and looked deeply into his eyes.

"What did I always tell you?" He asked.

"A true Mathers never loses, he controls the whole game." Reyh recalled, but then, Elvis had lost, hadn’t he?

"Yes indeed. If so called Michael Alastair was ever once a weakling— then to you, he must remain that. All you need to do is show him is place. Never hold back, even in the face of death." The man reached for his son’s palm and placed a necklace in it.

Then he stood and turned from him, his arms folded to his back.

"I’ll be rooting for you Reyy. For this, and while you’re in the army." He finally said and left.

* * *

NAME: MATHERS KING (FIRE SAINT)

TALENT: ELEMENTAL (PHOENIX)

RANK: A

STRENGTH: 325 SPEED: 160 STAMINA: 200 SKILL: 400

* * *

EXTRA EXTRA PANEL

_THE LAST HORSEMAN_

A century ago, Lucas Alastair— a runaway boy— joined the army as a cadet. His reasons— personal— were unknown and kept confidential. However, his sudden progress and growth in the army was quite too noticeable to be discarded.

It didn’t take so much time for the government to notice him. They had him go through a rank reevaluation and was read, SSS, the rank of the Horsemen.

While they promised him power and a notable title in government, Lucas Alastair only wanted one thing : to challenge the black gate— a gate so powerful that it matched the strength of three Horsemen put together.

While the government refused, Lucas seeked and received support from an Emperor, so his resolve couldn’t be declined after a powerful petition.

However, record reveals that the black gate dissappeared a few months later, with Lucas Alastair still trapped in it.

In a gate that powerful, many doubt that Lucas Alastair is still alive.

But then, is he not?