Tyrants of Earth - The Legend of Artigan

“So Zedart, boy have I got an offer for you.”

The [Swordsman] looked up at the scheming [Rogue]. While Ryan hadn’t quite managed to portray just how evil the Manager was, the [Swordsman] was quite willing to listen and accepted that he had a deeper purpose to his actions. It did startle Ryan just how much Zedart looked like he could pierce into your soul.

While this next offer was genuine, it was clear Zedart could tell there were purely selfish motives for this one.

It wouldn’t matter because the deal was just too good.

Ryan thumped his own chest. “You are now looking at the foremost expert at skill development across both worlds. I can help you learn your skills and guide you on the path you want to take. All I ask for this privilege is thirty million—thirty-thousand realmcoins.”

He was still getting used to thinking of money in realmcoins over dollars. It felt weird saying thirty thousand instead of thirty million. Like he was worth less because the numbers were smaller. Still, if Ryan understood his own value well, he was worth way more. Thirty thousand coins was practically a steal.

Zedart however, was uninterested. “I’ve learned all my skills.”

Ryan’s grubby smile slipped.

“Even your Epic?”

Zedart nodded.

Ryan was doubtful. “I haven’t learned a single one of my Trial Epics yet. You’re realmbound. You can’t even return to Earth and feel the difference, how could you activate your skill on your own already?”

It wasn’t even like there was that much of a benefit from activating a skill on your own. The benefits normally came in more granular control of cooldowns and how much energy you could put through the skill. None of which Zedart even struggled with.

The [Swordsman] just shrugged.

“I have been focusing on my Epic after seeing what Valee could do with hers. You have multiple to practice with, which I assume makes it more difficult.”

Zedart was trying to make him feel better for his lack of talent. Gamielle laughed at the twitching expression on Ryan’s face. He cleared his throat, and did his best impression of what he assumed was a good salesman.

“Well—I can do something nobody else can, I can help you resonate with your class, only fifty thousand realmcoin—”

“I believe I can do it on my own.”

“Dragonshit.”

Zedart hesitated for a moment.

“Can’t do it, huh? Don’t worry most people can’t resonate with their classes on command. I’ve heard it’s a performance thing.”

The taunting was enough for the [Swordsman] to make up his mind. Zedart stood up and closed his eyes. He held up his sword with warped enchantments and focused.

Ryan’s taunting smile fell off his face, his class activating [Conceptual Meditation] on its own.

The Swordsman was pursuing greater heights to hone his edge. Perfection had merely been the first step. The step he was on now was to absorb everything he could and incorporate that into his sword.

That ephemeral step beyond mastery.

Ryan blinked at the clarity of class resonance that was echoing out from Zedart. It was equivalent to any class he’d witnessed so far… if not the weight of the concepts, but the sheer level by which Zedart resonated with his class.

Unbeknownst to him, Gamielle was watching Ryan, realizing he could see other people’s concepts, and not just his own.

Ryan was still entranced, the context of Zedart’s charge through the monster horde had changed. The way he willingly threw his sword and then parried an attack with his bare hands… the way he used the boar’s charge to launch himself forward.

That had been a move a [Rogue] would do. Not a [Warrior] or a [Swordsman].

And then the willful and conscious resonance…

“You’re not a [Swordsman] you’re [The Swordsman], aren’t you?”

Zedart nodded again, completely unsurprised Ryan could see through his class resonance so easily.

Ryan just huffed in annoyance. “That’s so dragonshit. If I had half your talent with the sword I’d be ruling The Realm already.”

It wasn’t the first time Ryan had been jealous of Zedart. As much as he had expanded his breadth of abilities, swordcraft would always have a special place in his heart. Quite a large part of him wanted what [The Swordsman] had.

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Zedart was still making strides, learning and absorbing, growing. Once again, Ryan felt a pressure from someone that was below him.

If I don’t keep growing, Zedart will surpass me in the future.

Gamielle rolled her eyes and shook her head.

…

Of course, all good things had to come to an end. Gamielle gave them a warning that another adventuring group was coming and they had to send Zedart on his way.

Cerul, Ryan and Gamielle watched [The Swordsman] head off, Rax’s glove in hand, carrying the future of an entire species along the way. One sword with warped enchantments on his back.

Ryan had all the confidence in the world that Zedart would make it back safely.

——

By the time the immunity period of the portal was up, only one other adventuring team had approached him. They had quickly fled after seeing what was waiting with wide open arms.

…it was a bit disappointing if Ryan were to be honest.

Yes, adventurers knew when to run, but still, where were the standouts? Where were the adventurers that saw a monster needing to be put down and risked their lives to do it?

He had only been in the fifth realm for a month now and his base stats weren’t that much better than a sixth realm [Warrior]. In addition, there were no monsters to siphon fear from and this was an open battlefield.

It should have been the perfect setup for a proper raiding party.

Maybe that was a little harsh. Evolved adventurers made up the backbone of the Adventurer’s Guild and they were probably all busy helping out with the mass evacuations.

Perhaps what the arrogant adventurer did not quite understand yet was the sheer amount of suppression he was having on anyone at his realm level. While others might not be able to detect concepts, one did not have to be a [Conceptual Metamorph] to feel the presence of multiple fully realized Epic rarity classes stacked on top of one person.

When you added the titles, the shattersword soaked in aura and the mink robes designed for a Sect Leader by the Witch Tyrant herself… well then you had someone whose sheer presence alone was approaching that of a dragonslayer.

As Ryan stood, disappointed and ignorant, a notification appeared.