In a World of Mythology as the Best

"So it's true. You are related to him." Zoey calmed herself, her expression becoming indifferent as her mind raced.

With his head pinned between the ground and Zoey's bare foot, Illian was barely able to meet her gaze as he, too, took a deep breath.

"You read my mind." He deduced, remembering the spell chant and spell name.

But rather than being angered by this, Illian realised something.

"So you know I didn't kill Spencer." 

Upon saying this, Zoey stared down at him silently.

"Ms Vanheart!"

A dozen agents surrounded the two, some sighing in relief upon seeing Zoey was fine. 

One of them happened to be Vincent as he approached Illian.

"Vincent…" 

Zoey called out to her agent, catching his attention.

"...Prep this murderer for transport." 

Illian's heart dropped as he stared at Zoey's cold eyes, her words carrying not even a hint of warmth.

"You…" 

The murderous glare in Illian's eyes slowly grew more dangerous by the second as he gritted his teeth.

"Avert your gaze, brat." Vincent pulled Illian by the head, roughly tossing him to a few of his other Co-Workers, each agent in the office glaring at Illian with disgust.

'This whole place…'

"Count yourself lucky, child. You may not know it now, but I'm doing you a favour." Zoey stared at the boy being dragged away, his face darkened.

'Someday…no, as soon as possible…'

Illian raised his head, his eyes like that of a wild predator. 

It was a feeling he'd never felt to this extent.

Pure rage.

'I'll bury this whole fucking place into the ground.'

'That glare…'

Zoey's expression faltered as she witnessed the boy's expression, soon turning away.

"Tsk, stay in line, brat. I'm not above wasting your time further and making you wait for me to create a blood contract…"

-SLAM

"Zoey!" 

"Ms Claire, please wait, it might not be safe." 

A young female and an I.A. agent stormed into the office in a hurry, slamming the door open as they did.

However, before she could go any further, the girl paused as her eyes met with the boy who currently had his hands behind his back, his head and mouth bleeding, his expression sinister.

For a second, they caught each other's gaze, staring as if seeing the other made them understand something.

Meanwhile…

"Ms Vanheart, if you don't mind me asking, that boy is set to die soon."

"Even our best medic didn't know what the Curse was or how to dispel it." Vincent pointed out, speaking to the faced-away Zoey.

And in the next second, he looked around, leaning in.

"Also, we found the damage to Captain's Spencer's chest was…peculiar. The bruising indicates the final attack was from a wider object with hints of dust residue."

"Additionally, why did the boy unleash the full power of the staff when reports show Spencer was already hit before then…"

"What are you trying to say?" Zoey cut him off, still looking away.

Vincent was taken slightly aback, quickly getting to the point.

"It's just the evidence shows there might be more to the story. I think we should bring in an Inheritor that specialises in this field."

"I'll submit a full report later. End all investigations on this matter. The verdict: Illian Hale killed John Spencer. That's all." 

Vincent stared for a second, soon inwardly shrugging as he nodded.

He knew better than to oppose or argue with a member of the Pentagon.

Besides, what reason did she have to lie?

Of course, he didn't know the thoughts running through Zoey's mind.

She, in fact, had multiple reasons for what she did.

If the rebellious nature of the boy paired with his newfound power didn't seem like an issue for the world, it only took one memory of what "that" man was capable of to make it a top priority.

Besides, it was only with him that she could uncover who that female in the alley was and what she wanted.

"As for your former statement, if the boy shows potential, I have no qualms with allowing him to ingest the Sylvan Elixir." Zoey turned her head as she said this.

Vincent widened his eyes as his jaw dropped.

"Wow, how generous of you, Ms Vanheart. That potion is a National Treasure that took you years to create."

"I'd say it's the most valuable thing in your treasury. All that boy has to do is complete his first scenario." 

He spoke, lowering his voice with certain sensitive topics that he would regret revealing.

Hearing this, Zoey pulled back her head as she fell silent.

The chance of someone completing their first scenario was a measly 34.2%. 

However, for some reason, Zoey felt that logic shouldn't be applied here.

'After all, he is the grandson of that man…'

Zoey grits her teeth as her expression depicts one of discomfort.

"Xavier Hale…the man who embarrassed all five of the Pentagon.' 

As memories flashed through Zoey's mind, she couldn't help but think while looking into the sky.

'I've made the best decision, right…mother?' 

"Zoey, are you all right?!" 

However, Zoey was snapped out of her trance as a pleasant voice rang out.

Turning her body, Zoey brandished a bright smile as her eyes met with Claire's.

"Well if it isn't my newly awakened sister. I'm fine." 

Claire felt a sense of relief upon seeing Zoey unharmed.

"Are you sure? What happened?" 

"Don't worry about it, nosy." Zoey rubbed Claire's head like a puppy as she wrapped her hand around her neck.

"Let's go, I'm craving pancakes. We'll have one last meal together before you head out for Horizon." 

In the next second, a smile crept onto Claire's face as she saw her sister so cheerful.

"Alright!"

***

A few hours had passed. 

Since then, a heavy downpour had erupted onto Ashton City as the moon loomed in the sky, thunder rumbling within the dark clouds every so often.

On the outskirts of the city, a single large building could be seen, all entrances shut as light glared out from within it, lighting up the outside, a flat concrete clearing.

-SCURRT

The tyres of a black car rubbed against the wet concrete floor as it came to an abrupt stop.

The door flinging open, a man with silver hair wearing a black suit stepped out, dragging a considerably smaller boy and soon tossing him.

Illian stumbled as he soon caught his footing, swinging his head back as he clicked his teeth.

"You're real tough for a guy with three other men in the car to back him up."

However, to this, the Silver haired man simply sniggered.

"You've got an hour left till you enter your first scenario. Try not to die." He mocked, heading back into the car as they drove away.

Illian watched this, soon sighing as he looked up, drenched from the rain.

However, in the next second, his lips slowly curled upwards.

"The Sylvan Elixir…" 

Ever since the night he awakened, Illian's eyes had changed.

Not just the colour, but their effectiveness. 

It was like he could zoom in and see everything almost in slow motion.

So much so that he could even count how many raindrops hit his face.

And it was because of this that his lip reading skills had reached a new height.

Though he was always just a novice, his new eyes made it so he could catch most words.

'I made you a promise. I will destroy the I.A.…but I'd like to update it.'

Illian's grin widened, his sharp canines brandished. 

It wasn't just excitement erupted inside him but upon seeing his sharp and furious eyes, it was easy to tell.

He was angry.

'The Sylvan Elixir and everything in that fucking Treasury…'

As a crook, Illian didn't have many morals. 

However, there was one rule that all crooks went by. 

A rule their pettiness didn't allow them to break.

An eye for an eye.

'...is mine!' 

With this, Illian focused on a needle-like object in his stomach, calling it upwards, through his oesophagus.

But rather than bringing it out, he slowly expanded the needle in his throat, to the point till it was no longer able to lay there comfortably, triggering his gag reflex.

With this, he instantly started gagging, retching and vomiting soon after.

-SPLASH

-TING

Wiping his mouth, Illian stared at the three items now on the ground.

One was the necklace Monroe had dropped. 

A crescent moon necklace. 

He didn't know the purpose or value of it, if it had any at all, but he knew better than to seamlessly discard it.

Everything was valuable when you had nothing.

Reaching out for it, Illian paused as he stared at his hands.

Pale, sickly with black bulging veins contorted around it.

It was so bad the mere raindrops caused them to sting and twitch.

With a straight face, he grit his teeth as he picked up the necklace, wincing in pain as he struggled to put it on.

After doing so, he controlled his breathing as he turned to the second item.

A coin.

Barely picking it off the ground, he turned it, soon grinning as he inwardly chuckled.

'Sneaky bastard.'

It was a two-headed coin. 

The item was given to him by Spencer. 

He only had one goal to accomplish with this coin.

Lightly putting it in his pocket, Illian stared at his last item.

"Ruyi Jingu Bang."

Because of everything happening, he had yet to truly admire the…his weapon.

And apparently it wasn't even his, so why was he feeling like this?

As it stood straight before him, he stared at it.

'I can't even wrap my hands around it.'

He thought helplessly. 

However, as he did, he could feel a warmth from the staff.

It was a warmth that felt…welcoming. A warmth that made Illian smile.

"Shrink." 

Heeding his call, the staff morphed into the size of a needle.

"Sorry, I can't find a better place to store you. You won't have to put up with this long." 

Illian spoke, tossing the needle into his mouth and swallowing right after.

As he did, he set his sights on the building before him.

"Horizon Academy." 

Advertised as the greatest school for training Inheritors, it's a direct subsidiary of the I.A.

But even to a street rat like Illian, it seemed more like a military school.

This was where new Inheritors usually underwent their first scenario. 

Though this building wasn't the main academy, it was made to withstand even the most terrifying Horrors.

'In less than an hour, this is where I'll be entering my first scenario.'

Illian slowly walked toward the two large front doors as he paused to stare.

'This is it. This is what I wanted. Behind this door are dozens of new Inheritors. Behind this door…is where everything changes.'

Illian pressed his shoulder onto one of the doors as he started to push, the light creeping through the gap that was formed.

'Besides, it's where I'll find her.'

Illian, finally finding shelter from the rain, stepped into the light as he grinned widely.

'Let's do it!'