Rise of the Chaotic Shadow Emperor

'I better reveal a proper rank so that it will not go in a serious situation where there's no choice but to use another talent measuring orb. That will reveal that I have no limit. I cannot afford that right now.' Sidius silently thought.

Meanwhile, Miss Morningsnow stood up in amazement, failing to contain her admiration for talents anymore.

"I won't report this to the headmaster just yet, but I want you to promise me one thing."

"What is it?" Sidius asked, curious about her request.

"Be my disciple or everyone will know that you lied to the whole Edrodorth Academy," Amelia declared, giving Sidius a chance to choose.

Sidius was momentarily taken aback by what she said but he quickly regained his composure, feeling a sense of relief and determination washing over him.

He had been prepared for this moment.

"You can't be my master Miss Morningsnow," Sidius responded with a hint of mischief in his voice.

He leaned closer. His eyes met hers as he spoke.

"Because I want you."

Upon saying those words, Sidius noticed a faint blush on her cheeks and he couldn't help but feel his own cheeks warming up.

Awkwardly, he pulled back quickly, trying to hide his reaction.

"I want you to be my business partner," he continued as he walked towards an amberflaw plant placed in a corner of her office.

He moved his hands towards the one leaf of the plant and gently touched it as he spoke.

"Amber Morningsnow, your sister, abducted by a group of unknown individuals and disappeared..." Sidius revealed, his tone was serious and empathetic.

Hearing Sidius mentioned her sister's name, Amelia felt a shiver run down her spine.

The amberflaw in her office, carefully tended and cherished, served as a constant reminder of her beloved sibling who had been kidnapped before her eyes. His words struck a deep chord within her, stirring emotions that she had long kept buried.

Memories of her sister flooded back and for a moment, Amelia's usual composed facade became unsteady. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she quickly averted her gaze to regain her composure.

'That's right, the amberflaw plant in her office was planted here because she misses her sister,' Sidius muttered in his head, deducing the situation.

He had known this information from one of Amber's childhood friends, whom he had befriended during his travels to various cities in the human domain.

His relentless pursuit of strength and knowledge about potential cures for his sister's condition led him to delve deep into the hidden corners of this world, discovering secrets that had been suppressed or remained unknown to the general public and media.

Sidius turned his head to look at the lady seated in front.

Despite her attempts to hide it, Sidius could sense the pain and longing in her heart. He couldn't help but feel a sudden empathy. He understood what it meant to have someone you cared about so dearly taken away, leaving an everlasting emptiness.

"You want to save her, don't you?" Sidius asked, gauging her reaction before continuing, "I want to save my sister too, she suffers from parlaximia. If you provide me with information about the elixir of life, I'll be your weapon to save your sister. How about it?" he added, not waiting for a reply.

"You're pretty arrogant for an F ranked chosen," Amelia retorted but her anger was tinged with a hint of admiration for his audacity.

"I'm confident in what I can achieve. To be honest I don't need you, I can just find another business partner," Sidius said as he sat back in his chair, before admitting to himself silently.

'That's a lie. I need you, Miss Morningsnow.'

"You don't need another partner because I'll kill you here!" Amelia suddenly shouted furiously and her Heroic ranked aura enveloped the room, making it feel suffocating.

"Who told you to dig up information about my sister?!"

'This crazy reckless girl' Sidius gritted his teeth. 'She'll kill me at this rate!'

Absolute Dominance— a trait of higher ranked chosen to suppress those two or more ranks below them.

Feeling the heavy pressure, Sidius can not feel his body anymore and his breathing became more irregular.

'Am I really gonna die here? Aren't I the reckless one if that happens? No, that can't be... I still need to save my sister!' he shouted inwardly, his inner turmoil matched only by the intensity of his will to survive.

"Miss Morningsnow! Only I and that kid who used to play with Amber know about your sister!" Sidius gnashed his teeth, mustering every ounce of courage as he took a resolute step forward.

Step.

Step.

He pressed on, enduring the overwhelming aura that Amelia exuded. Each step felt like an eternity, but Sidius refused to yield.

As he closed the distance, he could see the surprise and irritation in Amelia's eyes, caught off guard by his confidence.

"You don't wanna lose a genius like me, do you?!" Sidius declared defiantly, his words almost a challenge.

Amelia's stubborn expression faltered for a moment, her aura wavering as she assessed the boldness of his claim. Despite her initial anger, a hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes.

"You think you're a genius, huh? Quite the boast," she retorted. Her voice was laced with skepticism but his mind said otherwise.

'He can endure this much in my 'Absolute Dominance'? A mere F rank against an A rank?' she said shocked.

'His will is that strong? I can't lose a talent like him!'

Sidius stood his ground, unwavering in his stance. "I have potential, Miss Morningsnow. With your help, I can become a formidable force."

Amelia's gaze bore into him, seemingly searching for any signs of deceit. Slowly, the pressure from her Absolute Dominance began to ease, allowing Sidius to breathe a little easier.

She 'hmphed' at him and sat back in her chair.

'Haa... she finally calms down, a reckless lady is really scary to handle.' Sidius sighed in relief.

"Prove yourself first," she said, her voice a mix of challenge and intrigue. "I'll give you this chance, but remember I don't tolerate failure."