[Silverhonor]

  I apologize for not responding to your message sooner.

  I’d rather not discuss what happened, but rest assured, I’m alright. Thank you for your concern.

  “...Is it the wife?” asked Sophos.

  We were her personal study again—the Starry Repose, I think that was the name—and its owner was digging through her desk for something.

  Not an ideal way to spend my day, but she ordered a spontaneous health check-up. Since encountering Dr. Nightingale, I had zero incidents thus far; however, it didn't mean my condition magically faded away. I could run into yet another important figure from my past, then boom, disaster. Sophos wanted a more permanent solution than shoving prescription pills in my hand.

  There was also the elephant in the room: [Memento Synergy].

  I brushed away the blue-screen. “Nope. What’re you looking for anyway—?”

  “This!” She pulled out a small copper and rustic key that was snatched from the medieval era, or what you’d imagine a medieval key would look like. “I meant to give this to you during our last meeting, but here.”

  Sophos shortly threw the key and magic took it the rest of the way. Felt like a key, smelled like a key, it might be a key.

  She explained, “It may appear as an ordinary hunk of metal, but this is my [Starry Repose Key]. Whenever you want access to my personal dimension, bring the [Key] to any lock and I’ll be notified of your desire. Upon accepting your request, a portal will open and you can step inside.”

  “So it’s like an emergency call?”

  “You may think of it as that, but it can be for any reason really: an afternoon chat over tea, advice for romantic affairs, or if you’re caught in a pickle. Though I’ll warn you, the [Key] may lose function in extraordinary circumstances that you’ll surely find yourself in. Chie also has a [Key] herself.”

  Well, I’m not complaining. I’ll find a use for it.

  I nodded and opened my [Loadout] menu. “Thanks.”

  [You have saved this accessory to your Loadout.]

  “In exchange for giving you personal access to my study…” Sophos glided to the main room and lowered herself onto her reading chair, legs crossed, interest glowing in her “youthful” skin. “You will indulge me about [Memento Synergy]. You know, I told Rector that there has to be something else to [Memento Recollection] and I was correct once again. Save your applause, a genius and her astute postulations should only be celebrated once per day, twice if it’s a holiday.”

  “I already wrote you a report—”

  “Rehash it, then!” Sophos flicked her wrists, summoning a notebook and pen.

  Christ. Every time I was dragged into a conversation with her, I understood more and more about why she was Rector’s least favorite person. A genius was a genius, though, and it was our duty as imbeciles to entertain her constantly working mind.

  I said, “As I already detailed in the report, Stainless had me at the ropes and I latched onto a baseless theory as a last ditch effort.”

  “And what was that theory?”

  “You’re making me work for it—God, okay. By smashing together [Mementos] of a similar theme, I hoped for a miracle. It came. The ‘miracle’ was a secret mechanic of [Memento Recollection]: [Memento Synergy]. In the System, there were no hints, no ominous foreshadowing, nothing. Hell, I didn’t even think about the possibility until I was looking down a humiliating defeat.”

  At the time, the only basis for my theory was the practice of [Skill] synergy. In numerous phenomenon systems, some abilities were too costly or grand to be concentrated into a single [Skill]—at least, for the average practitioner. Thus, [Skill] synergies were born. By gathering competent practitioners and making them perform the same dance, they as a group could activate a greater [Skill]. A good example was summoning. The average summoner couldn’t summon a dragon, but a gaggle of summoners could definitely pull it off. Funnily enough, ritualism—Morgan’s specialty—had the same shortcoming, yet instead of using [Skill] synergies, ritualists offloaded the cost onto physical objects and precise magic circle diagrams.

  Tangents aside, I borrowed the same concept of synergy: exchanging practitioners with [Mementos].

  “...With [Pinion Pylons], it was born out of the desire of belonging. For [Angel Bullet], it was duty against evil. As I said, I don’t think I can synergize any [Memento] together. There has to be a common connection somewhere.”

  “Do you believe additional functions exist, then?” asked Sophos, twirling a pen around her hand with surprising dexterity. “As an SSS-Rank [Skill], we can’t rule anything out.”

  “I’m not sure what else is possible with my [Mementos], honestly.” Trust me, I spent too many hours thinking about what-ifs, but none of them felt solid enough to stick. Believe me, I tried a lot of my embarrassing, hare-brained ideas in private to no fruition. “Let’s be real, though. If a new mechanic reveals itself, it’ll be during a time of crisis.”

  Sophos chuckled as though she had personal experience. “A wise observation, Alexander, yet I imagine your mind’s swimming with new possibilities, hmm? Seven [Mementos] and a cauldron to throw your barbaric weapons inside, and that's only the beginning! Your ingredients will only grow from here. I wonder what new concoctions you can deliver in your next bout.”

  “I’m less focused on [Memento Recollection] than I am with my other [Skills],” I confessed.

  Let’s outline my current projects.

  [Anti-Slayer Techniques]: throughout the last couple months, Althea and I mastered every [Technique] except for the most dangerous one, [Sixteen-Point Obliteration]. For its acquisition method, the [Techniques] had to be used on a real Slayer. Suffice to say, mastering the [ATS] was the worst week of my life. However, with [Obliteration], it destroyed your PPS. Obviously, we couldn't master the [Skill]; instead, we needed to wait until "someone despicable" came along to satisfy our bloodlust. It was a fucked-up way of thinking about it, but finding a human sacrifice was necessary for our growth. Other than this hiccup, this project was practically completed.

  [Dual Dragoneyes] and [Zhenlong School]: no dice. Without acquiring the former, we couldn’t make progress on the latter. Our need for secrecy hampered our ability to effectively research. I already complained enough about our progress.

  [Memento Recollection]: experimenting with my bread-and-butter was a given. There was no need to stress myself out. More [Mementos] and [Synergies] would come later.

  Other [Skills]: it was always a good idea to round out my arsenal.

  Looking at the list now, there was also a pressing problem: my [Slayer Rank]. Three [Skills] were about to be developed, and I was a D-Rank Slayer. I had only four [Skill Slots].

  “What are you thinking about, my dear student?” Sophos smugly asked, knowing I had something important on my mind. Well, no point in hiding my problems from her.

  I asked, “How do I increase my [Slayer Rank] faster? I’m developing multiple [Skills] at the moment, and soon, I’ll have to make big decisions for my kit.”

  “What an envious problem. The average Slayer struggles with filling their [Slots] with useful [Skills].” Sophos chuckled at my expense as though she wasn’t an SS-Rank Slayer herself. “Unlike acquiring [Skills], increasing your [Rank] is much less convoluted but more arbitrary. Researchers have spent thousands of hours, perhaps tens of thousands, trying to describe the System’s logic for [Rank Ascension Quests]. Yet not a single soul has cracked the code. That includes myself and my master.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I recalled the Summer Scare again. “I automatically completed my D-Rank [Ascension Commission] when we solved the Alternates crisis.”

  “Alexander.” Sophos looked genuinely annoyed, now. “Of course you’d automatically ascend. You completed an outrageously difficult task for an E-Rank Slayer, let alone for high-rankers.”

  “At least tell me the standard process.”

  Sophos sassily flicked a few locks of her hair. “Hmph, be more respectful to your professor, but I’ll answer. Normally, you would receive [Ascension Commissions] after obtaining enough experience and strength. Your [Commissions] are always tailored-made to you and your current projects. If you’re an engineer at Tokei for example, you'd likely need to prototype a mecha. For combat-oriented Slayers like yourself, you may be asked to duel and win against a flirtatious B-Rank Slayer. Obviously, the difficulty is dependent on your current [Rank], and there's no good metrics of comparison. It's different from person-to-person.”

  I gestured at myself. “What about me? I'm a special case among special cases.”

  “You…” Sophos paused for a second to think about her next words. “You've gathered years of experience pre-[Registration]. I have no proof, but the System will likely rush your [Ascension Commissions] until you’re a B-Rank I’d say. Either that, or you’ll automatically ascend with more city-wide disasters.”

  That was good news.

  Bad news, it might relate to [Dual Dragoneyes].

  “That means me and my sister are in a ‘catching-up’ period?” I asked.

  “And so, the strangest sibling duo can no longer misrepresent their true strength.” Sophos set her notebook and pen down then jumped from her chair, moving around to get blood flowing. “I can’t say what your [Commissions] will look like. As I said, your C-Rank [Ascension] shouldn’t be difficult but it’s you. Anything can happen.”

  It was both reassuring and distressing that I would receive my impossible [Ascension Commission] soon. Forcing me to develop [Dual Dragoneyes] was too good of a task for the System to pass up, but who was I to predict the System's logic? Sophos and Phenomena, despite [Original Magic], weren’t the all-knowing prophets of the Slayer System. Regardless, I need to be prepared for anything. Developing [Dual Dragoneyes], fighting and beating Kosmos in a fight, and maybe toppling Taeyang while I was at it.

  I watched Sophos admire her collection of sparkly books placed high on her shelves. “Honestly, this is a pain-in-the-ass. Why would the System structure its hierarchy like this?”

  Sophos tilted her head to the side. “Remember our last discussion? If [Skills] are influenced by the individual, then clearly, the System values the individual.”

  “So the [Ascension Commissions] are the System’s way of pushing you past your limits, then.”

  “Exactly, you’re getting smarter by the day.” Flicking her hand again, one of the higher books levitated to her small hands. Couldn't tell what book it was, but I doubt I'd understand anyway. “The Slayer System is our biggest supporter. It wants us to become the best versions of ourselves. That, I believe, is what our [Slayer Ranks] truly represent. Not a metric of strength or experience, but how much we self-actualized. And of us all, Nathan Hyun is most in-touch with himself.”

  An interesting theory that many experts in her field would disagree with. I personally wasn’t partial to either side, but it was nice to hear Sophos be…genuine for once.

  “Is that why so many people can’t get past the wall?”

  Sophos wagged a finger at me as the pages flipped without her physical touch. “Mhm. B-Rankers are often the most desperate class of Slayers. They try everything to obtain an [Ascension Commission], and the lucky ones? They may find their task to be genuinely impossible. Only a small fraction has the pleasure of calling themselves high-rankers.”

  She shut the book hard, the impact producing a light cloud of dust. “Even I, a genius and a lover of humanity’s potential, have to admit that everyone is destined to hit their ‘wall’ eventually. A majority of B-Rankers are forced to face their own mediocrity, doomed to be a middle-ranker forever. A majority of A-Rankers realize they’ve hit their peak seeing the S-Rank mountain before them. And many, many S-Rankers climb and climb and climb only to never reach the hall of legends.”

  “Imagine the ones who can’t climb to B in the first place,” I mentioned.

  “I don’t want to, not with my beautiful mind.” Sophos sighed and returned the book to its original place. She watched the always active fireplace and the flames danced in the lens of her glasses. “You have special people in your team, don’t you?”

  Yeah, out of everyone in the Special Task Force, only Leo and Morgan were A-Rankers. It made sense. Leo was the niece of Cheonma, so she had plenty of experience and training already. With Morgan, I didn’t know his story with the Phenomena Society and Master Alzahrani, but clearly his experiences benefited him. Except for his curse. Otherwise, half of the remaining team were B-Rankers: Aiden, Chie, Victor, and Chunhua. Kotone was C. Me, Rei, and Althea were at D-Rank.

  "I have a question though," I said, something just to move the conversation along. "You think we'll see another SSS-Rank Slayer in our lifetime?"

  Sophos, for the first time in my life, shrugged. “You should stop asking questions involving extraordinary circumstances. While geniuses are extraordinary creatures, your question is in the realm of precognition, not superior intellect. I’ll tell you this, though: Rector is due for his SS-Rank [Ascension] in a few years. I look forward to it.”

  Despite having that man as my superior, I was completely ignorant to how long he’d been an S-Rank for. That was probably a bad thing, so let’s add another item to my list: “learn Angels Guild trivia so you wouldn’t be embarrassed during game-night.”

  Talking about [Slayer Ranks], though, I actually had an interesting question to ask: “On the subject of [Ranks], how does [Skill Slots] fit in? If the System wants us to perform at our best, then shouldn't they not exist at all?”

  “That…” Sophos snickered and faced away from the fireplace. “That is a matter of logistics. During our last lecture, we discussed how the Phenomenon Production System physically allows you to use [Skills] and so on, yes?”

  I nodded.

  “The human body is not meant for [Skills]. In fact, it’s downright forbidden.”

  “I…” Okay, I didn’t expect that answer. “What does that mean exactly? I’m assuming this has to do with the Planet. Are you implying that the Planet itself inherently rejects humanity using [Skills]?”

  “I am.”

  “But the fucking Planet—”

  “Allows the Slayer System to exist, yes, but the Planet is not as flexible as the System. They are two distinct entities. The Planet is the executive administrator of the Worldline, and the System is its…inferior security director. There exists defensive protocols that can be triggered under the right circumstances, and the System is not exempt from them.”

  I followed her train of thought, “One of them can be triggered if someone has unlimited [Skill]—and thus phenomena—usage?”

  “You are catching on faster than most people, Alexander. I’d give you a gold star if I had any, but yes. Through the scary concept of infinity, that individual will be seen as a threat to the Planet and thus will be reduced to smithereens. To prevent this, the System limits [Skills] to [Slots].”

  “And as Slayers ascend through the [Ranks], they become…more acceptable to the Planet? After all, the System is the byproduct of the Planet and we're the byproduct of the System. By [Ranking] up, we're gradually perceived as a powerful but not a Worldline-ending agent. An ally with a paper-trail of our strength."

  Sophos clapped, genuinely impressed by my line of deduction. “Why am I explaining cosmological concepts to you again?” (“Because you’re the expert?”) “That’s right, I am! Back to the subject though, you’re on the mark. [Slayer Ranks] bestow us more leniency with the Planet.”

  “But I have an [Awakened Skill]. Five of my four [Skill Slots] are filled—” Sophos winked at me. “—I’m an exception. If I’m important enough to have an [Awakened Skill], then the Planet is already giving me leniency.”

  “Has anyone told you that you’re a special man?”

  “Only people who want something from me.”

  “Yes, I want to steal you from Seraph and Rector and use you as a lab-rat! Jokes aside, you are genuinely a force to be reckoned with,” Sophos said, yet Jin Tianyou flashed in my mind. “I’m always wary of swords with more power than they know what to do with, yet do you know what’s truly frightening? Men who have that power and the intelligence to wield it.”

  This flattery would feel nice if I wasn’t thinking about Jin Tianyou’s words back at his manor: demons, monsters, the heavens.

  I shook my head and said, “I’m afraid of those kinds of men too. That’s exactly why I can’t stick at D-Rank for long.”

  “Fortunately, you won’t. When you do receive your [Commission], do share.”

  Knowing what it might be, she was in for disappointment. I hope by the time Operation Sundown reaches its denouement, I’ll have the strength necessary to fight Taeyang’s forces, and if need be, Lee Seung-chul himself. For Althea too. With our special friend in Baekyong, it was possible for her to grow even stronger during the operation.

  Maybe a long conversation with Uncle Ali and the Guild Masters was in order. Just agree on an action plan for [Dual Dragoneyes] and get the ball rolling before it was too late.