Misery is what happiness rests upon.
Happiness is what misery lurks beneath.
Xavier was ready to help people suffering from misery, but only when they wanted help in the first place.
Zane judged the commoner based on this and it was true.
Xavier really risked his life to save Zane. He threw a stone at a Halocrat, he jumped right between the Wardens to fight with him. He would save those who had the power to call out the wrong as per their belief.
The man had a heart but with a different opinion than Zane.
After establishing their friendship, both of them left the dark alley and it wasn't even a second when the system manifested a window in front of Zane.
He thought it would be the usual but this time it was different.
Major, Critical, Hidden, Mandatory, nothing of that sort.
In bold capital letters on a bright golden window, the words read:
[ MYTHICAL QUEST GENERATED! ]
The window screamed it was different from the previous Quests and Zane wanted to bash his head on a wall.
I only got you today. Give me a break.
Nevertheless, he read the details.
[ Quest: Legion For Depose ]
[ Time Limit: Nil ]
[ Rewards: ?? ]
[ Penalty: Destruction ]
[ Description: Host has to build a legion of his own. Pick ten people and raise them to be a leader, an Ashbearer, of their personal Phalanx under the host's command. The more people join them, the more human capital the host will have at his disposal. ]
[ Warning: If the loyalty of even one Ashbearer among the ten reached below thirty percent, the host will have to start the Quest from the beginning. ]
[ Does the Host accept the Quest? ]
…
Zane froze.
Of all things he expected in the quest, this wasn't on the list.
You want me to build an army? It takes everything for me just to survive here and you expect me to raise leaders or whatever the hell Ashbearers are?
[ Does the Host accept the Quest? ]
You fuc—I asked you a question first!
Zane waited but no windows popped up.
Seeing Zane not moving, Xavier paused beside him.
"You alright?"
He placed his hand on Zane's shoulder and gave a slight shake.
Zane snapped out of his thoughts.
"Yes. Yes. I am fine. It's just that I am thinking about something. Give me a second."
"Sure." Xavier agreed and waited normally, looking around.
Zane focused back on the windows that now asked:
[ Does the Host want to make Xavier his first subordinate? ]
I haven't accepted the Quest yet. And Mythical seems like a higher level of quest.
[ Positive. Mythical is the highest tier of Quests. ]
So it will be tough to finish it. What will I get if I go through this with Xavier?
[ Not only with Xavier. The host will get things from each of his ten Ashbearers. ]
Things like?
A large window appeared.
[ Trait Siphoning (Passive): Host will get 10% of his subordinate's strongest stat. For example, if they are fast, the Host's base speed increases. ]
[ Authority Usage: (Locked) ]
[ The Merge Sacrifice: (Locked) ]
[ Skill Mirroring: (Locked) ]
[ Shared Inventory: (Locked) ]
[ The System Link: (Locked) ]
Zane read the details and he only managed to read one clearly.
Why are the others locked?
[ Host not strong enough. Higher Synchronization and Convergence required. ]
What is Convergence? I never really asked it. My merged skill also says Convergence Tier.
[ Convergence refers to how much the Conflux System is accumulated inside the Host's body. ]
Isn't it somewhat the same as Synchronization?
[ Negative. Synchronization refers to how well the Host can use the accumulated Conflux System inside his body. ]
Right. The connection. So how much Synchronization do I have right now?
[ 2.01% ]
And how much convergence?
[ 0.1% ]
What? Why? Also, I still remember when I awakened you there was a warning saying Incomplete Convergence. So how is it 0.1 now?
[ Incomplete does not mean 0. The system was just starting at that time. ]
How should I increase it then?
[ Convergence depends on the Host's physical threshold for hosting the Conflux System. Finish such Quests to increase it. ]
Then give that quest. Instead of throwing Mythical at me from the start.
[ As soon as Synchronization reaches a certain point, Convergence Quests would come. ]
So the Convergence is only at 0.1 meaning I am only using a tiny portion of the Conflux System?
[ Positive. ]
Zane gulped.
What happens at 100?
No reply.
But if Zane had to guess, it would be bigger than his guess.
[ Does the Host accept the Quest? ]
Zane rolled his eyes.
Alright. Yes. I accept.
[ Mythical Quest Accepted! ]
I must have triggered it when I made him my friend. Does it require the cooperation of the other person too?
Zane wondered and the system prompted another window.
[ Does the Host want to make Xavier his first subordinate? ]
Subordinate or Ashbearer? Don't confuse me.
[ First the Host will make a subordinate then he will have to decide whether he wants that subordinate to become one of the ten Ashbearers under him or not. ]
So if I want, Xavier will become an Ashbearer right away?
[ Negative. Ashbearers are required to have great strength and power. Xavier is not there yet. But if the Host chose him to become an Ashbearer, then he will undergo changes along with the host and get strong enough to become an Ashbearer. ]
Makes sense. Fine. Yes. His mood swings may be tiresome but I want him in my team. And no subordination. It sounds like what those gilded trash would use.
[ Affirmative. ]
The System went silent and Zane looked at Xavier.
Xavier was surveying the area with hands behind his head like a visitor and then, he stopped.
A frown appeared on his face as he jerked his head at Zane.
He stared at the Gutterborn with no words.
What's… happening?
Zane would have cancelled the process but the windows appeared one after the other along with sounds.
[ DING! ]
[ SUBORDINATION ESTABLISHED ]
[ Subject: Xavier Reivax (Alias) ]
[ Current Rank: Coal-Bound (Rank 1) ]
[ System Synchronization in progress… ]
[ System Synchronized with the Host and the Subject. ]
[ Removing physical fatigue… ]
[ Correcting minor injuries… ]
[ Binding Completed! ]
[ Subordinate Bonus: +10% to all Physical Stats when within 50 meters of the Host. ]
Xavier's eyes turned to the amalgamation of vibrant colors and after ten seconds, they finally returned to normal.
TSSH!
"Ugh."
Zane groaned as his right hand burned.
He darted his eyes subconsciously to the burning sensation when he saw a gray line around his wrist, like a bracelet but engraved on his skin.
Zane didn't pay it that much mind and focused on Xavier.
The commoner stared at his hands, turning them over and down.
Then he looked at Zane once again.
But this time, after joining Zane's legion.
Zane watched him with mixed thoughts.
Will he kneel now? Did I take his right of choice which he loved so much? Did I make a mistake?
Xavier stepped towards Zane and stopped in front of him.
Zane waited with bated breaths for Xavier's first words.
Don't start calling me my lord now.
"I…" Xavier spoke. "I.."
He gawked at his fists and then jolted his head at Zane.
"Are you alright?" Zane asked.
Xavier watched the gutterborn with all seriousness but then he broke into a wide grin.
"I feel like my constipation is finally cured!"
" … "