I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1346: The Wrong Evil

Northern stood at the Tower’s edge, watching over the dark fog, unbothered as subtle tremors traveled across the Tempest Spire. Why would he care? It wasn’t like the shockwaves from kilometers away would affect his tower. Even if they could, this was the Tempest Spire.

He shook slightly. Not from the tremors.

"Damnit, I’m getting quite impatient." He spoke aloud to himself, the words swallowed by the wind. "Should I just meet them halfway?"

His hands found the railing, knuckles whitening as he gripped.

’Self control, self control, self control.’

The mantra felt hollow. When had controlling himself become the only challenge left?

He paused, gaze drifting out of focus.

"My birthday is tomorrow?"

Northern counted backward and discovered that, yes, he was going to be seventeen tomorrow. The realization settled over him like fog.

"Am I going to spend my birthday fighting?"

He seemed shaken for a moment, but then a grin slowly split his mouth. The expression looked almost feral against the dark sky.

"I’m going to spend my birthday fighting." His voice carried a strange eagerness now. "I hope there are a lot of good and worthy fighters among them. Hand to hand combatants, unique heritages and battle styles. I wish to grow my library of knowledge." He tilted his head, considering. "I should try not to kill them too early, so I can get enough time to enjoy myself."

Northern paused and wondered if that was even possible. How much would he have to hold back his strength in order to not kill them with a single punch?

And if he had to hold back, how was he supposed to enjoy himself?

’I did enjoy myself with that man, though.’

Duke Amene had managed to amuse him, even if only for a few seconds before slipping through his fingers right when the enjoyment started. Like trying to savor a meal that dissolved on his tongue.

Northern lowered his head.

’Is this what they mean by lonely at the top?’

The thought tasted bitter. He’d heard the phrase before and dismissed it as melodrama. Rich people complaining about their problems. But standing here, seventeen tomorrow, with an army marching toward him and no one capable of making the fight interesting...

He leaned against the railing and let out a breath.

"I wish everyone could just be strong already."

The words disappeared into the fog. No one answered. No one ever did.

While Northern spoke, the ground-floor door that led to the roof opened. Footsteps climbed the stairs. He didn’t need to turn back to know who it was. He’d sensed the person coming all along.

Sael emerged onto the roof, donning white and dull gold armor. The armor was linen for the most part, that white material almost overflowing around his body, with dull gold metal adorning his forehead, shoulders, ankles, gauntlets, waist, and knee boots. He looked like something between a warrior and a priest.

"I’m ready," Sael said.

"Me too."

Northern turned. Judgment had arrived behind Sael, wearing a golden sleeveless metal chest plate and a flared skirt that barely reached her mid-thigh. Her round shield had collapsed into her gauntlet, compact and ready.

He’d known Sael was coming, so that arrival hadn’t surprised him. But Judgment?

"I haven’t given you any permission of that manner."

Northern’s voice carried an edge. He turned to Sael, expectant.

"I tried to talk her out of it." The Arrow Sage’s tone fell slightly, weighted with resignation. "She wouldn’t listen to me."

"Why would I?" Judgment raised her voice, chin lifting. "I listen to no one. Not even you!"

Northern considered, for a few moments, whether he should teach her a lesson or two right here. But he knew it wasn’t that she didn’t recognize his authority. Judgment was simply a very spoiled brat who had never learned the weight of the word "no."

’That old lady... why do I feel like she just stylishly dumped her mistake on me?’

Judgment spoke again before he could respond.

"Didn’t Anike say she wanted me to gain experience? What better way to gain experience than this?" She gestured toward the fog below, where an army waited. Her eyes sparkled.

Northern frowned slightly.

"Isn’t peace and nonviolence a nature of the Vallithian Tribesmen?"

Judgment’s expression went flat for a moment. Blank. Controlled.

Then a twisted grin climbed her features, and something in her eyes shifted.

"Well, well. Isn’t that a surprise?"

Northern frowned deeper, suspicion crawling up his spine. "What... is?"

"I love violence!" The words burst out of her like water through a cracked dam. "Don’t tell me you never knew! I just love beating the shit out of people. Fuck humans, for fucksake, they’re so annoying. They need to be slit in the throat a few times." Her grin widened, teeth showing. "Or better still, gouge out their eyes and force them down their throats. I wonder if having them eat their own brains will make them have more sense."

Northern stepped back.

It wasn’t just him. Even Sael looked at her like he was witnessing something deeply wrong. Something that shouldn’t exist in the shape of a girl with sparkling eyes and a pretty smile.

’I thought I knew how to curse and hate on things.’

Northern was just now understanding that he was nothing close when it came to hating and cursing. Judgment had elevated it to an art form. A disturbing, stomach-turning art form.

’I feel like she shouldn’t be let out.’

Judgment’s expression shifted again. The bloodlust vanished like it had never existed. She wore a faint, pleasant smile and bowed ninety degrees at Northern, the picture of demure respect.

"Please, Sir! Let me release a bit of my frustration!" She raised her head, eyes wide and innocent. As if she hadn’t just described force-feeding people their own organs.

Northern sighed. The concern on his face was evident, and he made no effort to hide it.

"You lot are taught to only defend. Your city is what fights back for you. Can you even attack properly? Attacking is..."

He stopped as he saw a malicious smirk had crept across Judgment’s face.

He hesitated.

"What... did you do?"

Judgment stood proud, shoulders back, chin raised.

"It’s very simple if you’ve been learning the same technique for fifteen years. All I had to do was add a little here and there. I figured out the attack pattern to our battle style a long time ago."

She looked up thoughtfully, as if recalling a fond memory.

"Actually, I think it was already complete. Our ancestors merely removed the assault part and passed down the defense part. Because when I discovered it, it felt like piecing together a puzzle. The Vallithian battle style felt complete to me."

Northern shook his head slowly.

’Anike, I don’t think Vallithia is going to have a peaceful reign after yours.’

The girl was still standing there, eagerly waiting for his response. Her eyes sparkled cutely, as if she wasn’t waiting for approval to go slaughter thousands of people. The dissonance made his skin crawl.

Scratching his head, Northern let out a frustrated groan.

"I will keep an eye on her and make sure she comes to no harm." Sael’s voice was steady. Resigned, but steady.

Northern looked at him.

"Of course you will."

Her safety was not the problem. At least, it wasn’t Northern’s problem right now. What bothered him was whether it was acceptable for him to allow her to display a side of herself that was completely opposite of what her tribe stood for. To let her paint herself in blood while wearing their name.

At last, Northern sighed.

’I don’t know... I hope Anike doesn’t hate me for this.’

He looked at both of them, then settled his gaze on Judgment in particular.

"Fine. You can go." His voice carried weight, a formal pronouncement. "But this is all on you. Whatever happens from here, all of it falls on you."

Judgment tilted her head back slightly, a coy gesture that didn’t match the hunger in her eyes.

"What? Hell no. You’re supposed to be my guardian, remember?" She grinned, wide and genuine this time. "But thank you!!"

She jumped eagerly, like a child promised a trip to their favorite place. The cognitive dissonance was almost painful.

Northern turned to Sael, deliberately looking away from Judgment’s enthusiasm.

"As for you... I have something for you."

Northern extended his hand forward. Something materialized into his palm from the depth of his soul, drawn from that inner place where his most valuable possessions resided.