Kill The Old Ones!

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"Tch."

Sieg clicked his tongue as he saw and heard the skittering spiders around him.

Despite his obvious displeasure, his eyes and body language were vigilant. He tightened his grip on his greatsword and pumped more chakra into it to fuel the blazing flames around it.

He’s inside Stage 67, which is the Spider Brood Biome. Webs, cocoons, and large spiders were all that were here. This was considered one of the nightmare dungeon stages ever, especially for those who were arachnophobic.

Carelessness gets one captured and eaten here. Additionally, it’s quite easy to fall into traps and alarm the spiders around because the webs are connected. The spiders could sense the movements of the threads and would wake up if they detected an intruder.

Sieg came in loud, despite the warnings of his master. Armed with his greatsword and his unwavering confidence, he charged in thinking that whatever stood in his way, he would cut down and burn to a crisp.

But when he saw the sheer amount of large spiders skittering towards him, Sieg felt a sharp tingle in his scalp, and he also felt a slight regret about his recklessness. But, since he had already ridden the proverbial tiger’s back, he can’t back down now.

With his greatsword ablaze, he swung at the wave of spiders. His sword burned bright orange and sliced through insect flesh without any resistance. It also released a large horizontal flame wave that burned everything it passed.

The spiders shrieked in fear and alarm as they sensed the burning temperature coming their way. Some were deft and avoided it by shooting a strand of web up and climbing it. Most were unluckily swallowed by the creeping fire wave.

Webs were burned as well, allowing Sieg’s foot to actually touch real ground, not the ones covered in silk webs.

He watched as the spiders he killed were burned, leaving monster parts and loot.

His eyes kept their vigilance, though, as he knew that this was far from over.

But despite his amazing and strong opening move, more spiders came out of their hiding. Soon, an even bigger wave emerged and was now creeping towards him.

Sieg bit his lips and prepared for another strike. This time, he was planning on using more force than before, hoping to kill more spiders in this attack.

"This is what happens when you don’t listen to your elders."

A faint sigh containing admonishment echoed in his ears. It sounded old but wizened. Sieg could almost hear the owner of the voice stroking his beard as he said it.

The corner of Sieg’s eyes twitched ever so slightly upon hearing this. It even caused his next attack to nearly destabilize.

"Haaah!!" Sieg let out a shout of force and fury as he released the slash he was charging.

This time, he released a cross-slash that sliced through the creeping wave of spiders. It met no resistance when it made contact with them, and it covered a large area, too, allowing him to kill more spiders. Once it reached a certain distance, it exploded like a bomb, releasing an impact that shook the whole biome.

Amidst the burning remains and suffering shrieks of the spiders around him, Sieg sighed and stabbed his sword to the ground. He then helplessly said:

"Master, I nearly failed to launch that attack just now because you surprised me. Can you not do that next time?"

"Oh? Did you now?" The old and wizened voice of his master echoed in his ears again.

This was then followed by a silhouette of a man slipping out of the ring he wore as a necklace.

Here, the amused but also admonishing face of an old man with white hair and flowing robes appeared before him, hovering. He was a ghost that resided on the ring on his neck. He was the reason behind Sieg’s persistent suffering after his awakening ceremony but also the reason why he’s able to stage a comeback.

"That just means that you’re far from an ideal student, then. I did tell you that you could’ve sneaked in to test the waters."

"And I also told you that it’s not going to work." Sieg helplessly scratched his head. "My footwork is nowhere near perfect enough to make me weightless and prevent the spiders from sensing me. I’m bound to make noise anyway, so why not go in with guns blazing?"

"Oh, am I hearing this right? Is that an accusation in your voice? Was I the one who insisted on changing my movement skill for something better before mastering the previous one? Was I the one who insisted on prioritizing your combat skills instead of your life-saving skills?"

"And was I the one who insisted that you should pick the stronger martial art instead of the one that suits you more? Hmm?"

Faced with the sharp interrogation of his master, Sieg could only bow his head in shame and retreat.

Right, none of this would’ve happened if he only listened to the old man’s advice. It was he who insisted on picking the harder route instead of the one practically screaming for his name.

This fighting style, this weapon, all of the martial arts he’s using right now, hell, even the armor he’s currently wearing, all of it was strong and capable of amplifying his martial prowess. Everything he’s using was rare and valuable.

But does it fit him? No.

Especially the martial techniques he’s now using—Flame Monarch’s Dominance, Seven Phoenix Steps, Heavenly Fire Protection, Fiery Eyes Golden Pupils...

All of this came from this old man—his master, a collection he had remembered from the time when he was still alive.

The old man always gives him a choice whenever he offers to teach him something. A choice between something that suits him and something that is strong.

Sieg always chose the strong option.

The old man always tried to make him reconsider, but Sieg was adamant about choosing the difficult one.

He could yell and say that he’s not afraid of hardships. Life was never kind to him, after all.

He could also say that he sees the value in treading the difficult path. That this tempers his will. That all of his efforts will be worth it in the end.

But in truth, Sieg just picked them because they were strong and he wanted to be strong.

He was tired of being weak and bullied. He was tired of getting picked on or being singled out. He didn’t want to be ’trash’ anymore. He wanted to be a hero, not the damsel in distress.

He wants people to look up at him and admire him, just like what they did before everything fell apart in the Initiation Ceremony. He wants to stand up for himself, to prove that he could stand on the same line as the geniuses of this world.

And the only way to do that was to be strong. So, yes, he picked the strong options instead of the ones that are perfectly suitable for him.

Sieg sighed. He didn’t want to argue with the old man.

Although he was the reason behind Sieg’s suffering these past few years, he had more than made it up to him by now. The martial arts he’s using were things that he would’ve never been able to touch or access even though he was talented, for they will be strictly guarded and used by those that are stronger than him.

"Alright, I get it. It’s my fault. I promise I’ll work harder from now on." Sieg retrieved his sword and returned his attention to clearing the dungeon.

The old ghost floating behind him barely held back a sigh. He thought to himself: ’That wasn’t the point.’

This stupid and hard-headed disciple of his completely missed the point. What he wanted this boy to realize was his mistake of chasing after immediate gains instead of long-term benefits.

Choosing what’s strong instead of what’s suitable for him was the wrong move. Martial practice is a long and arduous road. While choosing the former does make him strong, it’s a false road—an illusion. Choosing the suitable path might not give him immediate strength, but it bolsters his foundation, which will benefit him in the long run.

Alas, the boy was too stubborn and too rigid to see the bigger picture.

That said, the old man couldn’t put all the blame on the child. He felt guilty too. In order to preserve his form, he siphoned the boy’s talent and chakra without his consent.

The old man saw how the boy ’fell from grace,’ as people would put it, and felt immensely guilty about that. That’s why as soon as he stabilized, he showed, came clean, and offered help to return the favor.

Their master and student relationship began there.

He knows that the boy was desperate to prove himself to everybody. He badly wants to get rid of his reputation as a waste and trash.

That’s the reason why he gave the boy options whenever he could.

Alas, it couldn’t go on this way. He didn’t want the boy to ruin his own future for immediate gains, especially since he’s also relying on the boy to resurrect himself.

Maybe it’s time to have the boy sit down and listen properly.

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