Chapter 94: Master Orion II
Ram blinked through the fading pain, his vision blurring before gradually sharpening again, thanks to the life energy coursing through him, healing the backlash damage.
His heart raced as he refocused on the man before him.
Fear gripped him tightly now. "Heavenly Eyes?" What was this man talking about? Ram had never heard of such a thing.
His Spiritual Eye had always been a tool for identifying creatures, monsters, and even people, one of the abilities of his Attribute Panel, but never had it caused this level of pain, nor had anyone ever recognized it before.
His thoughts were clouded with confusion and caution. He had encountered powerful individuals before, like the Shadow Messenger from the Shadow Society, and none of them had ever been able to reflect or block his Spiritual Eye with such effortless dominance.
But this man... he hadn't even resisted Ram's probe. The backlash had been purely instinctive, a sign that the man's power was on a completely different level.
Ram swallowed hard, his mouth dry as he realized the dangerous situation he was in. "This guy... he's not just strong. He's something else. Far beyond anything I've ever faced." The fear gnawed at him, but beneath it, a faint flicker of curiosity stirred.
Despite the shock and the pain still lingering in his eyes, he couldn't help but ask again, his voice steadier this time, though still laced with wariness. "What do you mean, Heavenly Eyes? And... what are you?"
The man chuckled softly, the sound low and rumbling like distant thunder. "Curious, are we? Well, I suppose I can answer a bit of that." He leaned closer, his eyes glowing faintly, a pressure emanating from his very presence.
"The eyes you possess... they aren't something common, boy. But, judging by your reaction, it seems you don't know their true power. Pity. As for what I am..." He smiled wider, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Let's just say... I'm someone who could crush you without lifting a finger. But don't worry. That's not why I'm here."
Ram's heart pounded in his chest as the man's words echoed in his mind.
He could feel the weight of something far greater than he could comprehend looming over him. "What does this guy want with me?"
"You can call me Master Orion," the middle-aged man said, a grin spreading across his face.
His tone was almost mocking as if he found Ram's confusion amusing. "As for why I'm here… well, I've been watching you for a while now."
Ram's brow furrowed, and his heart began to beat faster. "Watching me?" His voice wavered slightly as the uneasy feeling in his gut grew stronger.
Master Orion chuckled darkly, his presence oppressive despite his calm demeanor. "Yes, watching. You're quite an interesting kid. I've seen what you've been doing—evolving these wood spirits so recklessly—that piqued my curiosity."
His eyes gleamed with both intrigue and amusement. "Not many people meddle with life energy the way you do. In fact, none of those at your level can do that. Is this the talent you awakened?"
Ram felt a chill creep down his spine, every word from this man tightening the invisible grip of fear around him.
"This guy... he's been watching me the whole time. How much does he know? And what does he want?" His mind scrambled for answers, for an escape plan, for anything.
Sensing Ram's discomfort and likely reading his thoughts, Master Orion smiled wider, his grin now bearing a playful yet dangerous edge.
"You know, I usually don't tell people my name. Consider yourself lucky."
The words hung in the air, a tension-filled silence following them. His tone was casual, but the weight of his presence made it clear: this man held immense power, and Ram was in his sights.
Swallowing hard, Ram forced himself to speak, piecing together the situation. "Master Orion... so you've been watching me this entire time. And you're interested in... my ability?" His voice steadied, though his heart continued to race as he sought any kind of answer.
Master Orion tilted his head slightly as if examining Ram like a hawk would its prey. "Your ability? Well, yes, in a way. But it's not just about your power. It's how you're using it... and how much potential you have."
The grin on his face softened into a more serious expression, his gaze sharp and calculating. "That's why I'm here. I want to know why you're wasting your energy on these low-level spirits."
Ram blinked, unsure how to respond. "What can I say? That I'm not strong enough to handle high-level wood spirits? That I don't have access to them? Why is he even asking me this?"
His mind raced again, but oddly enough, despite how powerful Master Orion was, Ram didn't feel the overwhelming fear he expected.
Instead, a strange calm settled over him, just like taking to his friends or relatives, almost as if he instinctively understood that this man wouldn't harm him—even if he were to lie.
Before Ram could form an answer, Master Orion's eyes narrowed slightly, and he continued speaking as if reading Ram's thoughts. "So, can you also evolve high-level wood spirits? What about this one?"
He lifted his hand with a casual wave, and before Ram could even process what was happening, a wood spirit appeared in front of him out of thin air.
Ram was shocked again, looking at the fluid operations of the middle-aged man, even after watching what he had done before, he couldn't help but ask himself, "How strong is he?"
Ram's heart nearly stopped as his eyes landed on the familiar figure that suddenly appeared, he didn't know if it was some kind of coincidence or if the person that appeared this time was none other than, "Ling Xi?"
"Ohh, you already know her? That makes things easy." Master Orion's lips curled into a smirk as he observed Ram's shock. "Tell me, boy, do you think you can evolve her to a higher state?"
Ling Xi, who appeared out of nowhere, looked around with some bewilderment. However, upon spotting Master Orion, she promptly bowed in deference and inquired, "Master, have you summoned me?"
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