With a snap of his fingers, a hologram starts to build up before fully coming into life as Veritas widened his eyes.
Golden mane draped around its head, steady four paws stepped on the floor, the claws stretching out slightly, ready to maul its opponent.
The lion's sharp eyes stare at its enemy, already locked on.
[Corrupted Sunpride]
[Corruption Level]: [Mega]
'A Mega level Corrupted huh...?'
Despite the threat in front of him, his mind was... more curious about the hologram.
"A hologram of a Corrupted? You can do that?"
Eric nodded, already expecting the boy's lack of knowledge after talking with Edward more.
"Yeah, one of the best technology humanity got kid. Now go, show me what you got."
Veritas nodded walking up towards the lion as a sudden pressure weighted him down slightly.
It felt as if something invisible was trying to push him down, he looked around and realized that his shirt, pants, and his hair, wasn't pressed down or flattened.
He ruled out any gravity Path.
Veritas raised one of his brows, the lion walked towards him steadily, looking at the hunched down Veritas.
Veritas disregarded the lion slightly, he gathered the wind and used [Telekinesis] to brute force it as he helped raised his body.
Veritas stretched out his right hand, and wind arcs slowly form behind him before shooting towards the lion.
The lion glance towards the wind arcs and simply tanked it as it left slight red marks on its body, but not threatening enough that it needed to dodge.
Veritas grunt, the pressure growing more intense out of nowhere as he clicked his tongue.
The lion suddenly jumped towards him, a roar followed with a wave of invisible blast as it made contact with him.
Veritas was thrown down to the ground, but he gathered the wind and stopped himself from being thrown around and used [Telekinesis] to support himself.
'Hm... I need a stronger attack. The wind at least was powerful enough to leave some bruise on the lion.'
Veritas tapped his foot against the ground, and jagged rocks sprout before shooting towards the lion.
This time, Veritas felt a sensation he never felt before.
It was akin to... something leaving him slightly.
Veritas watched as the lion dodge the rocks before running straight at him.
The sudden movement left him shocked but he quickly composed himself and dodged a blast wave to the side.
Veritas formed four wind spears this time, he didn't shoot them outright but let them stay hovering above him.
He imagined them as sharp as possible while he kept gathering the wind.
Veritas dodged the lion's attacks, maneuvering with the help of the wind and [Telekinesis].
Veritas summoned rocks by tapping his foot as they snake towards the lion.
The lion dodged them, some manage to cut its body, but it kept its composure. It was... patient.
Its eyes kept tracking on where Veritas moved and when he dodged each attack.
Seeing that Veritas was busy with dodging and forming those wind spears, the lion decided to make a simple move.
It lunged towards Veritas, maw open wide.
Veritas quickly dodged the bite, but was suddenly struck by a blast wave upon dodging.
Veritas was thrown to the ground, though his concentration wavered, he quickly shot the spears towards the lion's body.
Unfortunately, the spears missed.
The lion jumped on top of Veritas, straddling him as he grunted. Its mouth was wide open, and a scene reminded him of this position.
Veritas grit his teeth, he imagined a rock protruding from his face.
Then, it happened. A sharp searing pain as if his skin was torn apart spread through him, but it was done.
A jagged sharp rock sprout from his forehead, it grew quickly and struck right into the maw and past the brain as Veritas heard a shank.
Then... the hologram disappeared, leaving Veritas panting as he felt stronger, and then he felt it, along with a ding sound.
[Your being grows stronger!]
Veritas stayed quiet for a while, staring at the message in front of him.
He... grew stronger, from killing a hologram.
Not only that...
'System.'
***
[Name]: [Veritas]
[Core]: [Black]
[Sub-Core]: [Pawn]
[Artifacts]: —
[Paths]:
[Agent of #####] [Wind's Blessing] [Telekinesis] [Earth's Blessing] [Prideful Sun]
[Lines]:
[Consume]
Veritas looked at the words [Prideful Sun] on his Paths, then the description popped up.
[Path Description]:
[Prideful Sun]: Your pride becomes tangible, your prideful self emanates the arrogance of a figure of authority. Those who view themselves inferior or doubt themselves in front of you will be pressured by your pride.
'So that's what happened...'
"Have to say, color me surprised. Not only were you able to use your Paths effectively, you have two Paths?"
Eric's voice resounded as Veritas turned his head to look at Eric.
The man was clapping, looking at him with a pleasant face.
"But still, I can see that you still lack some things despite... the surprising expertise you've shown us."
Veritas raised one of his brows, but he stayed quiet, looking at the man as he waited.
"You didn't counterattack, sure you lack the firepower to gain an instant advantage. But... you were too focused on trying to end it in an instant with those wind spears."
Veritas blinked for a few times, narrowing his eyes to the ground.
"That wind of yours, have you ever tried to disturb the lion's eyesight? Have you ever tried to redirect the attack with the wind? Don't focus on making the bigger attack. Your earlier attack left a bruise, the wind arc. That was enough. The only reason the lion didn't even dodge the first attack was it had a unique Path."
Veritas nodded, taking in everything Eric was saying.
Despite knowing some, all it did was confirmed what he learned and add some more.
So, he gratefully took those lessons.
"Thank you, Mr. Eric."
Eric merely nodded before patting his shoulder. Edward though, looked at Veritas with a thoughtful look but shook his head soon after.
Veritas noticed this but simply let it slide, if Edward wasn't going to talk, he wouldn't force him to.
"2 weeks... huh. Edward, did you train the boy?"
Eric looked towards Edward, and Veritas looked towards him too.
His secret outgoing wasn't really a problem... but still...
Edward looked to Veritas instead of telling Eric the truth, and Veritas widened his eyes upon seeing the old man's look.
It was practically saying "you handle this".
Veritas smiled gratefully to Edward before turning to Eric.
"No, I wasn't training with Edward. I uh... I went out to the forest. Near the west border. Then I hunted some Corrupted."
Eric looked at the young boy in front of him with surprise. The boy, despite being tall and lean with some muscles still look like a young boy.
To be going out there alone on the forest, with no one but himself, hunting Corrupted...
"Kid, you trying to kill yourself?"
Veritas merely scratch his cheek.
"Uh... no? I uh... just want to test out my Paths..."
"Couldn't you do that when you enter the Academy? It's not like you wouldn't get accepted if you got two Paths, in fact, chances are, you would be accepted especially because of that."
"Ah... ha... well, I simply want to. I was curious about my Paths after all, and you couldn't exactly use your Path in the city without permission."
Eric blinked for a few times before nodding.
"Well... that's true."
Eric sighed before rubbing his nape as he looked at Veritas.
"Well anyways, congrats. You'll be in as an additional person in the expedition."
Veritas' lips curved as he look at Eric gratefully.
"Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Eric."
"Yeah... but still, you'll have to train with us. The expedition will start in a few weeks, so before it starts, you will have to train with them. Well, if you have already been accepted into the academy then... forget it I guess."
Veritas nodded, ready for it.
But then, Edward spoke.
"Ver, don't forget to apply for the Academy."
Veritas looked at Edward in surprise before realizing it.
"Ah... you're right."
Veritas looked at Eric before bowing at him.
"Thanks once again for the opportunity Mr. Eric. Um, I'll see you tomorrow then? I'll be going for now."
Eric smiled at the young man before looking at Edward.
"Look at him! So respectful! Unlike a certain old man here..."
"Brat. You should be like him to me. Why should I be respectful to you."
Eric simply cackled and guided them to their way out.
Somehow, in front of the building, a black car was already waiting for Veritas and Edward as Eric walked towards the car.
"Will is going to drive you to the Academy and back to your homes."
Eric said, motioning to a man in the driver seat with a black suit and white collared shirt. The man was old, looking like a butler.
Will nodded to Eric before looking at Edward.
"A pleasure to see you again, Edward."
Edward widened his eyes at Will before smiling.
"It is for me too, Will."
Veritas was bewildered once again, who was this old man in front of him?
"Ah, you old geezer just get in the car before getting all nostalgic with Will. Look, the boy's practically impatient and want to sign up for the Academy already!"
"Wha- no I'm not!"
Veritas suddenly spoke, panic in his tone as he looked at Eric with narrowed eyes before looking to Edward.
Edward and Will both stare at Eric in response.
"Wow. How is it so easy for you to make people dislike you?"
Eric cackled in response, as if proud of himself.