Chapter 27: Love, is that you?


    Marcus waited until the fight was over. The Elite that he ced his bet on, died. But Marcus didn''t care. That was only a small amount of money.


    The fights that happen here aren''t always to the death but a lot of people pay good money to see it.


    Soon, a knock on his door could be heard.


    "Come in," Marcus didn''t stand up and turn his head to them. He just faced the window and waited for the neers to stand in front of him.


    Two sets of footsteps could be heard walking towards the couch.


    As the two arrived in front of Marcus, one of them, the man who showed Marcus the way to the VIP room spoke as he gestured to the man beside him "Sir this is the winner of tonight''s match."


    The man stood over 5''10 feet (1.55 meters) tall. He already changed his clothes that were drenched in blood. He wore a simple in green t-shirt and shorts. He wasn''t muscr but lean. He has undercut hair, short brows, and arge nose.


    "I want to talk with him alone," Marcus said in a t tone.


    The man in a suit nodded and left.


    Marcus brought both his hands together and interlocked his fingers. He then brought it below his chin. He asked, "What''s your name?"


    "Ley." The man, Ley said.


    "Alright Lay, why do you join these fights? To feed your family? buy drugs?" Marcus asked.


    "I don''t do drugs and I have no family" Ley didn''t know why the man in front of him asked these questions. He did have a feeling that the man would probably recruit him.


    "Perfect." As Marcus said that, his right hand turned red. A short intangible string came out of his index finger. It grew longer and shot towards Ley and disappeared. He didn''t care if thig guy did drugs or not. Marcus just needs to make sure he has no family.


    Ley stood there motionless.


    Marcus smiled. The smile of the devil could be seen, the smile of an Asura who is on the path of revenge.


    Marcus asked Ley a couple more questions and Ley answered them smoothly. He found out that Ley is a criminal. The authorities set him free forck of evidence.


    Marcus already told himself that he would only control people who were not ''upright citizens''. But truth be told, he is extremely tempted to just get anybody no matter who they are as long as they are talented. But his mother''s teachings always went through.


    Marcus sighed ''With this power, the temptations multiply''


    Ley gave Marcus his number and Marcus told him to hole up in a hotel near his. After that, Ley went out as if nothing happened.


    The night is still young and there are still a couple of fightsing up. Marcus isn''t satisfied with just having one minion. So he waited.


    As each fight finished, the winners would go to Marcus'' room.


    ''Only four?!'' Marcus scrunched his brows. He couldn''t believe he could only control four people. ''I guess it''s only proper. I''m not even a Commander yet''


    When the max number of people can be controlled by ''Army Maniption'' is reached, the string that woulde out would be extremely short and would just go back in after a second if the caster wants to control someone new.


    He told the two who went in after Ley to do the same thing "Go to the hotel and wait". As for the fourth one, it was the bouncer. Marcus was nning to release him and only make him remember that he said the password. He is of no use and Marcus wants to leave one spot open just in case.


    After obtaining 3 fighters, he left the ce.


    Marcus had no targets tonight so he went back to the hotel.


    -----


    Arriving in his room Marcus went straight to the ''Destrucstone''. He made his way to the alchemy room and saw Nexus sitting cross-legged cultivating with a couple of mana stones in front of him.


    Marcus was about to turn around when he heard Nexus'' voice "She could finally conjure ''Holy mes''"


    Marcus halted and went inside the alchemy room. "That sounds great. It''s good to see Big Sis take a breather too."


    Nexus chuckled "She''s in her room right now. If my guess is right, then she should have broken through already."


    Marcus suddenly remembered something, "Do you know what stage I need to reach to open the locked rooms in this ce?"


    Nexus nodded "I do. Only one though and that''s when you reach the Commander rank"


    "I''m inquisitive as to what''s on the other side," Marcus sighed.


    When he first got here there were a few doors that couldn''t be opened. He wanted to break them down. He even used powerful treasure. None of them worked. He even brought his mom over and asked her to break it down.


    Yes, his mom has been here. Not the ancestors though as Nexus advised him not to.


    "I''m going to go and cultivate." Marcus stood up and went towards the door.


    "Wait, did you go back to the hotel?" Nexus asked.


    "No shit sherlock, I wouldn''t want to port here from an alleyway when I have the option toe back to the hotel," Marcus said.


    "Good, I miss watching tv. I still have to buy a smartwatch too. But I would not like to use that to watch shows," Nexus mumbled. After he finished saying that, he disappeared.


    Marcus went to his room andid in the bathtub.


    These past few days were insane. He had to fight people while he was suffering from the soreness of his body.


    He knows that this is just the beginning and the road ahead is going to be a lot harder to traverse. He couldn''t just parade around casually. Which is why he just gritted his teeth and pushed. He had to endure everything that woulde.


    Now he could rx even just for a little while.


    Marcus fell asleep.


    -----


    Marcus stood beside ake. Green grass below his feet. Clear blue skies above his head. He looked around and saw a cabin behind him. He scrunched his brows and tried thinking where he was. He looked at the trees nearby and saw that there were tiny beasts chasing each other. It''s really a serene and peaceful ce. A ce where you will want to stay forever.


    He looked back towards the cabin. The first thing he needs to do is get information. He walked towards it, ttening the grass on each step.


    Marcus arrived at the front door. As he was about to knock he heard a voice.


    "Love, is that you? You''re back already?"


    The sweet voice of a woman could be heard.


    It was a normal question but to Marcus, it sounded like a symphony. His heart skipped a beat.


    He remembered that he heard this voice once but he also thought that he heard this a thousand times before.


    Marcus didn''t answer. He quickly opened the door.


    As he did, water gushed out.


    ----


    *plop*


    Marcus'' head fell into the water.


    a secondter he lifted his head up panting.


    ''A dream. It was a dream. But why does it feel...'' Marcus touched his heart.


    It took a few minutes before he couldpose himself.


    He got out of the bath and went to the living room. Marcus checked the time and saw that it was already around 8 in the morning.


    ''That was one good sleep. I should really double up on those pills'' He thought.


    He visited the alchemy room and saw Eva training. Her control over the ''Holy mes'' has improved. The rate at which Eva is improving is monstrous.


    "All she needed was some rest. Her mind could hardly focus yesterday due to her being overwhelmed with fatigue." Nexus who was at the side of the room said.


    "She could make geniuses look like utter trash" Marcus proudly smiled. "Good job Big Sis."


    "Thank you and good morning to you too little bro." Eva put out the ''Holy mes'' that were zing around her hands.


    "Hehe, good morning. By the way, Nexus, give her one of the rings." Marcus turned towards Nexus.


    "Way ahead of you," Nexus said as he pointed towards the table where a ring was sitting on top of a book


    "It''s really convenient how I can go in the ''Destrucstone'' as long as I am close to you or close to the ce you disappeared to and it can also function as a spatial ring. Also, thank you for everything. I wouldn''t be here without you guys. I wouldn''t even know what would have happened to me if I haven''t met you." Eva slightly bowed at the end. But Marcus stopped her


    Marcus shook his head. "Big Sis, although we''ve only met I can feel that we''ve been friends for a long time. I can''t even exin it. Plus remember you''re also my Big Sister now so you don''t have to say thank you for these kinds of things."


    "See what I tell you. Marcus wouldn''t mind this kind of stuff. Now let''s go grab some grub. " Nexus said.


    "Ahem" Marcus cleared his throat. "Before that I''d like to tell you guys that we''ll be going to Ker City today."