The Titan's Throne

Too Late

"To be honest, I do not think he is a normal Karmic King either, he could even be...hhmm that does it! I have made my decision! I have chosen this boy!" said the dirty man enthusiastically.

"I can't believe this. After ten years and searching through countless candidates with far better potential, you're gonna choose this piece of garbage?" Owami was clearly unsatisfied with her companion's decision.

"There is more than meets the eye when it comes to that boy, Owami you were no different."

"I wasn't this pathetic!" shouted Owami with a slight blush on her face.

"Doesn't matter, I have instructions for you, so pay close attention," said the dirty man in a stern tone.

Owami's expression turned serious as she nodded.

"Okay here is what I want you to do. First I want you to keep this human near you at all times. He is quite inconspicuous and I have taken a liking to him.

From now on I will communicate to you through him. Secondly..."

....

In his cell, Bastian was breathing heavily as he lay on the floor.

This, this shouldn't be this hard!

For the past few minutes, Bastian had been trying to locate the spirit of the poison, that was inflicting the white-haired boy, but to no avail.

Bastian's control of his Soul Force was just too poor. A continuous cycle of searching and failing had thrown Bastian into a hopeless state of mind. After about ten minutes or so in contact with the white-haired boy, Bastian's Soul Force would find the spirit, but only to discover that the spirit would be in its troublesome form. The spirit of the poison was like thousands of tiny needles.

Bastian's Soul Force was thick and heavy, which made it quite useful for defense and simple attacks. But for such a delicate operation it was a serious disadvantage. Due to the fact that the poison spirit was needle-like in structure, it could split up into thousands of parts and run rampant across the white-haired boy's body.

Bastian did not have enough Soul Force, to allow him to go through the entire boy's body. He learned that if he stretched his Soul Force thin like that, then the somewhat sentient spirit would concentrate on one area and attack, forcing Bastian to concentrate his Soul Force at that area.

At that moment, the spirit would once more split up and run away. Even if some needles were destroyed, the remaining ones would propagate, creating new ones. It was a never ending cycle that had drained Bastian's mental faculties.

The only way to completely destroy the spirit is if I could split my Soul Force in thousands of needle like forms and attack each spirit needle individually at once, but that...is impossible.

Indeed the idea required a control over Soul Force that Bastian did not have. Bastian felt helpless as he saw the white-haired boy lying on the floor unconscious.

That was when the environment changed. Bastian was back in the all-white room with a table in the middle. Except that this time, there was something different. This time, there was a man sitting cross legged on the table. He was a handsome middle aged man with a gentle aura. His face looked very friendly. One look at this man, made one want to trust him. He was adorned in golden robes with pictures of dragons here and there.

Bastian recovered from the shock and looked at the man sitting on the table, curiosity filling his gaze.

There is nothing in the information I gained from the Mark about other people being able to enter this place.

"Hello Sebastian. I have wanted to talk to you for a long time." said the man with a friendly smile.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" said Bastian with a defensive tone.

"My name is Li. I am your Avatar," said the man in a calm manner.

The man saw Bastian's confused expression and decided to help the boy.

"Every Mark Bearer gains three tools to assist them. The Mark, This Mark Zone and an Avatar. The Avatar is responsible for monitoring all of the Mark Bearer's activities, and interfering when necessary. We do this through giving gifts, punishments, and

sometimes advice, such as in this case."

Bastian listened carefully throughout the whole explanation, and a light shined in his eyes when the explanation was finished.

He is probably going to come with a barrage of questions. Sigh I better prepare myself.

Any normal person would have plenty of questions to ask in such a situation. Such as why they were chosen, or why Li chose to appear at that moment, etc. So Li decided to simplify the whole situation.

"Young man, it is best you carefully think about the questions you want to ask and then ask them all at once because we do not have time-"

"I only have one question," said Bastian as he interrupted Li.

Li was surprised by Bastian's statement but gestured for the boy to speak. He was curious to see which question the boy had wanted to ask, to the point where he would forsake all others.

"My question is quite simple, what advice do you have for me?"

Li was at a loss for words.

So bold and straight to point, wait, he noticed I am here to advise him?

After looking back at the words he had previously said, Li realized that he had said the words 'and sometimes advice, such as in this case.'

He picked up on that instantly, in a situation that would normally confuse quite a few. What an interesting person.

Truthfully speaking Bastian picked up the phrase carefully because as soon as he heard the word advice, a hint of hope bloomed in his heart. And it seemed his instinct was on point

Either way, Li was quite happy with the current situation and was more than happy to oblige.

"My advice is simple. I can tell you how to save the white-haired boy, and trust me, its to your benefit as well ."

...

Kai and his Master were being led by guards through a passage, one that lead to the cells where the slaves were kept.

"Young master, I understand you're very happy with what has just happened, but please keep in mind that we should leave this building as soon as possible", said Kai with a grim look on his face.

"You have been rushing me this whole time, and yet you refuse to tell me why. You know I don't like being rushed Kai, especially during a meal", said the young man in a matter of fact tone as he walked.

I thought blood and gore sickened you, yet you immediately demanded a meal after the fight.

Kai shook his head as he realized he knew less about his Master than he had thought.

"Either way young master, we shouldn't dally here. I have important duties to which I must attend to at home", said Kai.

The young man stopped and looked at Kai, disbelief plastered on his face.

"What duties?"

"They are duties that are too menial to be mentioned to one as busy as you young master."

"If they are menial then surely they can wait."

"Young master they are menial for you but an absolute necessity for me to perform."

Kai didn't want to waste time, so he pulled his Master along during their conversation.

Afterwards, a minor argument occurred. Kai wanted them to hurry, but his Master had no reason to do so.

After a while the young man reached his limit.

"Enough! Why do you insist on hurrying me to such-".

"We are here Lord Shasha".

The young man was interrupted by one of the guards guiding them. He had completely forgotten what they were doing and had been absorbed in his argument with Kai.

After the guard spoke, Kai did something unusual.

His figure blurred and the door to the cell burst open with a loud noise.

Swoosh!

Bang!

Dust was lifted up by Kai's rapid movement, causing the young man and the guards to cough.

"Kai! What on earth are you doing!" shouted the young man.

As the dust settled, the young man finally saw what had happened.

Kai was holding the purple-haired boy's body in his arms. A large circular rune had been drawn on the ground in blood, and runes had been drawn on both the purple-haired boy's head and the white-haired boy's head, both boys where inside the rune itself.

"I'm sorry young master, it seems I was too late to stop the ritual", said Kai with a regretful expression.

As soon as Kai said these words, the runes started glowing, and red light filled the dark room.

The young man was a bit flabbergasted at first, but one look at the runes and he realized what was happening.

This was a dreaded ritual that only the bravest can try, the ritual for becoming Soul Brethren!

.