The Cheat Seed

Chapter 24

"Crayalus Ravens, huh? I bet he's strong," Marcus said, his fingers tracing the patterns on his kimono absently.

[10 times stronger than you, and that's just what I think he'll at least be.]

"What's that supposed to mean?" Marcus snapped, jumping to his feet. "Even after training non-stop for 6,000 years in the Dungeon, he's still 10 times stronger??"

[Well duh, that dude's training in the God's Realm, okay!!! The fricking God's Realm. What less do you expect from a human who's no less inferior to a god??]

"No less than a God?"

Marcus fell silent, slipping into deep thought. He played with his eyebrows, bit his overgrown nails, and blew away the dirt caught between them. The wind stirred the grass around him as his mind raced through the implications.

Suddenly, as if struck by divine inspiration, Marcus jolted upright. He posed like a victorious king after battle, shoulders thrown back and chin raised.

"If he's a God, then..." He paused for dramatic effect. "I'll be the God Slayer."

The words hung in the air, spoken with such conviction that even the birds seemed to fall silent. His Demon Fox tattoo, Diablo, flashed briefly beneath his kimono, the crimson lines pulsing as if cheering him on.

What Marcus didn't know was that Crayalus might indeed be ten times stronger than him now, but only because the Seed he had received from the Flame Emperor was actually holding his true power back. Without that Seed, Marcus would have been on par with Crayalus's strength. The Emperor had recognized this when he touched the boy and glimpsed his true potential—power that could easily overwhelm the son of The First and only God from Earth.

The system had noticed the drastic drop in Marcus's power level when the Seed transferred but remained silent, understanding the Emperor's intentions. If Marcus returned to his homeland with that much raw power, he would almost certainly falter somewhere, potentially causing the destruction of the entire planet. By reducing power he had already experienced, the Emperor was giving him the chance to control it better and ultimately master it.

Because at the end of the day, Marcus was destined to become the best and strongest Guardian Earth had ever known.

"Haizzz," Marcus sighed, stretching his limbs and spine with a satisfying series of pops.

"Hey system, let's go back now, back to my home."

[Yes, sure.]

Marcus's heart beat faster as a portal materialized before him, resembling the one from the Dungeon. Without hesitation, he leapt through the shimmering gateway.

Once again, he experienced the strange sensation of simultaneously swimming and flying. The exit beckoned at the other end, a pinpoint of light growing larger as he approached.

Marcus frantically paddled toward the opening and burst through. Blinding white light assaulted his eyes, making him cringe as his pupils struggled to adjust. He blinked rapidly until the world came into focus.

A beautiful scene spread before him. Sunlight washed over his face, warming his skin and bringing a slight flush to his cheeks. The academy building stood in the distance—the very place where he'd jumped from the terrace, the podium from which others had looked down on him. His heart clenched momentarily before he shook off the dark memories.

He stood on the mountain just beside his academy, looking down at the familiar landscape of Krozon.

"Alright. Time to meet my parents and my little sister."

Marcus's face softened at the thought of his sibling, a blush spreading across his cheeks.

[KAWAII]

"Eh?"

[It means 'cute']

"Ah, righty righty."

[Marcus!! It's better you hide your identity, at least till you reach your parents.]

"Yeah... makes sense. People won't recognize me anyway, but putting on the mask and walking through the streets will make me cool."

There was a pause for a whole minute.

"KEKEKEKEKEKKEKEK," Marcus giggled to himself, imagining the impression he'd make.

*ZAP*

"Aargh!!" He yelped as the system delivered a disciplinary shock.

Marcus slipped on his Oni mask, adjusting it until it sat comfortably on his face. He wondered why people from the Other Earth called this "Oni."

[If you remember, I said ONI in The Other Earth means Demons or Devils.]

"Ah, that really makes sense. I mean, look at this thing. No wonder these are called 'ONI' masks... The Devil Masked Marcus, whoa."

[Stop being delusional unless you want another electric zap stuck up in your ass.]

"No, goddammit, anything but that!!!"

With a snap of his fingers, Marcus donned his official outfit—the white kimono with black capri pants, his amazing shoes, and of course, the Oni mask.

In the blink of an eye, Marcus reached the mountain road. He patted his white kimono, straightening it meticulously. He did the same with his capri pants, then blew the dirt from his shoes with a casual breath that sent nearby leaves swirling into the air.

He paced slowly along the path as autumn leaves fell gently around him. Inside, he was screaming with joy because what he was doing now was...

"COOOOOOOL!!!!"

A boy on a bicycle shouted from behind as he spotted Marcus walking through the falling leaves.

"KIKIKIKIKIKIKIKI, I know right!!!!" Marcus couldn't help responding, his voice muffled behind the mask.

After indulging in these cliché cool moments, Marcus finally reached his home. The exterior looked unchanged, but he suspected things had been far from good for his parents during his absence. He opened the gate and closed it behind him, looking around with a powerful sense of nostalgia.

A strange feeling crept up in his stomach as he approached the front door. He paused, hearing his parents talking inside, their voices too low to understand clearly.

"I better hear what's going on."

Marcus activated his Almighty Sense. Instantly, their voices became clear as daylight.

"How was today's work?" His mom was asking.

"It was good. We managed to actually do some quality work in the fields today," his father replied.

"Fields?" Marcus's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "But he's an Unique Seed Mage in the King's Palace?!"

"The other farmers were a big help too," his father continued. "Using magic in the fields really does the trick." He chuckled softly.

Without thinking, Marcus rang the doorbell. The voices inside fell silent. Marcus's fists clenched as questions swirled through his mind. What was going on? Why was his father helping in the fields? Wasn't he supposed to be one of the best mages in the kingdom? Had the king sent him to support the peasants? But royal assistance for common farmers was virtually unheard of.

His head nearly exploded with questions, but they all vanished when he heard metal clinking behind the door. As the wooden door swung open, Marcus's mind went blank and his eyes welled up behind his mask.

He broke down completely, lunging forward to embrace the figure before him.

"MOMMMMMM!!"