Parallel Memory

During that time, not much occurred except for encountering other geniuses who were also headed to the Elven Nation.

With the addition of Professor Mia and Amelia, Hiro and his group garnered even more attention. However, unlike before, they weren't approached by others.

This was likely because Professor Mia was the strongest person going to the Elven Nation, aside from those sent to protect the young geniuses.

Therefore, there would be no more individuals like Professor William bothering them. Zero couldn't understand why Professor William and his friends were even there.

Two days passed, and it was time for them to go to the Elven Nation.

Many geniuses gathered at the Gate of Etheron City, some Zero recognized from his time in Etheron City, while others were unfamiliar to him.

And to his surprise, Professor William was there too!

( Does that mean Professor William is also one of the selected people to go to the Elven Nation? )

Zero wondered. As he had mentioned before, Professor William's power was below that of an average person, let alone a genius. Though he had reached Rank-A, a level not attained by many, he was still far from being called a genius.

Professor William glared hatefully at Zero. It seemed the effects of their previous altercation had worn off, and he was back to being fearless.

Lucus appeared much calmer and avoided looking in Zero's direction. He knew well enough which battles were worth picking.

"It's already 8:00 am. When are we going?" Sylvia asked impatiently. She was eager to visit the Elven Nation and experience its uniqueness.

"Just be patient!" Lisa replied, briefly glancing at Zero before looking away. Although she had reunited with Zero, she still hadn't spoken to him.

"Apologies for the delay! Is everyone here?" A person arrived accompanied by several agents from The Authority. The leader was a well-known SS-Rank Hero whom everyone recognized.

It was Unbreakable Guardian, Nock Fletcher, one of the top five heroes who served The Authority. He was accompanied by a group of strong-looking Rank-S agents from The Authority.

However, with someone like Nock Fletcher present, all eyes were on him. While a Rank-S hero might be revered and dreamt of by many, the geniuses gathered here held different aspirations.

They saw reaching Rank-S as a natural progression and only cared about Rank-SS, which they aimed to achieve. Nock Fletcher, being at the top of the Rank-SS, earned their respect.

"Hello, I believe most of you recognize me, but allow me to introduce myself. I am Nock Fletcher! The Authority has sent me to ensure your safety," Nock stated.

"And rest assured, it's not just me; this team of Rank-S individuals will also be responsible for keeping you all safe."

Nock gestured toward his team.

"Before we proceed, let me confirm whether you are the individuals invited to the Elven Nation," Nock said, pulling out his phone, which displayed a list of names and pictures.

"Orion!"

...

"Mia Frostine!"

"Amelia!" ...

He called out the names, and Orion raised his hand. Nock checked his identity, confirmed it, and continued calling out the names.

"Zion Maxwell!"

"Lisa Kyelpas!"

"Zero Elea!"

"Hiro Ernest!"

"Sylvia Mavis!"

"Misha Kanon!"

The list seemed to be in order of age, with Misha being the oldest and Orion being the youngest.

Zero glanced at Professor William, who wore a dumbfounded expression.

( I guess he still remembers me! )

Zero thought to himself. His name was called, but apart from a few individuals, nobody knew who he was. Among this group, he seemed to be the least recognized, as others were geniuses whose names were known worldwide.

Professor William was shocked when he recognized the person who had humiliated and slapped him mercilessly.

"How is that possible? Wasn't he dead?" William muttered. All these years, he had believed that Zero had been killed in the Devil Invasion, and he found solace in that thought.

Turns out, it was merely a false assumption, and Zero was very much alive. If there was anyone William hated more than Hiro at Ace Academy, it was certainly Zero.

Professor William glared at Zero, and his hatred only intensified. His friends were unaware of what had transpired and assumed that William was in a bad mood once again, so they remained silent.

After confirming the last name on the list, Nock Fletcher pocketed his phone and addressed the group again.

"Alright, now that we have verified your identities, we will proceed with the journey to the Elven Nation. Please follow me, and my team will ensure your safety along the way."

"Unbreakable Guardian, please wait!" one of the geniuses called out just as they were about to depart.

"Yes?" Nock replied.

"I don't understand why William and his group are here! Their names weren't called, and I don't believe he deserves to be among us," the genius spoke straightforwardly.

Others nodded in agreement. As an arrogant group of geniuses, they were not pleased to have someone like William, who was deemed worthless, accompanying them.

"YOU ALL!"

William fumed. It was the first time he had been looked down upon and humiliated like this.

"Just you wait, I will have my revenge on all of you!"

William muttered angrily.

He wasn't invited to the Elven Nation like the others.

William's father and other influential figures understood the benefits of the Luminary Spring and used their authority to ensure that their children were sent to the Elven Nation.

In addition to those geniuses demanded by Elves, they also said that they will send some geniuses that they want.

The Elves had no issue as long as the number of people was limited to ten. However, they also warned that untalented individuals wouldn't benefit from the spring.

Nevertheless, that message was disregarded, and the ten individuals with the most influence managed to send their children, regardless of their lack of talent.

"This arrangement was made by higher-ups. Just ignore them if they bother you. Remember that we are entering another race's territory and be sure to protect yourselves," Nock Fletcher advised.

He understood the reasons behind it and disliked how those people were using their influence in such a manner.

His concern lay with the geniuses who would one day become pillars of humanity, much like himself. However, he couldn't change The Authority's decision, and looking after an additional ten people was a minor annoyance.

He also has no consequences even if he treats William like garbage. After all, while WIlliam's father was Rank-SS, he was also the same.

Would his father fight with him just because he didn't treat William like some geniuses? The answer was no!

The individual who had raised the question remained silent, but his gaze remained fixed on William. He held a strong dislike for him and didn't hesitate to show it.

There were others who were equally unafraid of William. While his background might intimidate ordinary people, it held no weight among geniuses like them.

The geniuses, accompanied by their newly assigned protectors from The Authority, began their journey towards the Elven Nation.

Nock Fletcher had been specifically instructed to protect Hiro, the greatest talent of humanity. However, he refrained from doing so since Ice Enchantress was with Hiro's group.

Mia Frostine, the second strongest in the group, was just slightly below Nock in terms of strength. Even if a Rank-SS opponent attacked, Nock believed Mia could hold her own for a few minutes.

Nock had high hopes for Mia, even more so than Hiro. While he believed Hiro would undoubtedly become one of humanity's guardians, he saw the same potential in Mia.

She held the record for being the youngest to reach Rank-A, though Hiro recently broke that record. Nonetheless, she still held the record for Rank-S.

But rather than someone who might one day reach and surpass you, Nock believes in someone who is already on the verge of reaching their power and that was Professor Mia. She is still below 30 years old and has reached Rank-S.

There was no doubt that she would become Rank-SS in a few years to come. Though he hoped for Hiro to do well as well because more the better for humanity.

Whether Hiro or Mia or any one else, Nock had sworn to protect them all. After all, he was the Unbreakable Guardian, and there was no one better at protecting than him. This was also the reason why he was dispatched among all the other Rank-SS.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only a few curious individuals lingering to catch a glimpse of the renowned geniuses and the famous hero. Reporters took photos and recorded videos, unaware of the Luminary but aware that the geniuses were heading to the Elven Nation.

With that, the group of geniuses began their journey. There were no extravagant carriages or means of transportation. They had to walk and fend for themselves through the jungle until they reached the Elven Nation.