{Argus's POV}
«Nebula Steps»
•Rank: Unrank
A profound movement technique that allows one to traverse space with the grace of drifting starlight. Elusive and fluid, each step defies distance and leaves only silence in its wake.
1st Form: Star Steps - Create a star point to which the user can teleport.
2nd Form: ???
"Ugh, I take back what I said. Aren't you too generous, system?"
Seeing the content of the skill scroll, even with his personality he was still astonished on the system's compensation. A skill scroll with an Unknown Rank. A skill that entirely depends on how the user can bring out its full potential. Argus sighed, he never once experience this luck.
'Equivalent exchange, huh. Should I be grateful on that tribulation? Tsk, no way! This is the reward that I deserve.'
Argus frown deepened. The skill book did not disappear as it would if it had been used; instead, it just lit up and then returned to normal. He tried once more, but the same thing happened. As he thought about the system notification he received, many questions arose in his mind.
'Why did the system allow this kind of intervention? The system and the heavens were supposed to be an Awakener's allies, right? Who is, no. Who are the ones who intervened?'
After thinking about this for a while, he gradually accepted it. There are good things and bad things about this new skill of his. The good thing is that he can learn any skills without limitations, though of course he will just learn what he needs. The bad thing is that he can learn it manually so skill books are useless, another thing is that he cannot level up his skill through skill points as it was removed from his stats.
'Tsk... Oh well, I can't find the answer right now. I will probably get it when I become stronger. But one thing is for sure...'
Argus's expression turned stoic.
"I'm gonna kick that person's ass for messing with me, even if it's the gods, demons or the heaven itself. Including those who target me!"
Then his expression returned to normal. Sighing once more, Argus looked at his sealed stats.
Feeling the decrease in his power, Argus felt slightly lost. However, since his current sealed stats is not as hard to control as his full power. Argus planned to adapt to his current stats before they can go out and returned to the city.
***
After a while, he was now used to his current power. Argus then smelled a BBQ inside the cave. His stomach started to growl.
"Yeah, I haven't eaten for days."
Without further a do, he went to that place and he saw Astrea grilling on what it looks like a Forest Boar.
"Master! You are unconscious for days, you are probably famished now. The food is ready, you can eat anytime. But..."
Argus nodded without replying. He was about to get a piece of meat when a space whole appeared below his feet.
"But you need to take a bath first. You're whole body is covered in sweat."
Then Argus fall into the space whole. He appeared on the bottom of the river by being spatt out of the space whole.
***
"Now before we go out, I need to seal your marks. There are many viscous people out there and they will covet a Unique Beast like you three. We are not strong enough to face them yet. So this is the only thing I can do to prevent that from happening."
Argus said while looking at his three soulbounds that is kneeling in front of him. Mainly Astrea and Ying Zhu, as usual Sylvan is in her sister's hand. The three of them is making a serious expression so the whole cave has a solemn atmosphere. Argus then smiled while looking at them.
"Okay let's start. Ying Zhu, you first."
"Yes, my liege!"
Argus face turned serious.
'Just chant the incantation and put my hand on their mark, got it.'
Argus once again recited the steps in sealing their marks. Well he already practice the sealing skill a while ago.
'Here we go...'
'I, Argus, by the Twilight chain,
Bind Ying Zhu's mark to conceal his reign.'
After the short chant in his mind, Argus felt his his Mana starts to move towards his hands.
'This feeling... It's incredible, so this is the flow of mana.'
Argus minds started wander.
'Its not the time yet to be distracted, I need to concentrate.'
His Mana slowly flow from his core towards his hand. This was Argus's first time of using a magic skill and its about his soulbound's well being. He did not want to be careless.
Argus put his right hand on Ying Zhu's chest where his rune mark are. A cyan color started to cover his hand. It was the color of his Mana. His Mana then started to flow towards Ying Zhu's mark.
When the cyan Mana covered all of Ying Zhu's mark, the core stopped releasing Mana and his hand turned to normal.
'That should be enough to seal his mark... What?!'
Argus felt that his two cores started releasing energies. The Yin and Yang Qi started to flow towards his hands, Argus once again felt excruciating pain. Argus gritted his teeth so he can show his fine.
Argus hand started to alternately turn dark and crimson. The Yin and Yang Qi flows out of his hand towards Ying Zhu's chest. The three soulbounds once again felt the dangerous energy from Argus's hands. Before it can reach Ying Zhu's chest, he cancelled his skill. The three energies slowly disappeared. Argus then kneels as he gasp for air.
'Ugh... It looks like those two energies is still dangerous to me.'
""Master!""
"It's fine... Ying Zhu, it looks like there is a slight mistake on my skill, let's stop sealing your marks for now. I'm not sure if this energies will harm you or not."
Ying Zhu stares at his master. He notice that his face already pale from those short moment.
"Can you still endure those energies my liege? I want to seal my powers as it might danger our lives like you want us to. Let me try that sealing skill my liege!"
Ying Zhu's soul fire flicker with determination.
"No! As the eldest let me first try that, I will not let my younger sibling experience that kind of thing without my consent!"
"I will not back down on this, sister! Besides, your power and mark can already be hidden when you're in that form."
Ying Zhu was talking about her sister's Human and Demi-Human form.
"Heh? So you are now challenging me is that it?"
Ying Zhu flinched for a moment but he continue to stare at his sister. The two have a staring contest for a while. Suddenly, a small root started to entangle both of them. Sylvan started to interven, though they can easily destroy the roots that binds them. They do not want to do that so the two can only stop their short argument.
"Okay, stop it. Why are you two arguing? Let's do it, but I need to practice and think of a solution within this day. But if I think that it will be dangerous we will postpone it.
The two could only nod. Sylvan on the other hand retract the roots that binds its siblings.
"I apologize Sylvan."
"I also apologize second brother."
Astrea and Ying Zhu apologize to Sylvan. Sylvan just sways like it always do as a sign of acknowledgement. Argus smile seeing their interaction.
"You can do what you want for the time being. I will call you if I made ethe decision."
"Yes!"
***
Argus stood at the entrance of the city with Astrea by his side. Astrea was holding a pot with a mini-tree in her hand, which was none other than Sylvan. If one looked closely at Argus's shadow, they would see it wiggle, as Ying Zhu was hiding within it.
Earlier, he had asked the two of them to return, but neither Ying Zhu nor Sylvan listened to him. Sylvan simply shrank in size, while Ying Zhu dove into his shadow.
Seeing this, Argus didn't stop them. However, he used his newly learned skill to seal their marks, limiting their power to 70%. For a bit of practice he notice that the Yin and Yang Qi in his body just empowered the seal, during the process though he can feel the excruciating pain. He didn't mind though as it was more important to seal their powers.
Even Astrea was included as she didn't want to be left out. Although her mark was hidden in her Demi-Human and Human form, Argus sealed it for added security.
Argus decided to seal their marks, as it was very unusual for a newly awakened to possess a Unique Soulbound. Argus did not just have one but three equally unique Soulbounds.
He was cautious, as he did not yet have enough power to protect his soulbound from those who could threaten them. Argus knew how cruel the people of this world could be. They would love to pry into his secrets regarding his powers and the secret on taming of his Soulbounds. Why would he take these troublesome steps if he weren't thinking of their safety?
Walking inside the city, Argus's Soulbounds' gazes flickered from time to time. Astrea's gaze was especially focused on the food stalls. Sylvan, in her hands, swayed slightly, and Argus wondered how Sylvan could see his surroundings.
'Right... He probably has eyes that is hidden.'
He thought but didn't ask. In Argus's shadow, a purple soul fire flickered as Ying Zhu also looked around, taking in the sights.
'His presence dramatically decrease when he was in a shadow. An assassin and a knight? Can that bastard sense him?'
Argus was thinking about Rex. Looking at this new environment, his Soulbounds felt excitement. Though excited, Astrea did not let it show on her face, though her eyes betrayed her, of course.
Argus felt many pairs of eyes on them, especially Astrea's.
'Of course she attracts attention.'
He glanced at Astrea, who wore a flowing dress. The simple yet elegant attire couldn't conceal her beauty. Her eyes shifted from excitement to a cold glare, clearly disliking the unwanted attention.
Astrea's icy stare met those with ill intentions, making them feel like being stared by a predator. Fear gripped them, and they quickly bowed their heads, realizing they were just ordinary people.
Argus, on the other hand, was being ignored.
'I like that new skill of mine.'
He referred to the «Harbinger of Death». It lowered his presence and concealed his aura, which was perfect for him since Argus preferred not to draw attention. Someone notice him but they just thought he was the servant of the beauty beside him. Of course some people couldn't stop talking about him which make his face twitch from time to time.
Another thing that makes him slight exhausted was stopping Astrea from making a ruckus. Astrea wants to teach those people who badmouths his Master.
***
They continued walking until they reached the front of the apartment.
Knock. Knock.
"Coming!"