Psychic Parasite

Chapter 314: Suspicion and Undercurrents
”The Unranked Skill, Regen costs 1,10,000 Credits. You have been unofficially awarded 1,00,000 Credits. The remaining 10,000 Credits will be deducted from your balance. Is that alright?” Madam Mary smiled, lightly waving her hand as she pulled out a piece of paper.

”Yes, that is perfectly fine.” Jyorta saluted, watching the paper hovering before his face. The paper consisted of the periodic table, with the column of the alkali metals being white. From white, they turned a shade darker with every column, with the column of the noble gases being jet black.

”Ma’am, this is?” Jyorta looked at the markings done on it, with many boxes not matching the gradient of white to black.

”Atika Light sent it to me yesterday after she returned to Grapple Force. It is some preliminary conclusion she arrived at after obtaining the research results of Mila Marble.” Madam Mary pointed at the paper, ”It is related to your corrosion.”

As Jyorta gazed at the paper, Madam Mary continued to speak, ”The darker the cell, the more effective your corrosion is against the respective element. Judging based on it, your corrosion is most effective against non-metals, while the efficiency decreases against the metals.”

She then frowned, ”But, your corrosion is not consistent, based on the data I received. Depending on your emotional fluctuation, the product of your corrosion can vary. In the three times you used your corrosion on copper, the products differed. It was a brittle state of copper on the first attempt. All its molecular bonds had been severed. Seconds after it, they began to react and formed new bonds.”

”On the second attempt, the copper turned into bohrium for 0.1 seconds, turning radioactive before ending up as barium nitride. It is further diversified with respect to its effect on compounds. It is barely effective against hydrogen in its molecule state while affecting it the most when it is part of a hydrocarbon.”

”There is a lot that has yet to be discovered about your corrosion but one thing is for sure, it can cause unforeseen reactions in every element or compound. The only difference is the efficiency of its effect.” Madam Mary commended after a moment, ”If we can understand it more, any form of chemical reaction can be initiated with it.”

Jyorta nodded, immersed in thought. Matter can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can be transformed from one form to another.

’So, my corrosion only changes the state of matter and varies its chemical composition. It is only corrosion, not destruction. Psychic Ancestor Marble’s Unranked Skill is already capable of converting energy into matter. I wonder if my corrosion can convert matter into energy by corroding its physical state?’

Madam Mary retracted the paper, storing it away, ”Anyway, you can research your ability further after you graduate. You’ll get access to more information and the necessary environment to do so then. When you reach Tier 3, you’ll be taken into Grapple Force. Atika Light has already made her mind on the matter. Unless you do something that completely disappoints her, you are assured of this privilege.”

”You can take some time to decide, getting an Unranked Skill will decide your path for the rest of your life.” Madam Mary made eye contact, her expression serious. ”You won’t be able to change it for the rest of your life. This is not something you can decide willy-nilly. I won’t usually hinder the decisions of the students, since their only chance to obtain an Unranked Skill would be from here. The ones from Aristocratic Families would refrain from choosing so.”

”But, yours is a special case,” She continued further, noticing Jyorta’s unwavering gaze, ”There is a chance for you to get access to other Unranked Skills. Due to your identity, as long as you contribute enough, Ancestor Marble might even give you Marble Sonata.”

”Yes, Marble Sonata is impressive,” Jyorta nodded, ”It has unfathomable abilities and is the most versatile based on everything I have seen. If I can obtain it, I am sure my life would be many times safe.”

”But,” He smiled, ”My personal preference is Regen. I am inclined and mentally attuned to this Skill. Even the greatest of weapons becomes lacklustre in the hands of an unsuitable wielder. I am sure I’ll be able to do my best with Regen in comparison to Marble Sonata.”

Hearing his words, Madam Mary frowned, ”It is not something you can say without even knowing their limitations and extent of use. Once you obtain the Unranked Skill, you cannot go back. There will be no room for regrets by then. There have been plenty of such cases in our history.”

”Ma’am, can I ask you a question?” Jyorta inquired, expressing his desire and unwavering confidence.

”Go ahead.” Madam Mary nodded.

”Have you ever felt lacking in a battle?”

”Yes, I have. Plenty of times than I could count,” Madam Mary replied.

”Can I know the cause or reason for those?”

”I see your train of thought,” Madam Mary’s expression turned solemn, ”Remember that on paper, the abilities of similarly Nurtured Espers is the same. The only advantage we can have over our foes is through our Unranked Skill, and our comprehension of it.”

”Regen can only heal you; it has zero offensive capabilities. It doesn’t complement an Esper’s ability in battle. Remember that if you were to face a similar Tier Esper as an opponent, just one of them would be able to negate you. If another one were to be present at the scene, your death is guaranteed. And no, Regen cannot heal you fast enough to overcome a grievous injury in battle.”

”It will hinder you in battles, while not giving you any advantages whatsoever. To a normal person, Regen is their life-saving tool. But to you, who has an option to pursue something better, Regen is not worth it.” Her voice turned cold, ”You are a psychic parasite, the only one alive after your predecessor had died. You are the only one who can stand up against Rhachis Ancestor Parasite. So, don’t hurry in your decision and limit your prospects.”

Jyorta closed his eyes, iterating, ”Evasion, strength, defence, manipulation, concealment, multi-tasking, achieving omniscience, Espers obtain them all. The only aspect they lack is in the healing department. Sure, by taking Regen, I would be limiting my offensive ability but, I already have my corrosion for that.”

”Based on their natures, Corrosion and Marble Sonata hinder each other. But, I feel like Regen is suitable for me. I won’t regret this decision.” Jyorta thumped his fist on his chest, speaking with enough resolve to convince Madam Mary, ”I am neither being hasty nor am I making a judgement from a narrow perspective.”

”Parasite, Soul, Mind, Aura; I am treading through the paths of Parasite, Soul, and Aura now. Most of my development in Parasite would be natural and without hindrance, considering I am a parasite myself. There are many struggles in the path of the Soul, but I can’t rely on anyone else for that. But, as for Aura, I would have to subject myself to various auras lingering in the wilds to resist, comprehend, and train my aura. The healing abilities of Regen would boost my development in this field. Moreover…”

Jyorta smiled, his eyes glinting with a cunning light, ”Regen has a calming effect on the mind. This is related to the Domain of the Mind. Based on what I was told yesterday, only Deific Inference is related to the domain of the Mind. But, I feel Regen is also capable of interacting with it, although minimum. Aren’t these more than enough reason to obtain Regen?”

”Fine, you are convincing enough,” Madam Mary smiled, waving her hands, motioning for him to exit the room, ”Return by 5:30 PM sharp. I’ll implant the Unranked Skill, Regen in you. Don’t be late.”

”Thank you, ma’am.” Jyorta bowed and left the room. Even though his stature still expressed a sense of exhaustion, his frame was erect, having regained all the confidence in him. With an assurance and definite understanding of his sense of self, Jyorta was confident in himself.

The moment he exited the room, Madam Mary murmured in interest, ”There you have it, Ancestor Marble. It seems this child has decided on a path already. Let us see how far it takes him.”

Followed by a flash of magenta, the marble figure of Psychic Ancestor Marble appeared, ”I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to see how he develops Regen. His prospects seem promising. Even if he hits a limit, Atika can help him.”

”Yes, after all, she managed to remove Light Symphony from Rhachis Ancestor Strongest once he attained Tier 6 and imbued in him his current Unranked Skill.” Madam Mary sighed, her tone filled with praise. ”With her around, we don’t have to worry about Jyorta hitting an end.”

”Jyorta doesn’t know that,” Psychic Ancestor Marble smiled, ”It seems he and Jyovic Bone are planning something. That was also taken into consideration for his choice.”

”Tch,” Madam Mary snorted, ”I can guess as to what that mashed cluster of bones wants.”

”Speaking of Jyovic Bone…” Psychic Ancestor Marble hesitated for a second before he spoke, ”I discovered some odd points in Henrietta’s case.”

Madam Mary’s eyes widened, spewing fury as she almost lost control for a second. Instantly, every material around her turned into dust, the room walls forming large cracks. Psychic Ancestor Marble layered it with his psychic energy, mending the cracks before returning the room to its previous condition.

A couple of seconds later, Madam Mary spoke with great strain, speaking while trying her best to control her anger, ”What…oddity?”

”The Unranked Skill, Bone Devour she possessed was slightly different from the rest. The cause for her losing control originated from it, it seems. But, I can’t say for sure. I barely found some traces in the place she died. But, I can’t remain outside the city for long. I only managed to find some clues in the 1 minute I was outside.” Psychic Ancestor Marble continued, ”I surveyed the entire Bone Family mansion and every asset they possessed, including their affiliations and relations, and didn’t find any data to support my claims.”

”Thank you,” Madam Mary bowed a little, expressing her gratitude. Her emotions turned placid, but she was like a volcano ready to erupt at any time.

’The Flying Signature Raid; the more I see it, the more suspicious it seems.’ She frowned, the air around her shimmered before she even exerted her presence.

”I knew it, Jyovic Bone cannot be trusted.” She muttered.

”Light favours his accomplishments the most. I can’t just deal with him without any concrete reason. If we are talking about suspicious individuals, the head of every Aristocratic Family is even worse as compared to him.” He sighed, ”But, they are all valuable individuals that defend Marble City. And, whatever their plans mean or have a later significance, they had heavily contributed to our City’s growth and progression as a result. That is an undeniable fact.”