Endless Vertex 14 Chapter 13: Atlas's Answers 1

Click. The ammo went out.

Nam slithered across the square like an agile snake, creeping towards his next target. Right before he reached his target, the muscular man had kicked backwards, preventing Nam's sneak attack. He ripped off his black shirt, revealing his stage of cultivation: a tier 3 beginner.

He charged towards Nam. In his sight, Nam has started to run, changing his target instead of attacking a Warrior like him. But milliseconds before his fist made contact with Nam's wrinkled skin, he has already lost the ability to speak, throat demolished by a hard object, like a Nokia smashing peanuts. (Atlas's abandoned Nokia laughs alone in the corner)

Men in black ski masks dropped sluggishly like drunk drinkers dead at a bar, except for the fact that they were actually dead with snapped necks or bashed throats.

Three or four terrorist were knocked out cold nearby a wooden bench, where Atlas spent his sweet time listening to new albums on Spotify, at the same time, watching Nam's every movement against the enemy's strongest Aura User, a Tier 4 Elite. Atlas recalled a quote by Bruce Lee: Water can flow and it can crash. Be water my friend. Nam's attacks bore resemblance to the saying. They weren't as graceful as water flowing, but one thing was certain, they were lethal onslaughts, aggressive and effective despite no sign of Warrior cultivation. Every flaw Atlas assumed to be insignificant in the Warrior's nearly impeccable defense were carefully seized by Nam, transmuted into crucial elements to weaken his opponent, like how water can seep through even the tiniest crack on a dam, eventually creating monstrous rifts before pouring away in torrents.

Atlas was completely mesmerized by Nam's combat technique. A mortal competing against an Intermediate with much ease! It was unbelievable! According to his speculations, Nam could be capable of taking down Warriors as strong as Hugh with his precise attacks. Two layers of mysteriousness veiled over Nam. One for his short appearance in Atlas's dream. The other for Nam's extraordinary fighting style. The speed of clashing has abated. The bruised Warrior has taken too many hits, falling unconscious on the ground. But before he hit the floor, he has cracked something open between his teeth, white foam soon forming in the corner of his mouth.

Victorious, Nam loosened his grip and walked towards Atlas.

"I'm a sucker for you~ Damn, what a nice song!" Atlas attempted humming a high note from the song he was listening to, somehow succeeding, "Oh hey there! I was wondering..."

"If you could teach me some moves or something like that." Nam finished Atlas's sentence as he sat on the bench beside him, "These old bones are gettin a little rusty. I took quite a while to finish such a simple job. I've got nothing to teach you. Simplicity is ultimate sophistication. That's all I have to say."

"Show off. Other than that, I still have some other messy questions to ask." Atlas grinned at Nam, "By the way, how are we gonna clean up this mess?"

Nam glanced at the mayor, who was scolding fiercely into a phone. "Don't worry. He'll handle the mess. Let's go somewhere else quieter. This isn't really a place to talk."

They left the square, leaving behind unconscious or neck-snapped men and a ton of chaos, not including Dennis who was still wailing "I can't feel my ass!"

Ordering a glass of apple juice and a cup of tea, they settled down in a drink shop by a remote alleyway. Remembering his initial purpose for visiting, a stern face transformed Atlas's grin.

"Not so sure how I'm supposed to start this conversation, but I've seen you in my dreams. And to clarify, not the weird type of dream. Actually, it is a eccentric dream, just not the homo type of weird." Atlas emphasised.

"Just cut to the chase."

"Anyway, I need you to tell me every information you can recollect that relates to me. An incident, an object and person or even just a name, I have to know something!" Atlas exclaimed, "I trust that you felt that familiar bond between us back at the square. We've definitely met before, but I just can't remember. It's like a brick wall that I can't break through or even climb over."

Nam fixed his gaze on Atlas fervently. "Show me your pendant. The golden one you've been concealing."

"It's a valuable accessory that means a lot to me. Please be careful and don't scratch it."

"Shut up and stop beating around the bush."

Atlas handed him the pendant reluctantly and slumped back upsettingly, reacting like the rebellious teenager he was to Nam's harsh tone. Gently, Nam's rough fingers ran across the smooth patterns on the pendant. The unforgettable character on the pendant prompted him to reminisce the first day he saw this luxurious pendant.

17 years ago, Nam heard a knock on his doorstep in the middle of the night. Filled with puzzlement, he pulled opened his door. A lone wooden cradle embroidered with silver linings laid by his doorstep, wobbling and creaking even though it was a windless night. The baby in the cradle stared at Nam quietly with his round, goggly eyes. A beautiful and refined pendant hung on his neck, the word "秦(Qin)" carved into its golden face.

"That strange." Nam mumbled. Despite his confusion, he decided to keep this baby.

"Daaa". The baby babbled, staring into the night sky, as if searching for something. Nam stroked his long beard, thinking of a name for the infant. Why not a combination of Qin and Skye? And so, his temporary name was created.

Able to walk steadily at the age of 8 months; Able to speak Chinese and English fluently at one year and 2 months old; Beholding acute senses comparable to him. This boy has produced miracles that seemed impossible to ordinary children. Whats fascinating was on the day Qin reached three, he just suddenly woke up during midnight, ran out without notice and came back holding hands with an adorable two year old girl in a royal gown who apparently could do the same things too. She had a unique hair colour: snow white with a hint of blue that matched her azure-blue eyes.

Nam closed his eyes and took out something in his pocket.

"Recognise this?" He held a greenish chip the size of a memory card.

"Is that a memory chip? It automatically records the owner's memories am I right?"

"You are correct. It contains my memories, but it might trigger some of yours too. It can be activated with Aura by specific people I give authorisation to." Nam snapped his fingers, replying in a benevolent tone. He now knows Atlas's identity, but it would be a better choice for Atlas to uncover it himself.

A tornado of emotions has already begun swirling within Atlas's heart. This chip contains the answer he desires! He inserted his Aura into the chip.

Chapter end