CHAPTER 191: LIFELINE

Katri Valkama was an office worker; she had never joined in combat and was still at low Dawn tier when Elian met her. Charlotte, although a little better off, was in the same boat.

And unlike Yearns, Blooms, and Burny, they were human. They were biologically inferior in mana pools compared to the other races.

Bianca scowled. As a Psychomancer, she knew exactly what it meant. "Look, you two, you may think you get what it takes, but you don’t. Psychomancers are beings who wield immense mana. Humans cannot do it while still alive. You two will have to die!"

However, neither Katri nor Charlotte flinched.

"I pretty much guessed it, Bianca, and I don’t mind."

"I get to stay youthful forever, and look at you; what inconveniences do you even have as a ghost?"

Taken off guard, the witch grew anxious. "What? That is not the point! The odds are not even 60%! You will be gambling with your lives! If you fail, you die!"

"Considering it gives you the power to revive the dead, that seems fair," Katri answered.

"Yeah, if I succeed, I will no longer be a bystander. But an immortal. To expect it to be easy is just foolish."

Elian cleared his throat and answered in Bianca’s place, "Know that Psychomancers cannot hold anything without mana. Prior to meeting me, Bianca spent a decade locked in a small cave, even unable to leave. Such a fate may befall you; are you truly sure you want this?"

Bianca looked down and tightened her grip on Elian’s hand. Although she was no longer in that dark place, it had taken a toll on both her mind and sanity.

"Char, you in particular have Ned to consider. You are asking him to watch you die. Even if you do come back, you will never truly be human anymore. Please reconsider." Elian then looked at Ned and urged him as well, "Ned, reason with her. This process is irreversible."

Yet against his expectation, Ned merely shook his head and took Charlotte’s hand in his. "Lottie..."

She turned to Ned and kissed him softly on the lips, "Please let me do this. I originally didn’t have a reason to fight. Now I do, if Bianca can do it, then I can too. I want the strength to protect you, Neddy. Losing you is far scarier than dying."

Ned Patel clenched his jaw, paused, and exhaled deeply, "Okay, then are you fine with me turning into a Weapon?" he asked Charlotte.

"Must you?"

"If you wish to go higher, I have the obligation to do so as well," the former crusader answered. His eyes were locked onto his lover and showed not even the slightest hesitation.

"Sigh, I guess we’re both idiots."

Elian grimaced at the thought. While his form as a metal golem was useful, he wouldn’t wish for those he cherished to become like him.

"Ned, brother..."

"Elian, stop. Much like you and Ms. Bianca, Lottie and I are a set. If she wishes to become a Psychomancer to protect me, then I must become a Weapon to protect her back. You are not going to change my mind on this. I would rather lose my humanity than regret losing her."

"I see," seeing that Ned’s mind was made up, Elian could only nod, "Then, it shall be as you wish. Charlotte will become a Psychomancer, and you will be Weaponized."

"Elian! What are you saying? He is your best friend! Char is mine too! This! This is too dangerous!" Bianca shrieked.

Yet the one who rebuked her was Katri Valkama, "Lady Bianca, stop being stupid. You just shared your plan to wage war on an intergalactic scale. If we are nothing more than burdens now, what more in the future? At least with this, we won’t be mere decorations."

"..."

Elian brought the intertwined hands of his and Bianca’s to his lips and kissed the back of her hand.

"Their own freedom and their own consequences," he murmured.

Hearing him, Bianca clicked her tongue in irritation. "Tsk. I’m starting to hate that saying."

Elian chuckled while softly embracing his lover.

As the two flirted, Woody raised his hand and grunted, "Tyrant, among the higher ranks there are those who can read fate and foresee the future. If you plan to give birth to Psychomancers we must do so immediately; delaying will give more time for others to know and intervene."

"I concur, my lord. There is a real possibility that Virexar might detect the mana fluctuations and invade a second time," Yearns added.

Elian nodded and reassured everyone. While he was annoyed, the invasion plans were derailed; the future of the Weapons was at stake.

"I understand. It will be okay; we will just protect them. Until the Psychomancers are born, I want Crestfall under lockdown; no one gets in or out. Aunt-in-law, please see to the follow-through. If speed is the key, then we must not delay any longer."

Sunny bowed her head and replied, "I understand."

"As for the five of you, you all heard, are you ready?"

"Yes," they shouted unanimously.

"Okay, I will work on the potions tonight. I should be done tomorrow morning. You five, nominate one person to serve as your lifeline. They have to be at least low radiant tier. They will keep your soul grounded as you transition to the astral realm," Bianca instructed.

"You won’t guard us yourself?" asked Charlotte.

The witch shook her head and refused, "No, the process involves you all confronting your subconsciousness and insecurities. If I am present, you will be influenced by me. You all must seize the power by your own hand. Once your souls leave your bodies, you’re on your own."

Her words also made the Psychomancer volunteers flinch.

"This is why the people you choose to guard you must be people who have a significant connection to you. Your relationship with them will be the only thing keeping you from actually dying. Although you can do this without one, it will be significantly harder."

Despite the danger of the process, neither of the five made any complaints.

"Spend tonight with your loved ones. Once you all take the potions, you must go into seclusion to fight your heart and mental demons. You need not defeat all of them, but you must gain some understanding of yourself before you can create your soul body."

Elian originally wanted to discuss the invasion, but the heavy topics just kept coming. Each one was vital for their future; thus, he couldn’t brush them off.

He scanned the other Weapons in the room and instructed, "I will postpone the invasion till after the Psychomancer candidates come out of seclusion. All hands on deck, even the human Breakers. Epsilon, I want the entire Slinky Corp back here before daybreak. Make it happen."

"Understood, Tyrant!"

The Tyrant turned to Bastion, Silent, then Epsilon. "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Epsilon, find me five separate spots in the city that can be used by our Psychomancers for their seclusion. I want them sealed and under heavy guard."

"Yes, Tyrant!" they said with a bow.

Next, he tried to ascertain who would be the primary partners, "Woody, Ned, I guess you both will guard, Blooms and Charlotte right?"

"Yes." Both answered.

"Good," he praised, "Katri, Yearns, Burny. Who would be your lifeline?"

All three quickly nominated people.

"I will ask my father."

"A friend, someone from Virexar, will be mine."

"I...uhm..."

Burny, who struggled to nominate a lifeline, was suddenly picked up by Fluffy. The wolf girl gazed deep into the Flame Swallow’s eyes and gently stroked his plumage.

"I will be the one going for the oversized matchstick," the Beowolf declared.

"Lady Fluffy..."

Elian raised an eyebrow and probed, "Burny, do you want Fluffy as your lifeline?"

The small Flame Swallow faced Fluffy and ruminated in silence. His eyes blinked slowly and showed no agitation or any trace of fear.

"Yes, I trust her... I would actually like that."

"Okay, then this matter has been settled. Thank you for doing this. As our future Psychomancers, I will consider you all Bianca’s siblings and protect you to the best of my ability. Rest up; tomorrow we will reconvene and hand out the potions. Dismissed."

At Elian’s commands, the group mingled for a few more minutes before separating. While everyone tried to be joyful, it was obvious that many were worried; Woody and Sunny were worried for Yearns and Burny, respectively. Even as Tyrants, they were still parents.

When everyone went home, Elian and Bianca changed into Lucian and Chiara to avoid attention. The pair then stayed at one of Bianca’s safe houses. Although they wanted to spend time together, they couldn’t.

"Elian, I need to..."

He hugged her close and understood, "I know. Take your time; I will guard you."

"Thanks."

***

Bianca spent the night creating the potions. It involved a lot of mana and various components and materials that Elian couldn’t keep track of. But by the start of the time the sun rose, the Psychomancer potions had been created.

"I’m... finally done... yawn..."

"Well done. You are so amazing, darling."

"Hehe, I am. I will just close my eyes a bit..."

"Okay, rest well."

Exhausted, Bianca plopped on Elian. He smiled at her trust and allowed her to relax. The Tyrant changed her clothes and wiped the sweat off her body. He then gingerly tucked Bianca in bed and guarded her.

While her body didn’t really get tired her mind did. As she rested, Elian took a glance at all the real-time reports he got over the past eight hours on his smartphone.

The Weapons of Valestra, for the first time, acted in one will; throughout the night, they mobilized. Beings of metal patrolled every inch of the city. Five places were secured as if they had royalty visiting.

It wasn’t the most ideal, but Elian’s gut told him that something was coming. And for the first time, he could see what his faction could do as a whole.

"Alright, we’ve got everything ready. Now, time to do this."