CHAPTER 19: POWER BEYOND MEASURE

"Just go straight to the point and stop talking like you’re playing a game with me," Nolan said.

"Okay. You are more powerful than a rank A adventurer. If this crystal shattered, it means your mana is unlimited. Scary... no, powerful. Look at it." Lucan leaned forward.

"So, what level am I?" Nolan asked.

"Well, I don’t know. There’s a larger crystal, one that might measure your mana. Long ago, even when deities still walked this world, this crystal could measure some of them, but not all. Still, it should at least give us something."

Ella returned carrying a crystal so large it needed both arms. She placed it on the table.

"Place your hand on it. Pour in your mana... just a little or all of it. Doesn’t matter. It will measure your capacity, determine your level, and reveal your magic type," Lucan explained.

"Alright," Nolan replied, placing his hand on the crystal. As he poured his mana in, the crystal reacted instantly. A blinding light filled the room, forcing everyone to shut their eyes. Cracks ran through the crystal, though it didn’t shatter.

Ella’s voice trembled. "Who is this? Are you a god?"

"This is impossible," Lucan muttered. "Your power is beyond S-rank... even SS-rank. You’re at the level of a deity, which are SSS-rank. Look." He stared at the readings. "The scale goes from 1 to 100, but yours is over a thousand. We can’t measure it. It might surpass a hundred thousand... even a million. We don’t know your full power."

Everyone stood frozen. Even Nolan was stunned. Celia and Linda exchanged glances, shaken.

When Lucan spoke the words SSS-rank ability, Celia’s eyes widened in horror. To her, SSS-rank beings were Archangels, the very saviors her race worshiped. She dropped to her knees.

"Master, I didn’t know you were so great... You’re a god," she whispered.

Nolan immediately pulled her up. "No. What are you saying?"

Lucan closed his eyes. "In a way, she’s not wrong. You’re no mere adventurer. You’re a deity. Ella, listen to me, what happened today must never leave this room. If word spreads, neighboring kingdoms will wage war just to claim him. Still, I’ll have to report this to the King."

"The King?" Nolan frowned. "Don’t tell anyone."

"That’s not possible," Lucan said firmly. "You deserve your own throne. Even beneath the King, you should hold a place of honor. You could live in luxury."

Ella nodded.

But Nolan remained quiet for a while before shaking his head.

"No. I don’t want that life. I just want a normal life, one where I can be happy. I’ve made up my mind. I want to be an adventurer. Please, don’t tell anyone about this. If what you say is true, then standing out will only be a pain in the ass for me."

Lucan slammed his palm on the table, the wood shaking under the force.

"Do you even hear yourself? Do you know what you’re saying? You want to throw away the life that’s been laid before you? You could have anything... wealth, women, power, every dream fulfilled! And you would give it all up, just to live like a common adventurer?" His voice rose, heavy with disbelief. "It’s not worth it!"

Nolan’s eyes narrowed. He leaned forward, his tone sharp.

"Well, well, well... you’re not me. So don’t act like you know what I want. I’m the only one who decides that. Stop trying to force me into a life I don’t want. Or do you have a problem with me?"

The room went silent.

Lucan’s jaw tightened, but he exhaled slowly. "No, I don’t have a problem with you. But think about what I’m saying."

Before Nolan could respond, Ella touched his arm and whispered into his ear, "Stay calm."

He drew in a deep breath, then released it. His shoulders eased.

"...Sorry. I lost my cool."

Lucan leaned back, eyes still burning but calmer now. "If that’s truly what you want, then I won’t stop you. I won’t tell anyone. But remember, when the time comes, the devil will need you. And you’ll have to help."

Nolan nodded. "That’s not a problem."

No one else spoke.

Ella, sensing the heavy air, cleared her throat and picked up a stack of adventurer cards. "If you want to start as a normal adventurer, then we begin at rank E. That’s where Celia and Linda will also start. Both of them have the potential to rise to rank C, or even rank B, with training and experience."

Nolan stepped closer. "That’s fine. Let’s do it."

Ella slid him a card. It shimmered faintly with magic, his name and portrait already engraved upon it. He tilted it in the light.

"Level 12," Nolan read aloud. His brows furrowed. "Why does it say that?"

"That’s your starting level," Ella explained. "Normally, you’d be placed much higher, but we can’t risk anyone discovering your true power. Beginning from rank E means keeping your level low on record. It’s safer this way."

Nolan slipped the card into his pocket without argument. Celia and Linda followed, their own cards displaying level 10, true to their abilities.