"Did you not hear me just now? Maybe you did, but your head is too empty to listen." Oliver barked, seeing that Michael had ignored his warning.
"There is no harm in trying, is there?"
With gritted teeth Oliver argued. "Oh, but there is. We are soon going to be under attack, and we have much better things to do than watch cadets failing to take hold of the soul weapon."
"You never know if you are not speaking with a legacy." Bryce said in an attempt to calm down Oliver.
"You just don't get it, do you? Even Victoria herself failed to bring the sword under her rule! If she was unable to, what is the chance some lowly commoner with his inferior blood can take hold of the soul weapon?"
Michael wasn't hurt by Oliver's words in the slightest. He had become accustomed to being ridiculed for not being part of any influential group, whether it be faction or family. No one believed that he was destined for any kind of greatness.
'In the end they died, and only I remained. If I can prove them wrong once, I can do it a thousand times.'
Oliver's face flushed red in rage seeing how he was being ignored yet again, but with Bryce being there he couldn't punish Michael even if he wanted to.
The room became deadly silent once Michael stopped before the weapon. Even the other cadets that had come here to get their melee weapons were waiting in anticipation for the results.
'Another has come in an attempt to make me submit. HA! Just like the other ones, you will too fail.' The soul weapon that had once been wielded by Jack the Butcher laughed seeing Michael.
As a soul weapon, it had a consciousness of its own. That was why it was so rare for any human to wield any. It was necessary for the soul weapon to judge the human worthy first before allowing it to be used.
'Jack's soul was dark and heavy. Thousands of aliens fell by his hands and my blade! To be able to wield me, you have to have killed more than he had! How could one 18-year-old brat have any hope to use me?!'
Michael, unaware of the sword's thoughts, put his hand on the handle.
Shudder!
'MY GOD!' The sword cried internally.
'What kind of soul is this?! Hundreds of millions! Several planets' worth of lives have been slain by this monster! How is this possible?! Is he the reincarnation of some kind of evil god?!'
The onlookers were surprised to see that Michael wasn't pushed back the moment he touched the soul weapon. This meant that at the very least he had a chance to conquer it.
'The weapon is heavier than expected.' Michael pondered for a moment before activating Berserker, allowing 100 points of his mind to be infused with madness and increasing his strength severalfold.
To the shock of the people present, he proceeded to lift the sword without any kind of trouble!
"How?" Oliver's jaw opened so wide it was about to hit the floor.
'How can this commoner wield a weapon that even Lady Victoria wasn't able to?!'
Ignoring the chatter that was happening around him, Michael gazed at the soul weapon.
'Do you hear me?'
The sword shuddered once more before a ragged male voice rang out in his head.
'Who… No, what the fuck are you?! How many beings have you killed? Even Jack's soul is nothing when compared to you!'
Hearing the sword's voice, Michael chuckled. The only way to speak with a soul weapon was if it recognized you as its owner. From now on the sword would only be able to communicate with him unless he perished.
'Who I am is irrelevant. All you need to know is that from today on I am your owner.'
The sword was silent for a second before answering.
'I hope that we can kill many more beings together.'
'We will.'
The greatsword instantly began to change. Its chipped edge was restored in a second, beginning to glow in neon light.
[Soul Weapon gained]
[Rank: Epic]
• Sharpness: 250
"I—Impossible!" Oliver bellowed. "The commoner managed to tame the sword?!"
"HAHAHAHA!" Bryce's laughter shook the whole building.
"When I was assigned to this base, I thought that they had disrespected me, putting me in one of the smallest bases. To think I would bear witness to the birth of a young protégé!"
Bryce smiled even wider seeing the way Michael's eyes were glowing crimson thanks to his Berserker technique and remaining sane despite it.
"I don't care where you are from, young man. I am glad that we would have you fighting on the front line!"
Michael smiled warmly once he heard the old man's words. He didn't pay attention to the ones that disrespected him, but the ones that respected him were worthy of befriending.
The few women that were watching the scene felt their hearts skip a beat seeing his warm and innocent smile. How could he have a soul strong enough to wield the greatsword of Jack the Butcher while having such a charming smile?
"I am flattered by your words, Sir Bryce!" Michael saluted, showing the respect that was required when speaking with a higher-up.
"There is no need to be formal with the old man." Bryce chuckled. "Tell me, where do you wish to be stationed on the defense of the base, or do you want to go on the offensive?"
It was a rare offer, since all of the cadets had been instructed that they should remain in the safety of the base and protect it should the enemy forces reach their territory.
However, Bryce felt that Michael was different. If he was capable of making the soul weapon submit to him, there was a chance that he was a proficient fighter before joining Triton's base. In other words, he had a chance to kill the most aliens and earn the Epic rank cybernetic.
'I can't wait to find out what this young man is capable of!' Bryce thought inwardly.
Michael smiled widely before answering.
"I want…"