Chapter 345 — Bluff Becomes a Weapon (and Egos Too)
Brakk smirked.
— …What if I found a way to use it smartly?
He walked.
Then paced in circles.
Then walked again.
— Come on, Brakk. Think hard before dying stupidly.
Thirty minutes passed.
— No.
Bad idea.
An hour.
— Still not…
But close…
Two hours.
He stopped dead.
His eyes lit up.
— …Ah.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.
— I see.
He turned as if explaining to someone… though he was alone.
### Brakk's Solution
— The problem with the *Unjust Mirror* isn't the copy.
It's the instant.
He raised a finger.
— Copying a full aura at once, especially stronger than mine, destroys me.
But…
He grinned.
— Who said I had to copy everything?
He walked again, more confident.
— I can fragment the copy.
Take micro‑traits of aura.
He counted on his fingers.
— Density, but not pressure.
— Signature, but not raw power.
— Intimidating instinct, without energy overload.
He burst out laughing.
— Basically… I steal the illusion of danger, not the danger itself.
He nodded.
— Result?
Less fatigue.
Less instability.
And above all…
He clenched his fist.
— Precise control.
He inhaled deeply.
— This power becomes a tool of manipulation, not a suicidal gamble.
Then he calmed.
— I'll test this version later.
He looked up.
— And if I manage to talk to that invisible guy again…
I'll negotiate.
A wicked smile.
— A real power.
Or at least, remove that stupid backlash.
He spat on the ground.
— I'll scam him.
He tried to sacrifice me.
He vanished into the shadows.
### The Confrontation
Brakk reached the exact spot where he had met him.
He inhaled.
— BASTARD! SHOW YOURSELF!
Silence.
Then a calm voice.
— Who are you talking to like that?
Brakk spun around.
— You see anyone else here?
A faint laugh.
— Hmm… everything's starting to get too bold with me.
Brakk clenched his teeth.
— What do you expect me to say after you tried to sacrifice me?
Silence.
Then.
— …Actually, you're right to be angry.
(*He's not as dumb as I thought…*) the invisible being mused.
— The power I gave you was… incomplete, he admitted.
Brakk blinked.
— Incomplete?
His gaze hardened.
— How come it's incomplete, huh?
You wanted to get rid of me, didn't you?
(*Too perceptive, this kid…*) the entity thought.
Brakk tapped his temple.
— Yeah, I've got this up here.
Otherwise I'd already be dead.
A sigh.
— Fine.
The voice resumed.
— I'll give you the full version of the power.
### The Complete Power
Brakk crossed his arms.
— That won't be enough if it works the same way.
Even without extreme fatigue, it's still a bluff.
If the opponent stronger than me isn't intimidated, I'm done.
— Exactly, the entity replied.
The full version is different.
The air vibrated slightly.
— Aura Usurpation — *Absolute Mirror.*
Brakk felt the information imprint itself inside him.
— You no longer copy just the aura.
The words resonated.
— You copy the logic of the aura.
Its way of existing.
Brakk's eyes widened.
— You can:
Adapt the copied aura to your own level
Eliminate instability
Choose if the effect is intimidating, concealing, or disruptive
And most importantly…
Silence.
— If the opponent is stronger, the aura doesn't collapse.
It acts like a jammer.
Brakk froze.
— …So even if he doesn't fear me…
— He'll underestimate you, the voice completed.
A slow smile spread across Brakk's face.
— Okay.
Now… that's much better.
He nodded.
— You're good, you.
— And that's not all.
A new sensation.
— I'll give you a bonus.
### New Ability
— Echo of Usurpation.
Brakk grasped the concept.
— Every aura you've copied leaves a memory trace.
You can recall it briefly, without full activation.
Brakk burst out laughing.
— So I can simulate multiple profiles?
— Exactly.
— …I love it.
The voice grew heavier.
— But don't forget.
You owe me something, kid.
Silence.
Then the entity murmured, as if to someone else:
— …He's the perfect host.
An invisible smile.
### Meanwhile
Valor stepped out of the building.
He stopped abruptly.
Ethan was waiting outside.
Marie stood beside him, arms crossed.
— So, little pretentious one, Ethan said.
Talk again and I'll smash your mouth.
Valor smiled.
— Go ahead, try me.
Ethan stepped closer.
— You call me a fraud just because I'm stronger than you?
Valor ran his hand through his hair.
— You?
Stronger than the Great Valor?
He sighed.
— Like I said, in this guild…
There are too many frauds who don't deserve their rank.
Ethan smiled calmly.
— Sorry, but I'm not one of those frauds.
Whether you accept it or not…
His aura vibrated.
— I'll always be stronger than you.
Valor's aura flared slightly.
— Looks like you're looking for trouble.
— Maybe, Ethan replied with a smile.
Before it escalated—
Annabelle placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
— Enough.
Stop your bickering.
She looked at Valor.
— Tell me… up for more forbidden techniques?
Valor smiled instantly.
— Why not.
Ethan sighed.
— …I hate them all.
Chapter 346 — The Jinn Who Negotiates Too Well
Silence fell again.
Brakk frowned.
— …Wait.
He looked around.
— All this time, you've been talking, handing out absurd powers, smiling into the void, whispering weird stuff…
What are you, exactly?
A sigh echoed.
— Hm…
I suppose the moment has come.
The air rippled.
As if reality itself hesitated to stay serious.
Then, slowly, a silhouette formed.
Not fully.
Blurred.
Unstable.
A man… no.
Something that looked like a man.
Arms crossed, floating slightly above the ground, with a smile far too calm to be honest.
— I am a Jinn.
Brakk blinked.
— …
He squinted.
— A what?
— A Jinn, the entity repeated calmly.
A real one.
Not the children's fairy‑tale versions that grant three wishes and vanish into an IKEA lamp.
Brakk stayed silent for two seconds.
— …So you're not a ghost.
— No.
— Not a god.
— No.
— Not a hallucination from fatigue.
— I wish, replied the Jinn. You'd be easier to manipulate.
Brakk sighed.
— Great.
A very powerful Jinn trying to scam me.
— I prefer the term "aggressive negotiation."
The Jinn gestured, and his form sharpened.
Ancient eyes.
Far too ancient.
— I am Zahkariel, Primordial Jinn of Pact, Deception, and Forced Evolution.
Brakk raised an eyebrow.
— …Nothing less, huh.
— I lived before most of the gods you know, Zahkariel continued.
I was sealed, freed, resealed, forgotten, summoned by mistake, then ignored for three centuries.
He sighed.
— A very humiliating period.
Brakk crossed his arms.
— Okay.
But why me?
Zahkariel smiled.
— Because you are neither weak…
nor strong.
— Nice.
— You are frustrated, resentful, intelligent, and above all…
He leaned closer.
— You want to win without being the strongest.
Brakk stayed silent.
— …Bullseye.
Zahkariel snapped his fingers.
— And let's be honest.
You have monstrous potential…
He looked Brakk up and down.
— …but a fragile ego.
— Hey!
— Fragile but loud.
— SHUT UP.
The Jinn laughed.
— I love humans.
### The Debt
Brakk clenched his fists.
— Fine.
Let's be clear.
He glared at Zahkariel.
— You tried to sacrifice me with an incomplete power.
So we're even.
Zahkariel raised a finger.
— False.
— How false?
— I gave you a defective power, yes.
He smiled.
— But you survived.
You thought.
You improved it.
He nodded.
— Which proves you're a worthy host.
Brakk frowned.
— Host?
— Oh, not like you think, Zahkariel said, raising his hands.
I don't possess you.
Pause.
— Not yet.
Brakk stepped back.
— …Excuse me?
— You owe me a service, Brakk.
The Jinn floated around him.
— Not now.
Not tomorrow.
— One day.
He stopped in front of him.
— When I call, you will help me accomplish something.
Brakk clenched his teeth.
— And if I refuse?
Zahkariel smiled.
— You can refuse.
Silence.
— But then… all the powers I gave you
will turn against you.
Brakk sighed deeply.
— …Of course.
— See? We understand each other.
### Final Warning
Zahkariel began to fade.
— One piece of advice, Brakk.
— What now?
— Don't use your powers like an idiot.
He smiled.
— People like Llan aren't dangerous.
— It's the ones with him who are.
Brakk clenched his fists.
— I know.
— Good.
The silhouette vanished.
— See you soon, my favorite investment.
Silence.
Brakk was alone.
He ran a hand over his face.
— …I really landed the worst sponsor possible.
He looked up.
A dangerous smile appeared.
— But fine.
If I owe something to a Jinn…
He clenched his fist.
— Then I'll become strong enough to repay it when *I* decide.
Chapter 347 — When Someone Plays With Bad Cards
Brakk walked.
But this time, it wasn't the same stride.
Before, he moved with anger.
With frustration.
With the urge to prove something.
Now…
— …Damn, I hate feeling like a piece on a chessboard.
He clenched his teeth.
The wind blew.
His aura vibrated slightly, contained, compressed, disciplined.
— A Primordial Jinn… seriously.
He looked up.
— Why me, huh?
No answer.
— Of course.
He sighed.
— Fine.
If I have to play with the devil… I'd better learn the rules.
### A More Serious Test
Further ahead, a patrol of hunters advanced.
Three people.
Not amateurs.
— Rank B… no, B+.
Well‑trained, tight formation.
Brakk watched from the shadows.
— Perfect.
He closed his eyes.
This time, he didn't trigger Aura Usurpation violently.
He breathed.
— Smart version… like I said.
His aura shifted.
Not bigger.
Not heavier.
Just… strangely familiar.
As if it belonged to someone these hunters already feared crossing paths with.
One of them stopped abruptly.
— …Wait.
— What?
— Do you feel that?
The third swallowed hard.
— That pressure…
It's not a strong aura…
— It's a bad aura.
Brakk smiled.
— Bingo.
He took a step.
Just one.
The hunters instinctively backed away.
— Identify yourself! one of them shouted.
Brakk spoke calmly.
— You're too close to a zone that doesn't concern you.
Silence.
— Turn back.
One hunter whispered:
— It… it feels like the presence of someone ranked S…
But twisted.
— Like it's watching us.
Brakk added, almost absent‑mindedly:
— I won't repeat myself.
They didn't argue.
They left.
Quickly.
Very quickly.
When they vanished, Brakk placed a hand on his knee.
— …Okay.
He panted lightly.
— Tiring, but much less.
He smiled.
— So the power isn't meant to crush…
He straightened.
— It's meant to lie smartly.
### Elsewhere — A Strange Sensation
In the guild.
Valen stopped mid‑sentence.
— …Did you feel that?
Lya raised an eyebrow.
— Feel what?
Zarion, sitting calmly, slowly turned his head.
— Someone is using an aura…
But not the way they should.
Arelis narrowed his eyes.
— It's unstable.
Valor ran his hand through his hair.
— Oh?
He smiled.
— Interesting.
Liora crossed her arms.
— Explain.
— Someone's pretending to be stronger than they are.
Valen frowned.
— Brakk.
Silence.
— That guy doesn't normally have that level, Lya said.
Zarion answered calmly:
— Someone's helping him.
Everyone froze.
Arelis murmured:
— …A pact.
Valor smiled slowly.
— Oh boy.
He raised a finger.
— Shady pacts are never a good sign.
### Back to Brakk
Brakk stopped on a rooftop.
— Okay, Zahkariel.
He looked up.
— I see your game.
A distant laugh echoed faintly in his mind.
— Keep going, Brakk.
— The further you go, the more you amuse me.
Brakk gritted his teeth.
— Don't worry.
He clenched his fist.
— I'll become strong enough that *you'll* be the one worrying.
The wind blew.
Something, somewhere…
…had begun to move.
Chapter 348 — The Loudest Volunteering in History
Liora crossed her arms, looking serious.
— So… I think one of us should take care of this matter.
Silence.
Then.
— Me.
Ethan raised his hand, calm.
Valor slowly turned his head toward him.
— Hmm.
— Why you, exactly?
— It's a minor affair. Nothing that deserves the attention of the great—
— I feel like blowing off steam, Ethan cut in.
— After you pissed me off earlier.
He shrugged.
— So either I deal with some random…
— or I beat you up to feel better.
Silence.
Then.
— …Keep talking, Valor replied, placing his hand on his hair.
— Keep hoping to beat me.
— Even in your dreams, you've never defeated the great Valor.
— So in real life? You're dreaming.
Ethan blinked.
— Wait…
— Did you really just say that?
— Yes.
— So let me summarize.
— You're saying that I, ranked higher than you,
— dream of defeating you…
— while you keep repeating "the great Valor" every sentence to convince yourself you exist?
Valor narrowed his eyes.
— You're looking for trouble.
— And if I am? Ethan replied with a smile.
— What are you gonna do?
Valor smiled back.
— The great Valor doesn't waste time on frauds who usurp their rank.
— Jealous that I'm above you, Ethan answered calmly.
— You? Superior to me?
Lya buried her face in her hands.
— But…
— Why are they doing this here?
Arelis sighed.
— Why do we have to endure this again…
Liora stomped her foot.
— STOP YOUR CHILDISHNESS.
— Aren't you tired of doing this in my room?
Valor shrugged.
— No. So what?
Ethan added:
— She's here playing commander, seriously…
Elyon slowly turned his head.
— …Did you really just disrespect her?
Valen whispered to Zarion:
— These two…
— We can't take it anymore, Zarion replied calmly.
Liora reached her breaking point.
She took a deep breath.
— Enough.
— THAT'S ENOUGH NOW.
Instant silence.
— Ethan.
— Since among all of us, you volunteered…
— You take the mission.
Naël smiled.
— I know someone who will never volunteer.
— He always looks away next to Béatrice.
Béatrice patted Arthur's shoulder.
— Leave him, baby.
— He's just jealous.
Arthur nodded, very serious.
— It's normal.
— Singles—
— (not those who aren't married, but those who aren't in a relationship)
— are always like that.
— Shouting at couples.
Naël straightened.
— What do you mean?
— Someone as strong as me in a relationship?
— Do you really imagine that?
Valor chuckled.
— Correction.
— The greatest fraud of all time, zero achievements,
— and yet second in the hunters' ranking.
— That's insane.
Ethan rolled his eyes.
— Whoever wrote that ranking must've been high.
— Otherwise it's impossible to put so much fraud at once.
Naël crossed his arms.
— So according to you, everything above you is an imposter?
Arthur answered calmly:
— Believe me.
— He's stronger than you, Valor.
Valor twirled his finger around his temple.
— Must be that, yeah.
Shadow sighed.
— Your arrogance is beyond me.
— Shut up, Valor replied.
— You don't have the right to talk to me.
Ryn gently tugged on his sleeve.
— Be nice, Valor…
— Fine.
— Okay.
Everyone blinked.
— …Wait, did he just obey? Lya murmured.
Marie stared at Valor.
— What did I just see and hear?
— Don't worry, Lya replied.
— You didn't hallucinate.
Elyon looked up.
— Seriously, in this group of idiots,
— I'm the only one lucid.
Valen nodded.
— Yeah, must be that.
— Look at Drake.
— He's serious, silent.
— He's the most lucid one.
Elyon burst out laughing.
— 😂😂
— He's so dumb he's got muscles instead of a brain.
Arelis burst out laughing.
— Hahaha!
Zarion frowned.
— No.
— It's not nice to say that.
Valen looked around.
— And Nova?
— For I don't know how many chapters,
— he hasn't let go of his book.
Zarion replied:
— Since the Duplicator arc.
— When he one‑shot Valor's clone while holding his book.
Valen smiled.
— Honestly…
— That was stylish.
Elyonna, the sword spirit, added:
— Since that day,
— he only reads.
— That's not true! Nova protested without lifting his eyes from his book.
Liora sighed, exhausted.
— Well.
— Ethan.
— Even if I'm not sure you're the smartest
— or the most intelligent here…
She fixed her gaze on him.
— Since you wanted to go.
— I entrust you with the mission.
Ethan smiled.
— With pleasure.
Valor clicked his tongue.
— Come back alive, fraud.
— Don't worry, Ethan replied.
— I'll come back…
— and still above you.
Liora rubbed her temples.
— …One day,
— I'll lock you all in a room.
— And throw away the key.
And for once…
No one had anything to say.