Chapter 125: The Constraints Imposed by Identity

Kael, Lacey, and the Seer approached, hoping to gain some insight from Tony as they walked together toward the dining hall.

"Lacey, Kael, who won just now?" Tony asked casually along the way.

"It was a 2-2 tie, hard to call," Lacey replied with a grin, flashing a peace sign. "But Kael got distracted during the fight, so I ended up winning. That brings our record to six wins and five losses in my favor."

Tony looked at Kael with genuine disbelief. "Kael, you actually lost that many?"

"It’s not just this volleyball match; it happens in other sports too," Kael said, looking somewhat frustrated under Tony’s strange gaze. "A lot of these competitions have upper limits on strength. It forces me to hold back, and I can't really tap into my true power. I actually had a chance to win that one, but your Void energy caught my eye and broke my focus."

Whenever the competition allowed for raw strength and speed without restriction, Lacey couldn't compare to him. However, once the rules imposed strength limits and demanded technical precision, he found it easy to lose. After all, if he got too caught up in the heat of the moment, it was hard to restrain his power, often resulting in him accidentally obliterating the equipment.

The Seer glanced at Kael and offered a reminder. "Don't forget the original purpose of these games. It’s not just about winning or losing; it’s about refining your control over your strength. Our power is enhanced every few days; if we don't learn to control it properly, it could easily cause major trouble."

Lacey turned to Tony and offered some advice. "By the way, Senior Tony, your physical constitution is very strong—you seem to have evolved at least a hundred times—but it’s clear your control over that power is lacking. Research is great, but I suggest you occasionally participate in the various programs hosted by the Void Sect, and make regular visits to the gravity room."

"Hmm, I only just realized that today, but I'll make time to join in more often," Tony replied. "Though I have been to the gravity room; how else do you think I developed the gravity devices?"

"I don't mean just visiting the room, but actually training inside it," Lacey explained. "Renoli used to be unable to maintain perfect control over his speed while bursting into high gear within fifteen meters. That only came through diligent practice. We are all members of the Void Sect. The worlds we encounter and the battles we face in the future won't be limited to ordinary people; we could face any kind of enemy or bizarre environment. Adapting to specialized conditions in advance will ensure you can handle them immediately when the time comes."

They regularly trained in the gravity room between competitions. Lacey could currently handle twenty times gravity while training with her equipment. The Seer could manage ten times gravity—a terrifying feat considering that before joining the Void Sect, they were only a Tier 2 bounty hunter relying on foresight and technique. With their now-enhanced physical capabilities, only the Seer knew exactly how strong they had become. Kael could withstand forty times gravity while training. Renoli had chosen a different path, focusing on increasing the gravity one level at a time while carrying his usual gear; after six months, he could break the sound barrier while under five times gravity. Most other members followed similar routines, constantly honing their power and technique.

"I see. Then I suppose I should find some time to go," Tony said thoughtfully. Renoli’s sudden burst of speed, leaving dozens of afterimages, had looked cool, but Tony realized he had only noticed the spectacle and missed the terrifying level of control required to achieve it. He realized that if he only focused on research and neglected his own development, he might eventually be left behind by the rapidly progressing members of the Void Sect. The group continued toward the dining hall, chatting and laughing.

***

Back at Harvey’s villa, Sonia noticed Mr. Kassadin standing on the balcony, gazing toward the beach. "Mr. Kassadin, do you wish to join the games as well?"

"I’d like to, but it’s not really convenient for me to go," Harvey replied, not hiding his desire to participate.

As Sonia had noted, the members of the Void Sect held him in extreme reverence. He needed to maintain a sense of dignity in their presence. If he were to show up, the others would feel uncomfortable, so even if he wanted to join the fun, he had no way to do so.

"I am in the same position; I can only watch from afar," Sonia said, stepping onto the balcony beside him to look toward the beach. "I represent your image, Mr. Kassadin. If I were to participate and win, it would be one thing, but if I lost, it might make them think their steward is not as capable as rumored."

As the steward, she often had to monitor the island's affairs and observe the members. She knew how lively the competitions were; whenever they were on the island and not busy with tasks, members would gather to watch even if they weren't competing. She wanted to join too, but her position only allowed her to observe.

"It’s unavoidable that I cannot participate, but you don't have to be so constrained," Harvey said after a pause. "Being my steward doesn't mean your strength must be the absolute peak."

He was the faith of the Void Sect, and as such, he could not do anything to undermine his own majesty. While he could be more relaxed when acting as his original self, Harvey, there were certain self-imposed boundaries when he assumed the persona of Kassadin.

Sonia smiled. "Knowing that you permit me to go is enough to make me happy. But the other members don't see it that way. Their baseline assumption is that as your steward, I must be immensely powerful and possess vast knowledge of the Void. In reality, I don't know that much about the Void. If I get too close to them and they start asking questions, I can't guarantee I’ll be able to answer."