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Chapter 743 - Earthling
🕑 Added 2025-11-25 09:45:27 +0000 UTCI watch as the back of that transparent figure over him splits, and two more arms grow from it. Both reach toward me, pushing through the torrent of my mana and thermal energy, until they touch my shoulders. Like the Hornless Demon, Adrian calms my raging mana and helps me circulate it, easing the pressure so we can talk.
“I have always liked people capable of pushing themselves this far,” he says with a calm smile, “what you have done is impressive. Truly impressive. The sheer fact you can channel it all is a rare sight to behold for someone as young as you.”
“But?” I ask. I do not bother hiding my mood. From my conversations with Lioren and from the memories he showed me, I already know what kind of abilities this man has.
Adrian is an empath, among many other things. Someone like Izzy, but unlike her, he is extremely capable of using his empathy in ways that benefit him most.
“I can sense such anger from you,” he says, “I have heard about your challenge against Lioren’s lurker, so I guess that is where your knowledge about me comes from.” He pauses again as if thinking and looks up at the red barrier surrounding us. “As I said, I admire people who push themselves as you do, but being so young often causes you to make mistakes we older ones have also made and learned from. Yet you young ones never listen. Not that I mind, it is just how things are, and some lessons can only be learned by experiencing them on your own skin.”
I use the chance to observe the way he helps me ease the pressure while I continue making the changes I need, taking into account my lower than planned Constitution, my low pristine passive, and the lack of the healing aura. All while he reads my emotions without me sensing it at all.
“I would prefer to learn from the mistakes of others and laugh at them, but once in a while I can make my own,” I say, “And also yes, I spent some time with Lioren. Betraying him and arranging his death on the first floor because you were busy shitting your pants rather than challenging him directly was kind of a dick move.”
Adrian stays calm. “I would agree with that, and quite strongly. It is something I would do very differently now, and in the end, I truly regret my decisions and behavior from that time, even if you might not believe that. Sometimes I wonder what would have become of Lioren if he had the opportunity to complete the tutorial, heal his body, and improve his skills further. Maybe he would have become one of the Rulers by now, or maybe he would have challenged Pride as many others before and fallen against him.”
Sensing my mix of emotions, Adrian watches me, then sighs and sits down on the ground, gesturing for me to do the same.
For a moment, I stand there, facing him, but the pale red arms lift up from me, releasing an avalanche of my mana and thermal energy. So I sit down with him, and right away the pale red arms touch me again, and he continues to ease the pressure.
And he speaks. “I entered the tutorial as a really nasty seventeen year old boy. All the danger and constant betrayals in Hell difficulty did not help either, but I will not make excuses. Simply said, I used to be a real piece of work. I killed people, I cheated people, I betrayed people.”
“Let me guess, but you changed?”
“I would hope so. After all, all of that was a thousand years ago. During that time, I returned to my planet, I became Champion, I traveled to other planets, and I even served as a Handler in Beyond for a while. I met many people before returning to my planet, where I got married, founded my clan, and later became Absolute. Those few years in the tutorial were impactful, but so were the many others outside of it. I am not saying this for you to forgive me for betraying someone you clearly view as a friend, even though he died long ago. I am simply giving you my point of view.”
As I look at him, I think that from some point of view, this must be amusing. Adrian now likely knows more about my emotions than I do, and I am not stupid enough to miss how much he could take advantage of that if he wanted to.
I have thought about Izzy’s abilities, and in a way, they are as scary as her sister’s. While you can detect and defend against Sophie’s Manipulation, Izzy can do something similar much more quietly. She can take her time and slowly nudge you toward whatever she wants by reading your emotions and reacting in ways that guide you to act as she wishes.
Adrian must know I am thinking that. He must know I did not know about him or his abilities when we met not that long ago, and only now understand them for some reason.
I am not sure if he realized that Sneakythaniel exists, but his empathy was the reason I chose to hide my knowledge, so he would not instantly discover that I know who he is.
From the moment I saw him the first time, I recognized the way he moved, the tiny shifts in his body, the deep rooted gestures. All things Lioren knew how to watch for and use to identify people.
But now I wonder, will he kill me the way I thought he would when I first met him, before I hid my knowledge as I learned how brutal the tutorial Adrian used to be? Or did I eventually come to the conclusion he would not, after seeing a tiny glimpse of who he has become?
As if I needed another fucked up situation to add to everything else.
“So how did you do it?” I ask.
He looks at me in a way that seems like he is considering the answer before he shakes his head. “I am still not sure if you will go against me or if we will work together. So I will keep most of that to myself.”
“What are you more inclined to think?”
After looking at me like I am a puzzle, he scratches his beard. “I would say there is a ninety percent chance that you will go against me once you think you are strong enough.”
“And the ten percent?”
“That is either you serving as my Champion or both of us racing to see who becomes the Absolute. If I win, it will weaken your pride a little, but it will not break it. You will grow stronger and challenge me again in the future because you dislike the idea of an "alien" being Earth’s Absolute. That would keep me on edge and force me to stay strong. But over time, I would prove through my behavior that I have Earth’s best interests in mind. And both of us know that only this matters over cheap words.”
“I do not think the others would like the idea of you being Earth’s Absolute, "alien" or not.”
Adrian takes a breath, like he expected that question. “If you think about it for a moment, am I not the most Earthling out of all of you? I lived seventy five years on Earth, and I even have children there. I am likely the oldest person from Earth’s tutorial.”
The words hang in the air as I stare at him. “Is the early Pairing your fault?”
“Yes,” he answers honestly, and he cannot help it, as he explains more and tells me how. “I was born on Earth, I went through those years as a baby, and trust me, it was anything but pleasant to live trapped in that weak body with no bowel control.” He shivers at the memory. “I thought since I was born to a world without mana and had no heart, no status, and none of my powers, that it would not matter that I used to be an Absolute. But apparently it did. The system, somewhere in its background subsystems, must have partially classified me as an Absolute. And since Earth had no Absolute, it treated the challenge as accepted the moment the tutorial began. The Pairing began at that point as well, even though that should not make sense, because if I had kept any status in the system, I would not have been able to become a native of Earth or repeat the tutorial.”
I rest my elbows on my knees. “So in the end, we are even fighting against the planet you were Absolute on. Sorry, but this sounds a little bit like an invasion, and why the hell would you even do all that?”
“It does look like it, does it not?” He laughs shortly, and that laugh feels like the most honest part of him so far, as if he got tricked by the system and only now sees it, even though in hindsight it makes perfect sense. “Do you know why I am telling you all of this?”
“Possibly as an olive branch or to make me trust you.”
“Exactly. I am sharing this with you alone, and I do not want anyone else to know, not even your sister. I will reveal my identity only if I choose to. What I can promise is simple, I will never reveal myself as Adrian to my planet. I will act with Earth’s best interests in mind, even if that puts me at odds with my own world.”
“I will trust it when I see it.”
“I know,” he nods with a smile, “as for why I have done all of this, it is simple. I wanted to enter the tutorial again.”
Adrian pauses and glances at the red barrier with a weak smile. “Your healer friend has some seriously dangerous skill.” When he looks away, his expression shifts into something almost embarrassed. “It is awkward to say, but after thousand of years, I became stuck. An Absolute, yes, a very powerful one, but nowhere near legends like The Ancient Monster, The Magi, Pale Titan, or Void Caller, even if many thought I had that potential. And nowhere near strong enough to challenge Rulers. I made many mistakes that limited my potential in the end. So I told myself, why not start over, and since then, I dedicated many years to making it possible, and sacrificed all I had for that single goal. Thankfully, one of my skills helped me with that.”
As before, I sit and listen, watching the mess inside my body, watching the pale red arms of the figure floating behind him with their hands still on my shoulders, gathering every piece of information I can. All the things he gives so willingly. I am not stupid enough to think he is giving this away for free. He might want me to join him, or he might want to amuse himself with another puzzle. But if I ruin it and tell anyone, someone will pay for it, and it will not be me.
“Do you think it is pathetic to want to start over?” Adrian asks seriously.
I think about it and shrug. “Not really. If the system is so easy to abuse, why not?”
He laughs. “Easy… you would not believe how difficult it was. I had to give up everything I had and only keep my memories. I calculated that the Earth's tutorial would start about 20 years after I was born anew there. With all my knowledge I trained, I prepared, and never in the history of Earth was there anyone with a body as fast and strong as mine back then. But then the time came, and nothing happened. So, did I miscalculate, and Earth would awaken later? Did something else change? I did not know. I waited because there was nothing else I could have done. Years turned into decades, and I became an old man, trapped in a breaking body, and on the brink of accepting I had failed.”
His mood shifts, and he reveals more emotion, a flicker of anger. “Was it a Ruler messing with me, delaying Earth’s awakening? Did I make a mistake in the formula? Did I calculate wrong? None of it mattered except for that feeling I had. Never before have I felt so small and pathetic as in those last few years on Earth.”
“But it does not matter anymore,” I say.
He slips back into that confident calm and breathes out. “It matters not. I succeeded. I gained in the tutorial everything I ever wanted, and built a foundation I could never have dreamed of previously. There is just one more thing I need in this tournament, and then I can continue down my path. I will become Absolute again, I will protect Earth during the Pairing as well as my old planet, and then one day I will go after the man no one seems able to defeat.” He reaches toward the sky with hazed eyes as he speaks.
“I still do not like it,” I tell him.
His eyes return to me, and he nods. “I know. I can feel it. So watch me. Watch my actions rather than my words and grow strong enough to challenge me. But of course, only if you survive the great test you have put yourself through.”
The two pale red hands lift from my shoulders, and the presence helping me control my mana vanishes. A torrent of mana explodes from inside me. The effort I used to keep my thermal energy in check has to split again to stop my mana from tearing me apart, causing both mana and thermal energy to spill from my body.
“In my opinion, it is fifty fifty whether you survive what you did to your body, so please do your best,” he says as the barrier around us breaks.
Adrian then steps forth and disappears with a red blur just as Lily crashes into the spot where he stood.
Comments
Hellnhavoc
Here’s my thinking I’m more annoyed about Adrian doing this basically it makes you feel bad about all the struggles of the mc because this dude is now lol powerful. It’s the same way i feel about the assassin girl. She is powerful just because. Realistically because of how anti social and alone she is she shouldnt be able to compete.
Sergej Fel
Even in this chapter alone he outed himself to be an ass: he abbandoned his family, his friends and dependents, his planet and his life... not by a timeskip but literally abandoned them to die on their own... just for better perks. Oh well, lets see how it plays out. My 1st time reading in case it is cleared up in the next chapters.
Sergej Fel
Not everyone is a sociopathic narcissist who would sacrifice his world and uncountable lives just to gain even more hyperselfish boons. The people "butthurt" over Adrian/Christoph are in the moral and human sense in the right.
Avedi Musungu
Why are people butthurt over Adrian/Christoph being a reincarnator when he did what everyone would do in his position and with his skills? I don't even think that Nat would look down on him for it. This whole thing with honour and doing things by the book is BS in this setting.
Madje Tobi Marc'Avent Tchona
There is something to be said about a better initial preparation allowing one to jump through plateaus or whatnot. But there is something a lil “weak” about the mentality of starting over when shit doesn’t go your way. I think there is just something bout it… “very Patience” subclass-y, very cowardly. Someone like that I don’t think deserves to hold in his hands the responsibility of being an absolute…
Shay
Personally, I think Adrian was about to lose an absolute challenge and that’s when he decide to flee his planet and start over on earth. However, to me, I don’t think he would ever go beyond where he did the first time because he had over 1000 years to become stronger get better at his skills and he apparently could not go past where he originally achieved. So I think he would once again hit a wall, no matter what, he only has an early Headstart because he is already aware of everything in the tutorial and how it goes.
Shay
I think he is because that’s why they said he’s the reason that earth is going through his pairing, even though it’s usually exempt for the first few decades, I think
Josh Betts
Nat wont lose to someone that got a head start or a glorified iskai protag he is the disciple of the ancient monster and successor of loiren Adrian needs to be humbled by true greatness
Gwiddion
My guess is something with his runaway multiple personalities it was only brought up once that mapthaniel created a personality to do his work. And was since then not explained in more detail.
Isaac Lung
It was literally stated a few chapters ago that the champion was swapped for someone else. The vice guild master smiles, “Correct. A highly mana specialized Champion, reanimated thylarin. We do not know who it used to be or how long ago they died on that floor. Most of the ten reanimated, well, nine of them have been there longer than a thousand years. Only the tenth one was replaced after a man named Adrian cleared the quest and reached the sixth floor nearly a thousand years ago.
Bob
Rereading the chapter, I'm not sure reaching the 6level shows an impressive feat of strenght from Christoph/Adrian. It is possible he killed the same champion he killed 1000years ago. At that time he gathered all the information possible on it. Possibly it is the one with a weakness on mind magic that Sophie was selected to tackle.
Madje Tobi Marc'Avent Tchona
I think it’s a combination of skill, cycling his energies, controlling them, maybe some healing here and there. He’s trying to get his active skills as strong as possible so he can weather the storm just by being stronger than it. It’s kinda like the race/dance of getting AI good enough to solve all the potential problems it might create.
TYRELL GRAY
I have been thinking what will nat do to fix his body. It can’t be a trait because, that’s level 400. So my guesses are it’s a construct or a skill. It will either be a construct because, he can just create a construct to fix other construct. Like he can create a mind construct that only focus is to adjust the other construct. Or it could be a skill. Like control,, or a skill like evolution/ adaptation. What do you guys think?
Yshua
I missed that that was even a thing.
Nemesis
So what was the second secret? Is it gonna turn out that Nyssa is somehow Lioren reincarnated? Did Adrian get monkeys pawed with his reincarnation?
Johnny
Adrian sounds like a born manipulator even without his empathy. F him I hope Nat slaps the hell out of him. Also it’s nice to know he’s not just a super talented dude and ahead of Nat, he’s also a cheater
Arme nd
I get what you mean,but getting over the fact that he killed his friend for power is hard, Lioren hasn't mentioned Adrian in a bad way, more like a rival who he respected, who even told Nat to smack him in the face if he ever met him, this just makes accepting him unlikely.
Justin B
I might be in the minority but I like Adrian. He's just like most people, that if they had the chance to be young again and get a do over they'd do it in a heartbeat.
Morde24
Feels like Adrian is a sad sac who hasn't actually changed at all even though he claims he has. Probably can't get the absolute candidate title except through trickery as he is still in the system as an absolute. So now he is trying to get Nat to get his sister to give him the title.
Morde24
Is it the chapter or the impression Adrian gave off?
Kirin
Thank you for the chappie!
Nykyrion
I think he has Lily’s [Sacrifice] He mentioned her there in an almost awkward fashion. It may just be a coincidence but I suspect foreshadowing
Luis Guerrero
Considering Lizz lizz couldn't beat him I'm sure he about that life
Need For Read
The dude is delusional. Liss wasnt even first gen and was unstoppable to all but pride. Even in the tutorial as far from her peak as she is she killed envy easily. So what, he thinks a better trait or class is gonna let him kill pride? Cant wait for his downfall, and his smug mask breaks
Adrian Lee
Does anyone know what chapter Adrian’s world POV was?
caeven
so adrian/the first beyonder was just another off screen aura farmer that was immediately revealed to be a bum as soon as his fraudulent ass got some screen time. smh. I hope at least the ruler of pride will REALLY be about that life once we meet him.
Reps A
Hmm its realistic in a way if we had the chance who wouldn't want to try again? At least Adrian didn't turn out to be a PoS...yet
C Smith
This chap was kinda disappointing. To be fair it's probably a fine chapter but coming after yesterday's chap it's disappointing. LOL. So Adrian is a sad sac who thinks he can reach the pinnical after failing in his first life...... delusional. Adrian just come off as kinda pathetic to me.
Madje Tobi Marc'Avent Tchona
Strength comes from mastery of active skills and understanding of the system. Lissandra wasn’t first gen but made it in the legend books with just her mastery of active skills. She didn’t have a perfect runthrough. And the ruler of pride was written in Kyralon’s book to be the only one having such deep understanding of the system secrets that can only be deciphered in the First Dungeon, implying that such understanding allows him to clear the 12th and upwards floors and stand above the rest. Doubtful that he had a perfect runthrough too. The more powerful you get, the better you get at patching your fundamentals. So Adrian is probably misguided in thinking he’s gonna system/tutorial his way to power. Also he’s prolly still registered as an absolute in the system, at least in title not power. Meaning he probably cannot receive the absolute candidate title.
Bob
Absolute candidate. I think we still don't know exactly how one goes from candidate to the real deal.
Hms
So we still have the ancient monster in play even though she is just a copy and now the most recent monster from the tutorial who just beat his old record and still has time left. Guessing Ruby had a big hand in all this and is definitely his handler.
Bob
That's indeed interesting, does Adrian gained more wisdom in 70 years as Christoph than in 1000 years as himself?
Manny
It's my understanding that Adrian purposefully isekai'd into Christopher.
Andrew
Thank you!
Gwiddion
He isn't scared of Adrian but he is most likely cautious how Adrian will react if Nat breaches the agreement. Could be that he would harm/kill the person bat told this information which would be most likely someone from group 4. Only person I can think off that could hide the information could be Sophies sister as she could possibly block Adrians empathic senses.
Gwiddion
I was also not a fan of that theory but sadly the door is still open. He has children, could be that Nat's mom or dad is one of those and that he distanced himself from them early on. Perhaps because he was depressed that his calculations were of or something like that. And as Nat's parents had Victoria verry young it could be a possibility. I really hope not but it could be another twist.
Ralph
I can't remember if was from Kindness or an earlier one with Adrian, but I kept thinking about the conversation about wisdom and where it comes from. Is it gained in time, or in time spent in an aging body? The earthling Adrian might've been completely different had his calculations been correct
Andromeda
I bet Adrian has the reincarnation skill and greed helped him.
tishane Imperial MageKiller
Lol yea deff satisfied with the reveal
Jughead
This chapter is the closest thing to a biography on him. Adrian = Christoph the beyonder
tishane Imperial MageKiller
Lol lost all respect for Adrian lol he's a pussy 🤣 all that talent and still betraying ppl is a low thing I dont like it in RL books anything.
DarkRain
This is why he isnt a bad character. He is just not a likeable one
DarkRain
But that isnt really the behavior of a true absolute. In this analogy a champion would be the adult. And absolute is the god at this point who is in this case deciding to lower himself to bully the children into submission. If Liss was in his place she would behave in a much more dignified way which is i think the core issue people have with Chris. Its for sure my main problem with him. He feels so unworthy of where he stands and his actions speak of a manchild who couldnt be happy with what he got or try to find a solution like what literally every first generation has to do. Instead he is here with the babies and he doesnt choose to guide them or fuck off. No he chose to pretend to be amongst them. To pretend he is some grand talent that is better than everyone else
Moonfrost
yes
Lance Beam
TFTC. Well that was a satisfying reveal.
thisisniall
Interesting to see a few other legendary absolute (or absolute equivalents) get name-dropped, the Ancient Monster is obviously Liss and I think the Magi has been mentioned once or twice before, but the Pale Titan / Void Caller are new I think?
Al
Is the Ancient Monster Lissandra?
Al
I still think he body snatched. I think the man’s construct around him is actually the original him, kind of like the energy vampire that christoph absorbed was also incorporeal. And I suspect his possession is related to his empathy skill in some way. I also wonder if Adrian was even his first body, or if he’s older than that and keeps coming back to the tutorial for something.
Opal
It seems to me that he wants to walk the "Path to Power" as far as he can while it's still fun. "Absolute of the System" is looking more like projection to me; I don't think he's ever been stated to have such an arbitrary goal.
Audrey WJ
So everyone who kept thinking he was related to nat and his grandfather? Told you so. Just didn't make sense for him to be and it was much more likely he was someone not from earth or an earthingling with knowledge of the tutorial somehow, it was both lol. Anyway yes I had to say I told you so, too many Christophe enjoyers thought he was just some great guy who is probably Nats grandfather but nope just another snake.
Tshern
I cant remember, following too many other stories, who was Adrian?
Gutz
At least Adrian/Christoph behavior is one of a true Absolute: He doesn't even see Nathaniel as a threat. He literally helps the guy, like an adult helps a little baby getting on their feet for the first time. It hurts to see the MC so belittled.
Kevin
Yes
Rico Caceres
This guy is so pathetic but I can see myself on his shoes, I can so relate to him as I hit a ceiling achieving rank 80s and hovering to 100s immortal and up on Dota 2 and sometimes I smurf on Divine and Low 1000s in immortal rank and it is so fucking easy. Sometimes I think what if I started much younger and have much previlaged family so that I can just play all day without worrying anything, then maybe I will not get stuck at rank 80 and maybe achieve rank 10 and up. The thing is sometimes I smurf to play with my friends in lower rank bracket but most of the time I smurf so that I can feel good by bullying others and not think that I was stuck at my real rank. Really pathetic but I know how it feel. There is really a ceiling at everything what humans do, talent, dedication and environment are the only things that can affect this ceiling. Mind you, I tried everything I can(watching replays, studying all patterns of the enemy movement on map and all the technical and mechanical advantage I can think of just to win) but still I get stuck. Maybe it is because I start old or maybe I am just not too focused on the game as I work too. Well enough of that, it's just that almost everyone hate a smurfer. A$$hole and pathetic.
Michel Kommers
Amazing chapter!!!!
karmaslap
He says he'll protect Earth but also his old planet during the pairing. You can't do that, and leaving a pairing unfinished can't be good
Fdrugc
Is Lioren the demon that nat learned kinetic energy control from?
Fdrugc
Was Christopher ever real?
Schmidt
Did nats attack last chapter fulfill his final absolute candidate requirement?
blaw
Wasn't merging worlds a possible outcome of pairings? Maybe his idea is to just have everyone sit it out and become one bigger world. Still lots of trouble for the people in it but on paper better than getting their world outright destroyed.
blaw
Does the paired world even still have an Absolute? Was one of the champions upgraded with Adrians reset and switch to Earth?
Arnon Parenti
Nathaniel isn't keeping Adrian's secret because he is scared of Adrian, he does it because it literally doesn't matter, a pointless gesture.
blaw
Well he was an incredible tutorial attendee and later an Absolute. From his point of view he is better and knows better than anyone from Earth. Just the right mixture of jerk that we as readers can dislike but still see as a valid obstacle to overcome.
Arnon Parenti
Poor Adrian, doesn't even realize how small he still is. Nat isn't an absolute Candidate because that's the best he can be, it is the best the System has to offer, Nat is way past that in every parameter. Adrian gets 99 because that's his best, Nat gets 100 because there is no higher measure.
Krzychu0304
One thing has become interesting to me: Earth will soon be swarming with people who are one-man armies, and immediately afterward, there will be a war/pairing with a planet ruled by one-man armies. What do you think governments will do when they know that people they can't kill with any means at their disposal will soon appear? Quite obviously, they will try to create a weapon that can kill everything that might appear, and also half of what can't. The most powerful atomic bomb ever used was detonated in 1961 and had a yield of 100 megatons (Russian scientists were frightened by it themselves and limited its yield to 50 megatons). That was over 60 years ago, a time when computers still used vacuum tubes. Imagine what a monster a desperate government would create using modern technology. I'm practically certain its power will be measured in gigatons. And then they'll learn that not only will they have to deal with warlords/homegrown pretenders to be champions/absolutes, but a full-fledged war of the worlds awaits them, with an already stabilized planet possessing an experienced absolute and champions. I'm certain they'll do everything possible to achieve the capability of mutually assured destruction.
RJ Barnes
TFTC
TYRELL GRAY
Facts, because she technically earth tutorial candidate
Lizy Flore
Reading the chapter, I was annoyed. I didn’t know why. Chris is a wonderful character, he adds wonderfully to the plot and is yet another motivator for Nat to improve. Plus, all the drama surrounding the pairing just got juicier - which means more epicness for after the tutorial. But I was annoyed, and i didn’t know why, until I remembered the humility event. Knowing what we know now, it probably means Chris knew full well what the event was going to be about, and he avoided even though he could have had a neat reward from the ruler. Maybe he wasn’t just interested, maybe he had other things to do,… or maybe he just knew he wouldn’t well. Maybe the reason why I’m so annoyed with him is because he relied on the system to restart, relied on the system to be stronger than he was, relied on his prior knowledge of the system to have it easier. Am I saying it was easy to do all the things he did ? No, absolutely not. Just, it feels cheap from him. Kuddos to him to have cheated the system and exploit the tutorial once more, if it was easy I guess everyone would do it. But. Unlike Nat, it feels like he relies more on the system and not on his own inane talents/abilities. Also. The fact that he is so damn condescending about it doesn’t help.
Andrew Kluttz
He is not trustworthy. The whole thing stinks. But at the same time, Nat continues to make stupid choice with his body and hopes it works out well, so I can kinda see why some people would want to start over.
Kid
Peak fiction
Budgie
Can he be declared by the system as absolute like Nat or does he have a disadvantage because the system knows he is cheating. Hmm
Terri Harris
Still think he's a liar. The truth will eventually come out. Reminds me of that other guy from one of the other earth rounds who seems too good to not be evil. Christoph is evil to his core. Highly sus! Lily is a bad ass and Nat should yield to the inevitable wedding bells in his future. That girl has it bad for him. And of course I have complete faith that Nat will triumph, get stronger, and more impressive than ever, shocking Rulers and Absolutes everywhere!
Krzychu0304
Guess whose conspiracy theory has proven correct again ;) The only thing I didn't expect was that Chris did it by being reborn, instead of tinkering with the old bodywork. And now a few details worth noting: Chris underestimates Nat's pride, not realizing that it's completely antifragile and goes far beyond becoming some paltry absolute. Oh, poor naive Chris still thinks Nat is his main rival for the title of absolute, I almost feel sorry for him. Chris mentioned Liss as one of the legends he aspires to be. I'd love to see his face when he meets a cockroach-sander/finds out about the things she's been up to.
Subliminary
Am I naive for believing Adrian sort of? Explanation totally checks out. Totally unsure how he can “protect both planets” during the Pairing but I really don’t believe he has animosity toward Earth or anything. Since this is fiction obviously it’ll turn out that he wants his OG planet to win the Pairing and doesn’t care if his entire lineage on earth is murdered, but IRL this seems reasonable?
Michael Williams
I disagree, I think there is no way nat handles him as the absolute. Because of his pride mostly. We will see how the Tournament plays out but I expect them to clash for the top spot.
Adrian Rake
Hmmm. It is a properly messed up situation. But I think that Nat is dreaming about something more than being the Earth’s Absolute or even overpowering the Ruler of Pride. He wants to be the Absolute of the System itself.
Stoney
TFTC! Totally not a fan of Christoph but at least it's a good reason about the pairing and him starting in beyond. I think Nat can handle him being the Absolute but it does feel...cheap? Looking forward to how it goes - as always!
ein Google Nutzer
This smurfing know it all looser thinks he can do what? Win against pride? By doing what? Playing old guy and scam the system? Adrian may be talented and powerful but he isn't strong like most characters at the top in this story. He should be more humble and learn from minion or better yet from lioren
Bob Hiler
How can he both protect earth AND his home planet? That seems impossible. Plus, who would believe that (say) Putin would protect both America AND Russia? It doesn't make sense that any earthling would trust him as earth's Absolute. P.S. I think Nat has a failsafe method to use Sneakythaniel to tell this secret to others, perhaps via Sophie?
Ansordia
Well yeah... He isn't far off from them yet... And I have a strong suspicion that he will be flabbergasted by Nat doing something insane and closing and then surpassing him... It feels like poor Nats goal post keeps being moved out of reach and he isn't allowed to score.
Krazo
It's a GOOD good rival. There is now actual tension of if Nat wins or looses, because in most cases there was usually obvious answer who is correct to win, but now it can reallygo either way, until the final confrontation
Ansordia
Which just shows how well written said character is! Personally I have manipulative bastards the MOST... Basiclly anything he said was with a purpose... And sincere people don't talk like that... Atleast in my mind. I wonder how Nat will close this gap between them... I think he will do something so stupendously stupid that for ONCE he will overeach third floor Nathaniel.
Gwiddion
My guess is either that but more likely he wants to unify all other attendees and show himself. So that they think of him as the strongest. Imagine if Nat kept winning every tournament cause Adrian never attended. In the eyes of most they would look to Nat and his group for leadership and not towards Adrian. This way enough people from normal and hard are still around to cement his claim as being the future absolute.
Ansordia
So... He didn't body snatch Christoph but actually grew up as him... Okay then that atleast explains why his system indetified name is Christoph and not Adrian as I doubt anyone would be able to not view their name as their name after 70 years... I still have some questions how the bloody hell that is able to be done... Also it seems there isn't an absolute body somewhere on earth... Big sad but we atleast have an answear why the pairing happened... Which seems weird... It can be denied? I would imagine its not worth it... But still weird that conflict deflection is an option. So he is an empath... Is my memory really this bad or this is new info? I personally hate both Sophie and Izzies abilites and wouldn't be able to tolerate either... But that is just me. Well... I don't like that the beyonder is staying on earth... I feel like the story will have issues with Nat not being able to keep up realistically.... Though this training he is doing now will probably increase his pace SIGNIFICANTLY... Anyway Cerim you're AWESOME with these twists and turns can't wait to find out what else you have in store for us! Also I am dreading the thursday cliffhanger more and more now...
Gwiddion
Na it's just not something he will overcome in a few months like most challenges so far. Also the fact that Adrian already got stuck once is to me a hint that he is far to optimistic about his chances. To me it looks like he is someone always lamenting what he could have done different and not how he will overcome something. As I'm sure he could have done instead of doing a once over.
frankie doerr
Definitely not a pride I see him as more of an envy or patience
Liam Zay
Liss would turn him into a smear with a single thought. Even at his peak in the previous life he wasn't her match
frankie doerr
Am I the only one who thinks he left that conversation too fast almost seems like the barrier broke because of someone else(hard stare at lily) not that he wanted to end that conversation at the moment
BlackRazaras
Thanks for the chapter
MrFixit
TFTC
Compendium
Now that's a proper fucking motivation. What a chad
Ivan Jelenić
He's a little bitch.
V
TFTC. Lissandra vs Adrian, I know it's going to happen now, somehow. Looking forward to it.
Fenrys .
God what a loser. I don't think I have ever disliked a character this fast.
zoarian
Nice explanation. I'm guessing Adrian needs something from the 3rd tournament specifically - perhaps winning it makes it easier to become an Absolute? I hope Nat ruins his plans, even though it might be impossible with the body upgrade.
Gravitea
What a small ambition. Nat’s gonna have more to worry about than being Earth’s Absolute. He’d feel stuck and bored in no time if he ended up there, and Biscuit with him.
le moi
Idk if i like this. It seems impossible for nat to win this.
Joe Woodhouse
My Pride is not broken by my saying: I did not see this coming at all. I thought I was being clever with wild speculations about time travel. I did not think I was failing to be adequately wild in my imagination. Well done. Very well done.
vEnviouz
TFTC!!!
Krzychu0304
Third
jax rammus
Reheehee
Claro reyes
Tftc!!!
