NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 60: The S-Authorities
Miya furrowed her brows as she read the messages flooding her stream chat.
"My viewers are saying that S-tier users have 'authority' rather than abilities... what does that mean?"
Raiden, walking beside her, exhaled through his nose.
"Hm. I'm unsure. My viewers have said the same thing. They keep telling me she truly is an S-tier user because of how complicated her ability seems."
He glanced at his own stream chat, his gaze flickering between the rapidly scrolling messages.
"Ah, from what I recall, the other stream hunters have a guess about Celestia's ability."
Miya turned to him, interested.
"And?"
Raiden hesitated for a moment before saying one word.
"Omnipresence."
The air seemed to still between them.
Miya frowned.
"Omnipresence? As in… she exists everywhere at once?"
Raiden nodded.
"That's what people are saying... But it does seem plausible considering how numerous her abilities are despite the fact that our ranks are still lower than that of a viwer.
He said before continuing.
"No wonder people are calling it an 'authority' rather than a mere ability."
Miya hummed in thought.
"If S-tier users exist… how come there's never been one recorded before?"
Raiden shrugged.
"Ask your viewers. They can probably offer a more detailed explanation than I can."
It didn't take long before her chat responded.
[Monarch of Sympathy says that it's because there can only be three S-tier users in one universe.]
Miya was about to type out a follow-up question, but before she could, another user preemptively answered.
[Grassfield Mother] : The three S-tier users in your universe represent the overall 'authority' that your world contains! In my universe, the three S-tier users we have are Decay, Proliferate, and Cease. Because of them, we're called the Universe of Ruins! ^^
[Darkflame Fighter of North] : Our three S-users are Ignite , Extinguish , and Rekindle. Hence we're called the Universe of Flames.
[Tutor of Dawnseekers] : Hm. We've only found two S-users in our universe as of now... Sunrise and Sunset. The third one is still unknown...
[Battle Maniac of the South says he's jealous of these so called S-tier users...]
[Water Breathing Duck agrees saying that he would be unstoppable if he were blessed with such a thing.]
Miya read the message carefully but remained silent, clearly lacking the knowledge to fully grasp the implications of such an existence.
She let the thought simmer in the back of her mind as she shifted her focus back to the dimly lit stone path ahead.
The 10th floor of the Tower of Yxthar was eerily silent, the air thick with an unseen weight.
For a moment, she forgot about Celestia and S-tier users.
Her mind wandered elsewhere, to a place beyond the tower's walls.
"I wonder how Dad and Adam are doing..."
She murmured.
Raiden, who had been scanning his surroundings, responded absently.
"They should be fine. Dad doesn't have the resonance to become an awakened..."
Miya hesitated before voicing the real worry gnawing at her.
"...But what if Adam does?"
Raiden halted in his tracks. For a second, his expression darkened.
He didn't answer right away.
A glint of unease flickered in his eyes, one that Miya recognized all too well.
She knew exactly what he was thinking.
Adam was the youngest in their family.
A quiet boy who barely spoke, who struggled with socializing, who preferred to lose himself in books rather than deal with people.
The Tower of Yxthar was no place for someone like him...
Raiden finally spoke, his voice quieter.
"I hope he doesn't."
Miya pressed her lips together, gripping the strap of her bag.
"I hope so too."
There was an unspoken understanding between them.
They had entered the tower years ago, leaving behind their father and younger brother.
What was supposed to be a quick expedition turned into something else entirely.
The higher they climbed, the harder it became to return.
At first, they had tried everything...
Searching for an exit, fighting to clear floors as fast as possible.
But eventually, reality set in.
There was no escape... not yet atleast.
The only thing they could do was move forward.
Raiden glanced at her before shaking his head.
"Dad should've told Adam how to add us through the stream codename function..."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"I remember one of my friends saying the Government made an official announcement about that function outside the Tower a year ago. Adam should know about it by now."
Miya exhaled.
"Mm… maybe I'm worrying too much."
Raiden gave her a sidelong glance.
"It'd still be better if he doesn't awaken. At the very least, Dad will have someone to keep him company."
Miya let out a dry chuckle.
"Yeah… that old man always talks about how he wants to attend one of our weddings."
Raiden stilled.
The warmth in her voice contrasted sharply with the cold emptiness that followed.
Miya's smile faded.
She turned her gaze downward, her fingers tightening into fists.
Neither of them had fulfilled their father's dreams.
They had left home as teenagers, ambitious and reckless, thinking they could return whenever they wanted.
Now, years had passed, and they were still here...
Miya swallowed. "Do you think they're still waiting for us?"
Raiden's jaw tensed.
"Most likely."
His voice was firm.
Miya blinked rapidly, fighting against the sting in her eyes.
"I miss home..."
Raiden inhaled deeply but said nothing.
"I miss dad, I miss Adam too..."
She continued, her voice softer now.
"I used to get annoyed by how quiet he was, but now I'd give anything to hear his voice again."
Raiden clenched his fists.
He hated moments like this.
Moments where they let their emotions get the better of them...
But as much as he wanted to suppress it, the ache in his chest was undeniable.
"Me too."
Silence settled between them, broken only by the distant sound of the tower's unseen mechanisms.
For the first time in a long while, the Tower of Yxthar felt unbearably vast.
Then, suddenly—
A system notification appeared before them.
[The Chosen Conduit has sent you a friend request.]