Solitary Sword Sovereign

Chapter 84: Talent Vs Potentional

Atop a cloud high in the skies, two men stood, looking down as if they were deities above mortals. One of them was the familiar Modus. The other was a brown-skinned young man dressed in a Buddhist monk's attire. His robes were ragged and he was barefoot. He was bald and he looked quite plain. His height was average, his build was medium and his demeanor was normal. If placed in a crowd he would look like a disheveled beggar.

"This is the man you would have me swear my allegiance to?" Said the balm man.

"Yes, quite the gem isn't he?" Chuckled Modus. The duo was staring at Will from high above. The topic of their discussion was none the wiser, carrying on with his business.

"He possesses no qualities a leader should have. He is neither kind nor is he wise. He is rash and immature.  He gives in to his urges and is simple minded. Why on earth should I follow him?" Questioned the bald man. He was clearly not impressed by what he had seen. Modus laughed once more, clearly having expected this result.

"Arthur is better as a leader, and Musashi is better as a warrior. Yet neither of them met my standards, exactly what does this boy have that catches your eye?"

Modus did not have to think. His reply was instant. He looked at the bald man straight in the eye and said, "Genesis, let me ask you a question.  If Peerless was the same level as you and you two battled, what would the result be?"

The bald man, or rather Genesis, raised a brow and said, "I would defeat him in the time it takes to blink. Arthur and Musashi would do the same in the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

Modus nodded and agreed. "A correct analysis. You are more talented and skilled than he is. Yet he is a Sovereign and you are not, want to know why?"

Genesis gulped in anticipation. Few had even seen this bald man in a ruffled state. He was famous for being calm and detached. But before him was a high and mighty immortal. He could not help but feel tense. Modus then continued.

"If you two fought now, assuming you were both at the same level, the result would be the boy's instant defeat. If a battle under similar circumstances were to occur a year from now, the boy would last a few seconds. Add another year then he would last a few minutes. Add another year then he would hold you off for a few hours. Add one more year and he would hold you off for a day. Add one more year and the result of the match becomes uncertain. Add one more year..."

Modus then looked Genesis in the eye once more, "...and your defeat is guaranteed."

Genesis expression became ugly to behold. He found it hard to believe Modus' words.

"If you two were to battle under the same circumstances a decade from now, you would be defeated instantly. And the gap would only increase more as time went on." Said Modus with a loft manner.

"Why?" After a moment of silence, Genesis could not help but ask. "It's quite simple really." Said Modus mysteriously.

"You have far more talent. But the boy has far more potential. Those two are not the same. While the latter is far more important. The reason his potential is so high is simple....karma!"

...

"The boy's very existence is unique. His perception for sword arts is unmatched, but his body is not good enough to match that perception, resulting in weak results so far. As he evolves his physicality to match his spirituality, his talent in sword arts will shine. Suffice to say that no existence since the beginning of time has been more suited to holding a sword than this boy. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the sword was an invention solely for his use.

He is not fit to be a king in your eyes, but he is not meant to be a king. All he needs is strength. Courage? Kindness? All of that count for naught in the face of true power. There are 3 kinds of rulers in the universe. Monarchs, which are the traditional king, chosen to rule by others for their natural disposition,  like you. Conquerors, who take power into their own hands and are driven by their lust for control like Musashi and Arthur. And last but not least, Sovereigns, who only seek personal strength and freedom. They rule as a by-product of their strength, not as an intention. Will is such a ruler. Once he awakens to his true potential you will understand the value he has. There is a reason why the users with the most potential are labeled as Sovereigns. Even among the three rulers, Sovereigns have a unique position.

If you believe the boy to be unworthy of his throne, then you have my permission. Go down there, kill him, and take his place. I will nurture you with as sincerity as I have him. I will not punish you in any way. But I will warn you. If you kill the boy, then the future of your planet will be cast into uncertainty. Right now, the only guarantee you have of survival is that boy. Whether or not you are willing to cast away your pride, will determine the future of your people."

With these words, Modus left the cloud, leaving the disheveled monk to his own thoughts. Genesis sighed and contemplated what to do. He looked down at the world. Right now its future was in his hands. Many a thought ran through the monk's mind as he contemplated his next course of action. He sighed once more after making a decision. Using the system interface, he made a call to someone.

"Listen up, I want you to deliver a message to Solitary for me. Deliver it word for word. Here is what I want you to say..."